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((Short description|American recording engineer (1907–1978)))
((More citations needed|date=October 2019))
((Use mdy dates|date=February 2020))
((Infobox person
| name          = Enoch Light
| image         = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
| alt           = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption       = 
| birth_name    = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_date    =
| birth_place   = 
| death_date    = 
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| nationality   = 
| other_names   = 
| occupation    = Audio engineer, record label executive and producer
| years_active  = 
| known_for     = Quadraphonic recordings
| notable_works = 
))

'''Enoch Henry Light''' (August 18, 1907 – July 31, 1978) was an American [[european classical music|classically trained]] [[violin]]ist, [[bandleader|danceband leader]], and [[recording engineer]].<ref name="Larkin50">((cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2002|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-937-0|pages=253/4))</ref> As the leader of various dance bands that recorded as early as March 1927 and continuing through at least 1940, Light and his band primarily worked in various hotels in New York. For a time in 1928 he also led a band in [[Paris]]. In the 1930s Light also studied conducting with the French conductor [[Maurice Frigara]] in Paris.<ref>Enoch Light, the Master of Sound. ''Billboard'', 18 February 1967.</ref>

Throughout the 1930s, Light and his outfits were steadily employed in the generally more upscale hotel restaurants and ballrooms in New York that catered to providing polite ambiance for dining and functional dance music of current popular songs rather than out-and-out jazz.

At some point his band was tagged The Light Brigade and they often broadcast over radio live from the [[Hotel Taft]] in New York, where they had a long residency. Through 1940, Light and his band recorded for various labels including Brunswick, ARC, Vocalion and Bluebird. In 1955, Light founded [[Grand Award Records]] and served as president and [[Artists and repertoire|A&R]] chief.<ref name="BSN">((cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=David |last2=Eyries |first2=Patrice |last3=Callahan |first3=Mike |title=Grand Award Album Discography |url=https://www.bsnpubs.com/abc/grandaward.html |website=www.bsnpubs.com |accessdate=March 24, 2022))</ref> In 1959 he founded a subsidiary label, [[Command Records]]. Grand Award and its subsidiary labels were sold to [[ABC-Paramount Records]] in October 1959.<ref>((cite journal|last=Grevatt|first=Ren|title=Record Hunter Displays Sell|journal=Billboard Magazine|date=November 6, 1961|page=15|issn=0006-2510))</ref><ref>((cite journal|title=From a catalog of 3 LP's: The Rise of Command Records|journal=Billboard Magazine|date=June 20, 1960|page=13|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ix8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA13))</ref> Light's name was prominent on many albums both as musician and producer.

== Early years ==
Light was born in [[Canton, Ohio]], on August 18, 1907. While he was a student at [[Johns Hopkins University]], he formed his initial orchestra. When he took that group on tours of Europe in 1928 and 1929, he studied classical conducting at the [[Mozarteum University Salzburg|Mozarteum]] in Salzburg and the [[Opéra-Comique|Opera Comique]] in Paris.<ref name="nytobit">((cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=John S. |title=Enoch Light, Leader of a Big Band, Stereo Recording Innovator, Dead |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/08/01/archives/enoch-light-leader-of-a-big-band-stereo-recording-innovator-dead.html?searchResultPosition=3 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=August 1, 1978 |page=B 2|url-access=subscription))</ref> He also studied at [[Ohio State University]] and the [[University of Pittsburgh]].<ref name="singer" />

==Career==
Light's early career in the United States had him leading orchestras on recordings and in dance halls, hotels, and theaters for about 10 years. His work was interrupted for two years while he recovered from a head-on automobile collision. When he was ready to resume his career, the big-band era had ended, and he turned to the business side of recorded music.<ref name="nytobit" />

Light is credited with being one of the first musicians to go to extreme lengths to create high-quality recordings that took full advantage of the technical capabilities of home audio equipment of the late 1950s and early 1960s, particularly [[stereophonic sound|stereo]] effects that bounced the sounds between the right and left channels (often described as "[[Ping-pong recording]]"), which had huge influence on the whole concept of multi-track recording that would become commonplace in the ensuing years.((Citation needed|date=January 2017)) Doing so, he arranged his musicians in ways to produce the kinds of recorded sounds he wished to achieve, even completely isolating various groups of them from each other in the recording studio. The first of the [[album]]s produced for Command Records, ''[[Persuasive Percussion]]'', became one of the first big-hit LP discs based solely on retail sales. Light's music received little or no airplay on the radio, because [[AM radio]], the standard of the day, was [[monaural]] and had very poor fidelity. Light went on to release several albums in the ''Persuasive Percussion'' series, as well as a [[Command test record]].((Citation needed|date=October 2019))

The album covers were generally designed with [[abstract art|abstract]], [[minimalist]] artwork that stood out boldly from other album covers. These pieces were usually the work of [[Josef Albers]]. Light was so interested in the sound of his music that he would include lengthy prose describing each song's sounds.((Citation needed|date=October 2019)) In order to fit all of his descriptions on to the album sleeve, he doubled the size of the sleeve but enabled it to fold like a [[book]], thus popularizing the [[gatefold]] packaging format. The gatefold sleeve became extremely popular in later decades, and was used on albums such as [[The Beatles]]' ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]''.

