Paul Weston '33, leading music director in the popular recording field, had, upon leaving Dartmouth, two tangible results ot his four years in college: a Phi Beta Kappa key and a self-taught knowledge of the clarinet and saxophone. Although he had earned much of his way through Dartmouth by playing with his own dance orchestra, the "Green Serenaders," he thought he had left popular music as source of income behind him when he went on to Columbia University to take graduate work in business administration and advertising. However, he was severely injured in a train accident and during the five months of his convalescence took up the study of musical arrangements.
One of his first arrangements, "Pop Goes Your Heart," was played and caught the ear of Rudy Vallee, who promptly signed up Weston to work with him. After that the big names gravitated Weston's way, for his arrangements, which subtly but suiely brought out melody, won a large public and swift popularity for their singers. Phil Harris, Tommy Dorsey, Bob Crosby, Jo Stafford and Dinah Shore were some of the
singers associated with him. In addition to his recording activities, Weston did free lance work in radio and motion pictures, and formed his own orchestra, with which he makes appearances on Broadway and the West Coast. He is the composer of some 20 popular songs. In 1944 when he became music director of Capitol Recording, he had an idea for albums of instrumental music, designed to tune into a variety of moods, which have had a great popularity and won him the title of "Paul Weston, Master of Mood Music."
In 1950 Weston joined Columbia Records, continuing his album releases in a new series, and once more arranging songs for Jo Stafford. Last February he ceased being one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors when he and Miss Stafford were married in Los Angeles.
Although musically Paul Weston may- be the man of many moods, his career is outstanding for his ability to sense what the public wants next and, in a very unmoody fashion, to work hard to create the arrangements they will want to listen to.
PAUL WESTON '33, former "Green Serenader" at Dartmouth and now a nationally popular music director, with his equally famous wife, Jo Stafford, radio and recording star.