David Axelrod

David Axelrod (April 17, 1931 – February 5, 2017) was an American composer, arranger, and producer. After starting out as a staff producer for record companies specializing in jazz, Axelrod became known by the mid-1960s in soul and jazz circles for his recording skills. In 1968, Axelrod embarked on a solo career and released several albums during the 1970s that showcased his characteristic sound, which combined heavily microphoned drums and baroque orchestration, and avant garde themes ranging from the environment to heightened mental awareness.

With his early solo projects, Axelrod was one of the first recording artists to fuse elements of jazz, rock, and R&B. One of his most important records, Song of Innocence (1968), featured instrumental interpretations of 18th-century poet William Blake's poetry collection of the same name done in a contemporary musical vein, leading one critic at the time to coin the term "jazz fusion" and numerous hip hop producers to sample the album's music decades later.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 17, 1936 (Los Angeles), Died February 5, 2017 (Burbank)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1972

Roles Represented in DAHR: performer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca L 15998 February 1972 Theme from Gunsmoke David Axelrod performer  
Decca L 15999 February 1972 The lost lament David Axelrod performer  
Decca L 16036 4/5/1972 Sympathy David Axelrod performer  
Decca L 16037 4/5/1972 Freedom David Axelrod performer  
Decca L 16038 4/7/1972 The debt David Axelrod performer  
Decca L 16039 4/6/1972 The auction David Axelrod performer  
Decca L 16040 4/9/1972 Be proud-My race David Axelrod performer  
Decca L 16041 4/6/1972 The leading citizen David Axelrod performer  
Decca L 16042 4/9/1972 Oh! Freedom David Axelrod performer  
Decca L 16048 4/9/1972 Oh! Freedom David Axelrod performer  
Decca L 16163 8/23/1972 The leading citizen, part 1 David Axelrod performer  
Decca L 16164 8/23/1972 The leading citizen, part 2 David Axelrod performer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Axelrod, David," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/302376.

Axelrod, David. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/302376.

"Axelrod, David." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/302376

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