Enoch Light released myriad albums in various [[musical genre|genres]] of music under a variety of names during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Some were released under [[Grand Award Records]], which he founded in 1955. He founded [[Command Records]] in 1959. [[ABC Records|ABC-Paramount Records]] acquired the Light family of labels in October 1959. Light stayed on to manage and handle A&R.<ref name="BSN"/>

The music was intended for older audiences, presumably because he saw them as more serious audiophiles who had more money to spend on high-end stereo equipment, as opposed to most [[popular music]] of the time, which was generally intended for teenagers and young adults. During this time, he pioneered many recording techniques such as the use of [[Sound follower#Alternate uses|35&nbsp;mm magnetic film]] instead of [[magnetic tape]], reducing [[wow (recording)|wow and flutter]], being driven by sprockets rather than a rubber [[pinch wheel]].<ref>((cite web|url=https://obsoletemedia.org/35mm-magnetic-film/|title=35mm magnetic film (1959 – 1970)|date=December 23, 2018 |publisher=Museum of Obsolete Media|access-date=29 October 2020))</ref> The recordings were released under the "35MM" series, starting from "Stereo 35-MM" released by Command Records. Musicians who appeared on Light's albums include [[The Free Design]], [[The Critters]], Rain, [[Doc Severinsen]], [[Tony Mottola]], [[Dick Hyman]], and organist [[Virgil Fox]] (on the [[Wanamaker Organ]]). As an arranger, Lew Davies was one of the label's most important contributors.

Light remained with the ABC/Command family until 1965. After his departure, the quality of the records plummeted dramatically.((Citation needed|date=November 2010)) The signature gatefold format (along with Light's prose) was immediately discontinued, and the covers changed to budget labels pressed on recycled vinyl.((Citation needed|date=November 2010)) In 1975, they were completely discontinued.

Light joined forces with the [[Singer Corporation]] in August 1966, to help the company launch production of phonograph records, tapes, and tape cartridges. Plans called for a new company to be formed, with Light and Singer each having half-interest and Light as both president and chief executive officer.<ref name="singer">((cite news |title=Enoch Light Takes Singer Co. Post |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/08/24/archives/enoch-light-takes-singer-co-post.html?searchResultPosition=2 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=August 24, 1966 |page=68|url-access=subscription))</ref>

Light's new label was called [[Project 3 Records|Project 3]]. It did not concentrate as heavily on stereo effects. Light recorded several successful [[big band]] albums with an ace group of New York studio musicians, many of whom were veterans of the bands of the [[swing era]] who were still regularly working in New York's television and recording studios. Released as ''Enoch Light and the Light Brigade'', the arrangements used on the recordings were transcribed note-for-note from some of what were the hallmark recordings by many of the best bands of the swing era.((cn|date=April 2023)) 

The arranging reconstructions of these now "classic" arrangements were completely reconstructed by arrangers Dick Lieb, Dick Hyman, Tony Mottola and Jeff Hest. Many of the musicians employed for this series of "re-creations" had been members of the original bands that made the original records decades earlier. This veritable Who's Who of swing-era veterans included saxophonists [[Phil Bodner]], [[Walt Levinsky]] (both also heavily featured on clarinet), [[Al Klink]], [[Boomie Richman]], Romeo Penque, and Sol Schlinger; trumpeters Mel Davis, [[Rusty Dedrick]], [[Bernie Glow]], Bob McCoy, and [[Marvin Stamm]]; trombonists [[Wayne Andre]], [[Urbie Green]], [[Lou McGarity]], [[Buddy Morrow]], and Santo Russo; guitarist Tony Mottola; bassists [[Bob Haggart]] and [[George Duvivier]]; drummers [[Don Lamond]] and [[Ronnie Zito]]; pianists Dick Hyman and [[Derek Smith (musician)|Derek Smith]] and vibraharpist Phil Kraus.((Citation needed|date=January 2017))

== Personal life and death ==
Light married Mary Danis, who acted on stage and sang on recordings and on radio. They had two daughters.<ref>((cite news |title=Mrs. Enoch Light |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/01/23/archives/mrs-enoch-light.html?searchResultPosition=1 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=January 23, 1969 |page=27|url-access=subscription))</ref>

Light retired from music entirely in 1974.((Citation needed |date=October 2021)) He died on July 31, 1978, at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, aged 71.<ref name=nytobit/>

==Legacy==
Light released 25 albums over 12 years (1959–71), with two of them reaching number one on the U.S. ''Billboard'' album chart.  He holds the record for having the most charting LPs without having a Top 40 single, as reported by [[Casey Kasem]] on the [[American Top 40]] broadcast of 14 October 1978.

Events coinciding with Light's birthday near his birthplace of northeastern Ohio have occurred since the late 1990s. The most recent is 2014's Enoch Light Birthday Memorial Go-Go Happening<ref>((Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/events/the-beachland-ballroom-and-tavern/enoch-light-birthday-memorial-go-go-happening/301327050026913/|title=Enoch Light Birthday Memorial Go-Go Happening|website=Facebook.com|access-date=25 October 2019))</ref> and features bands performing Light's work and multimedia installations remixing the distinctive [[Command Records]] album cover designs.

