Bent Fabric
Born(1924-12-07)7 December 1924
Frederiksberg, Denmark
Died28 July 2020(2020-07-28) (aged 95)
GenresClassical, pop, jazz
Occupation(s)Pianist, composer
LabelsAtco, Universal
Websitewww.fabricius-bjerre.dk

Bent Fabricius-Bjerre (7 December 1924 – 28 July 2020), better known internationally as Bent Fabric, was a Danish pianist and composer.

Biography

Bent Fabricius-Bjerre was born in Frederiksberg, Denmark. He started a jazz ensemble after World War II and founded a label, Metronome Records, in 1950. He released a series of ten inch albums on the Metronome label entitled 50 Years Of Evergreens in 1955, under the pseudonym Frank Barcley. However, he is best known for his 1961 instrumental "Omkring et flygel" (literally, "Around a Grand Piano") which became a hit in Denmark.[1] The song was re-released worldwide under the name "Alley Cat" on Atco Records the following year, and went to #1 in Australia and #49 in Germany. The tune also became a hit in the United States; the song hit #2 on the AC chart and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100,[2] and the LP of the same name hit #13 on the Billboard 200.[3] "Alley Cat" also won a Grammy Award for Best Rock & Roll Recording.[4] It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[5] The follow-up single, "Chicken Feed", hit #63 in the U.S.

Fabricius-Bjerre had done extensive work in film scores prior to the success of his singles, and continued to work in film for decades after. In 2003, Fabricius-Bjerre returned to the charts, this time in his native Denmark. He released the album Jukebox as Bent Fabric, where he worked with critically acclaimed Danish musicians, including Peter Frödin.[6] The singles "Jukebox" hit #3 in Denmark and "Shake" hit #10 that year. In 2006, a remix of "Jukebox" was released, and the title track became a dance music hit, peaking at #7 on the US Dance/Club Play charts.[2] The album was also re-released in the United States, this time featuring a remix of his famous instrumental song "Alley Cat", formerly known as “Omkring et flygel” (“Around a Piano”), among others.[6]

In 2005 he released the compilation album, Kan du kende melodien (literally Do you recognize the melody) featuring some of his most famous and recognized film and TV scores.

In 2018, Bent Fabricius-Bjerre was honored for his long and active career by naming a new species of beetle †Cacomorphocerus bentifabrici (Fabrizio Fanti & Anders Leth Damgaard, 2018). Married thrice, he died on 28 July 2020.[7][8]

Film music

Discography

Albums

  • 1962 Alley Cat (Atco Records)
  • 1962 The Happy Puppy (Atco Records)
  • 1963 Piano Party with Bent Fabric (Columbia 33-OSX-7720)(Australia)
  • 1964 Organ Grinder's Swing (Atco Records)
  • 1964 The Drunken Penguin (Atco Records)
  • 1965 Together! (with Acker Bilk) (Atco Records)
  • 1966 Never Tease Tigers (Atco Records)
  • 1967 Operation Lovebirds (Atco Records)
  • 1968 Relax With Bent Fabric (Atco Records)
  • 1997 The Very Best of Bent Fabric
  • 1998 Klaver med mer (CMC Records)
  • 2001 Mit livs melodi (Copenhagen Records)
  • 2004 Jukebox (Universal)
  • 2005 Kan du kende melodien (Universal)
  • 2014 Bent Fabricius-Bjerre og Hans Musik (Warner Music)

Singles

Year Title Peak chart
positions		 Record Label B-side Album
US
Pop		 US
AC
1962 "Alley Cat" 7 2 Atco "Markin' Time" Alley Cat
"Chicken Feed" 63 16 "That Certain Party" (BB #117) The Happy Puppy
1963 "The Happy Puppy" 102 — "Sermonette"
1964 "Goofus" — — "Organ Grinder's Swing" Organ Grinder's Swing
1965 "The Old Piano Roll Blues" — — "Titena" The Drunken Penguin
"Alley Cat Dance" — — "The Drunken Penguin"
1966 "The Sweet Charity Theme" — — "Can't You See"

References

  1. ↑ Biography, Allmusic.com
  2. 1 2 Billboard Singles, Allmusic.com
  3. ↑ Billboard, Allmusic.com
  4. ↑ Grammy Awards, Allmusic.com
  5. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 146. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  6. 1 2 "Yes, Bent Fabric Is For Real". Geezer Music Club. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  7. ↑ Seelye, Katharine Q. (29 July 2020). "Bent Fabric, Pianist and Composer Known for 'Alley Cat,' Dies at 95". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  8. ↑ "Bent Fabricius-Bjerre er død". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 28 July 2020.
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