Russell H. Faith, 'Mr. Music' wrote 500 songs
Hyfler/Rosner
BYLINE: By Natalie Pompilio; Philadelphia Inquirer Staff
Writer
They called Russell H. Faith "Mr. Music."
He started playing the guitar at age 7, performing in
churches and bars - sneaked into the latter by his father.
As a teenager, he began writing songs, eventually composing
tunes for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Frankie Avalon and
Sarah Vaughan. For more than 40 years, he gave singing
lessons at his Newtown School of Music, watching his
students go on to careers on Broadway and in Hollywood.
"It was music 24/7 with him," said Mr. Faith's son, Russell.
"He was one of the most unique, versatile musicians and
songwriters of all time. He just did it all."
Faith died Wednesday at Abington Memorial Hospital of
complications from a stroke.
Born in Horsham, Mr. Faith grew up in Kensington and met his
wife, Jennie, while the pair were students at Frankford High
School. He wrote "You're All I See," recorded by the Four
Freshmen, for her. They were married for almost 56 years.
Mr. Faith wrote and cowrote more than 500 songs during his
lifetime, his son said, including Sinatra's "Somewhere in
Your Heart," Avalon's "Bobby Sox to Stockings," and
Vaughan's "Snowbound," the title song of her 1962 album.
Barbra Streisand included "Snowbound" on her 2001 Christmas
album.
Mr. Faith's compositions were heard in 12 movies, including
North to Alaska,Voyage to the Bottom of the Seaand Beach
Party.
As a voice teacher, Mr. Faith shepherded original Broadway
"Annie" Andrea McArdle, movie "Annie" Aileen Quinn, and
actors Joseph Lawrence and Seth Green.
In 1994, the Philadelphia Music Alliance honored Mr. Faith
with a PMA Founders Award. In 2000, he received a star on
its Walk of Fame
"He was very, very proud of that day. Very, very humbled.
Very, very touched," his son said. "To have a star on that
sidewalk meant he'd made his mark in time. It was a
recognition of what he did, and that really meant a lot to
him."
Timmy Kelly, an 11-year-old singer who has performed for
Gov. Rendell, President Bush, and thousands of Eagles fans,
started taking lessons from Mr. Faith four years ago.
"They would just sit down at the piano and they wouldn't
even have to talk. Russ would hit a key and Timmy would sing
it, and it was amazing to see the two of them together,"
said Eileen Kelly, Timmy's mother. "Russ just knew music. He
gave Timmy lots of pointers, lots of great advice, and he
always knew what songs Timmy should learn."
Timmy will sing two songs at Mr. Faith's funeral on
Wednesday, including "What a Wonderful World," the last song
the pair worked on together.
"At first, he was afraid he was going to cry," Eileen Kelly
said of her son, "but we told him, 'Just give it 200
percent. For Russ. It's OK if you cry later.' "
Besides his wife and son, Mr. Faith is survived by a
brother, Jack.
A musical tribute will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at
Fletcher Funeral Home, 9529 Bustleton Ave. Funeral services
will follow at 11 a.m. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m.
Tuesday and at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Sunset
Memorial Park, Feasterville.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Russell
Faith Music Scholarship Fund, in care of Newtown School of
Music, 120 S. State St., Newtown, Pa. 18940.