Heavenly Sounds in Hi-Fi

Lou Teicher, one-half of legendary piano duo Ferrante & Teicher, passed away yesterday at 83. His manager, Scott Smith, said that "Lou's death was unexpected -- the result of a heart attack at Lou and [wife] Betty's summer home in North Carolina." F&T were the 1,600-lb. gorillas of snoozemeistering schmaltz—non-intrusive musical wallpaper that was paradoxically ignorable yet sold billions.

However, their 1950s prepared piano pop (released on a half-dozen LPs before the duo achieved commercial success) was groundbreaking and still sounds ear-bending. During this developmental period, the Juilliard grads were renowned for experimental performance techniques and atonal modalities. Their prepared piano (a phrase coined by John Cage) involved wedging wood, metal, and debris in the piano strings to mute tones and create percussive effects. They would also reach into the piano frame during a duet and dampen strings with their fingers.

F&T performed a number of times on the old Ernie Kovacs TV show. Here's a clip of the boys performing "Oye Negra."

Comments

[Mark Anthony Ferrante]

Scott also called me. I am devastated. This is truly sad. It was their recording of The Theme from Exodus that began my love for the piano some 40+ years ago. I met Lou several times after concerts I attended. Very nice guy, as is Art Ferrante. They always cared about their fans and would always sit at a table to talk and visit with them after a concert. How many artists do that today? I will always think of them fondly for the joy they brought to my life through their music.

[Scott W. Smith]

Two things: #1 Let's keep setting the record straight...F & T did NOT know of John Cage's work nor who he was..their prepared-pianos were not influenced by him. #2 F & T were definately NOT easy listening/beautiful music. Only 10% of their some 1,400 song list ever made to EZ/Beautiful music stations. Ferrante & Teicher NEVER changed from 1947...the MUSIC did. Scott W. Smith...personal manager, Ferrante & Teicher