== Discography ==
((Cleanup|section|reason=Formatting, non-use of wikitable(s), laundry list appearance, unreferenced|date=October 2019))
''Big Band Hits of the 30s'' (Project 3, PR-5049) [LP-1 / 13 tracks]
* [[Begin The Beguine]] – [[Artie Shaw]] version
* [[A String of Pearls (song)|A String of Pearls]] – [[Glenn Miller]] version
* [[I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You]] – [[Tommy Dorsey]] version
* We'll Git It! – Tommy Dorsey version
* [[Woodchopper's Ball]] – [[Woody Herman]] version
* [[One O'Clock Jump]] – [[Count Basie]] version
* [[Moonlight Serenade]] – Glenn Miller version
* Let's Dance – [[Benny Goodman]] version
* [[In The Mood]] – Glenn Miller version
* [[Ciribiribin]] – [[Harry James]] version
* Snowfall – [[Claude Thornhill]] version
* [[South Rampart Street Parade]] – [[Bob Crosby]] version
* [[Take the "A" Train|Take The "A" Train]] – [[Duke Ellington]] version

''Big Band Hits of the 30s, Vol. 2'' (Project 3, PR-5089) [LP-2 / 12 tracks]
* [[Stardust (1927 song)|Stardust]] – Benny Goodman version
* [[American Patrol]] – Glenn Miller version
* [[Sugar Blues]] – [[Clyde McCoy]] version
* [[Solitude]] – Duke Ellington version
* [[King Porter Stomp]] – Benny Goodman version
* [[What Is This Thing Called Love?]] – Artie Shaw version
* [[Bugle Call Rag]] – Benny Goodman version
* Smoke Rings – [[Casa Loma Orchestra]] version
* [[Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise]] – Artie Shaw version
* [[Boogie Woogie]] – Tommy Dorsey version
* [[Caravan (1937 song)|Caravan]] – Duke Ellington version
* [[Little Brown Jug (song)|Little Brown Jug]] – Glenn Miller version

''Big Band Hits of the 30s and 40s'' (Project 3, PR-5056) [LP-3 / 13 tracks; CD re-issue = 12 tracks]
* [[Cherokee]] – [[Charlie Barnet]] version
* [[April in Paris (song)|April in Paris]] – Count Basie version
* [[I Can't Get Started]] – [[Bunny Berigan]] version
* [[Jersey Bounce]] – Benny Goodman version
* [[Sing, Sing, Sing]] (Part 1)* – Benny Goodman version
* Sing, Sing, Sing (Part 2)* – Benny Goodman version
* [[Marie (1929 song)|Marie]] – Tommy Dorsey version
* [[I'll Never Smile Again]] – Tommy Dorsey version
* [[Don't Get Around Much Anymore]] – Duke Ellington version
* [[Moonlight Sonata]] – Glenn Miller version
* [[Flying Home]] – [[Lionel Hampton]] version
* [[Tuxedo Junction]] – Glenn Miller version
* [[Four Brothers (jazz standard)|Four Brothers]] – Woody Herman version

(*) These two tracks were merged into one continuous track on CD re-issues.

''Big Band Hits of the 40s and 50s'' (Project 3, PR-5076) [LP-4 / 12 tracks]
* [[Chattanooga Choo Choo]] – Glenn Miller version
* [[You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)|You Made Me Love You]] – Harry James version
* [[Satin Doll]] – Duke Ellington version
* [[On A Slow Boat To China]] – [[Kay Kyser]] version
* [[Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White]] – Prez Prado version
* [[Pennsylvania 6-5000]] – Glenn Miller version
* [[Song of India (song)|Song of India]] – Tommy Dorsey version
* [[Sentimental Journey (song)|Sentimental Journey]] – [[Les Brown (bandleader)|Les Brown]] version
* [[Edgar Sampson|Don't Be That Way]] – Benny Goodman version
* [[Heartaches (song)|Heartaches]] – [[Ted Weems]] version
* [[Sunrise Serenade]] – Glenn Miller version
* [[Stompin' At The Savoy]] – Benny Goodman version

LP-1 and -4 and LP-2 and -3 were reissued as two [[double album]] compilation LPs, but the various compilation double-album releases of LP-2 and -3 are missing two tracks that originally appeared on LP-3.

==References==
((Reflist))

==External links==
*[http://www.spaceagepop.com/light.htm Spaced Out – Enoch Light website]

((Authority control))

((DEFAULTSORT:Light, Enoch))
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:1978 deaths]]
[[Category:American bandleaders]]
[[Category:Bell Records artists]]
[[Category:Big band bandleaders]]
[[Category:American male violinists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Canton, Ohio]]
[[Category:American audio engineers]]
[[Category:Quadraphonic sound engineers]]
[[Category:20th-century American violinists]]
[[Category:Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development alumni]]
[[Category:Engineers from Ohio]]
[[Category:20th-century American engineers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:Easy listening musicians]]

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