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101 Strings music biography continued...

audience. 101 Strings was founded in 1957 by producer/engineer Dick L. Miller, who was searching for a way to imitate the sound and style of orchestras led by "name" conductors like Mantovani, without the expense involved in securing their services. He hit upon the idea of recruiting unknown European groups at a much lower cost, and made the 101 Strings Orchestra into something of a brand name, regularly changing the line-up of musicians, but not their signature arrangements and sound.. The orchestra's first home was Miller's own Somerset label and their first arranger was Robert Lowden; he was followed by Joseph Kuhn and Monte Kelly in turn, all of whom wrote occasional original numbers as well. In 1964, Miller sold the whole 101 Strings package to the Alshire label, which continued to turn out product with assembly line regularity over the next few decades. Output decreased from 1974 on; a tribute to John Lennon (composed of earlier Beatle tribute material) in January 1981 marks the final 101 Strings effort. In 1995, Madacy Entertainment purchased the Alshire label and began reissuing a great deal of the 101 Strings back catalog on CD, not to mention new material, from a newly reconfigured orchestra.



Most of the albums the 101 Strings churned out were based on some unifying theme, whether the work of a well-known artist or songwriter, a specific topic ( i.e. patriotism, holidays), TV/ movie themes, songs from a particular country, or rearrangements of familiar tunes from other genres. Their sound has been described by observers as "built on a reverence for melody, pristine production, and a pleasant, relaxing ambience; while occasional albums have concentrated on brass, piano, guitars, and even mild rock & roll rhythms, the string section -- true to the group's name -- nearly always remains front and center, because of its lush, soothing sound qualities." These are qualities that have made the music of the 101 Strings Orchestra endure for each new generation of music lover.