Charles Segal (pianist)

Charles Segal (1929 – 4 July 2021) was a classically trained jazz and commercial pianist, and composer.

Biography
Charles Segal was born in 1929 in Joniškis, Lithuania. When he was two years old, his mother, mandolinist Riva Segal, brought her two sons, Louis and Charles, to escape the Holocaust from Lithuania to Cape Town, South Africa. They travelled from Germany on the SS Adolph Woermann. Riva also brought along her half-sister and her family: Ella (née Zotnickaita) and Ber Skikne and their three sons, the youngest being Hirske, who became renowned actor Laurence Harvey. Segal studied classical music, becoming an Associate (ATCL) and a Licentiate of Trinity College London (LTCL) in performance and teaching. Segal had a well-known musical career as a pianist, composer, publisher, arranger and teacher. He was a founding member of the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) and the Drama and Literary Rights Organization (DALRO) in 1961 along with Dr. Gideon Roos Senior. Charles Segal Music School in Pretoria and Cape Town were the largest in the country. In 1971, Segal met his third wife, Colleen Hay, an actress, musician and singer in the popular band called The In-Set. After obtaining degrees at UCT, Colleen founded the Hay-Schneider School of Speech and Drama in Cape Town and the Centre Stage Theatre School in Newton, MA, USA. The couple had two children together, Reeve Segal, attorney, and Melanie Segal, PR expert. Segal also has two older children from his second marriage, Michelle Barone and Mark Shapiro.

Career
Segal, an English-speaking, Jewish pianist, first gained public recognition in 1952 when his first song, the Afrikaans "Miskien" ("Perhaps"), won the Rooi Roos magazine song-writing competition. From 1953 to 1986, Segal performed regularly on live and recorded SABC radio shows in South Africa, such as Piano Playtime, Sundown Serenade and SA Showtime, and in the US was featured on Supreme Master Television. The Music of Charles Segal on the SABC television network was a 1985 TV special featuring a wide range of South African musicians performing Segal's original compositions.

Segal composed, performed and arranged 50 transcription long-playing recordings for the SABC and was frequently commissioned to compose music for SABC productions, such as The Forsyte Saga, The Story of an African Farm, and The Saga of Prunella and The Summons. His song "Carousel" was the theme for the "Radio RSA" overseas broadcasts from 1969 through 1996. Numerous Charles Segal compositions have become part of traditional South African music: songs such as "Africa", "Kwela, Kwela", "Sy Kom Van Kommetjie", "Kalkoenkie" and "Hy-Ba-Ba-Rie-Bab", many of which were sung in Afrikaans. In 1973, Segal's song "My Children, My Wife" (Segal-Roos), was voted by the South African audiences as the Song of the Year. Segal was presented with the SARIE Award (equivalent to a Grammy Award) by Dr. Christiaan Barnard, renowned surgeon who performed the world's first heart transplant. "My Children, My Wife" (Segal-Roos) was subsequently recorded in the Netherlands, Germany, England (by Rolf Harris and Israel and reached European hit parades.

Segal founded Spin Record Company in 1954 to record and promote his music. Once established as a popular performer, Segal was recruited by other record labels, such as Trutone, Gallo Africa, Trek Music, CBS, MFP Music for Pleasure and Reader's Digest to record on their labels. Segal's Publications was established in 1953 to maintain the copyright of Charles Segal compositions, to publish popular Segal songs on sheet music and to also promote fellow musicians and songwriters. Segal's Publications is also known as Charles Segal Publications and is affiliated with BMI. Some popular Charles Segal Sheet Music Albums include: "Charles Segal's Favourite Melodies," "Charles Segal's Favourite Melodies Volume 2," "The Charles Segal Dorothy Arenson Song Book," and "Sing With Charles Segal." Children's sheet music albums include "Magical Mystery Man," "Everyday Things," "Animal Concert," and "Sprankelende Liedjies."

Segal's Publications also published music tutor books in English and Afrikaans, including Home Piano Course for Beginners, Volumes 1 and 2, Instant Organ and Kits Orrel, Instant Chord Book for the Piano, Instant Keyboard and Instant Songwriting.

Segal's musical career spread to other parts of the world, including London (1961), Boston (1967), and in New York where his song "Another Time, Another Place", written with US lyricist Gladys Shelly (1968), was recorded by jazz singer Arthur Prysock. Other hits written in the USA include "Girl Power" with Sheila Davis and "Tomboy", sung by Ronnie Dove, which received a "bullet" rating in Billboard magazine in 1968. Segal's song "You're Not Alone", written with lyricist Barbara Brilliant, was featured at an AIDS Foundation fundraiser at the Boston Garden in 1992, where Joan Rivers was the M.C., and his song "Just Talk to Me" was the theme song of a 1990s TV talk show of the same name on Boston's WBZ-TV, with presenter Barbara Brilliant.

Segal composed eight full-length musicals with his wife Colleen Segal (née Hay), which have been performed in South Africa, the US, Britain and Australia. These musicals include: Magical Mystery Man, ''Living! The Inside Story, Rocky Road, Mystery Mansion, Once upon a Storyland, Melanie! and Summer Camp''. In 1987, shortly after arriving in the USA, the pair wrote a musical called ''Freedom! A Refusenik Story''. They also wrote and published several music tutor books, such as Instant Keyboard, Instant Guitar, and Instant Songwriting. Segal was a member of BMI as a songwriter and publisher.

Segal moved from Boston to Los Angeles in 2011. He performed on piano regularly at celebrity events for award shows such as the Oscars and Emmys, the MTV Movie Awards and the Kids Choice and Teen Choice Awards. In June 2017, Segal was awarded the Guinness Book of World Records title of Most Recorded Pianist in the world, citing 11,721 tracks of his more than 25,000 recorded titles.

Segal died at the age of 92 in Hollywood, California, on 4 July 2021, as the Independence day fireworks blazed outside. He is buried at the famous Hollywood Forever Cemetery. <!--

Discography
Segal has composed and recorded approximately 3,000 albums and counting. Some of his most well-known singles are:
 * 1) "Africa" (Columbia label EMI SA DSA 240 Segal/Carstens/De Waal 1951)
 * 2) "Another Time, Another Place"
 * 3) "Hy-Ba-Ba-Rie-Bab se Ding is Vim"
 * 4) "My Children, My Wife"
 * 5) "Girl Power"
 * 6) "Kootanda"
 * 7) "Kwela, Kwela"
 * 8) "Listen, Listen" recorded by Four Jacks and a Jill
 * 9) "Tomboy" recorded by Ronnie Dove
 * 10) "Jungle Rock 'n Roll"

Charles Segal's earliest recorded and released singles are:
 * 1) "Sweet Lorraine" (1950 - Presto label 78 rpm)
 * 2) "In the Mood for Love" (1950 - Presto label 78 rpm)
 * 3) "Ballet Music" (1954 - SFS label 33 1/3 rpm)
 * 4) "Summer Romance" Segal, Peters, Shaper (1951 CBS 78 rpm)
 * 5) "Castles in the Air" Segal, Peters, Shaper (1951 CBS 78 rpm)
 * 6) "I Never Loved Before" Segal, Shaper (1956 SFS 78 rpm)
 * 7) "Rondloper" (1951 Trutone RA191 4072.x 78 rpm)
 * 8) "Kyk Hoe Lyk Hy Nou" (1951 Trutone RA191 4072.x 78 rpm)
 * 9) "Op die Bus Na Seepunt" (1954 Trutone RA155 78 rpm))
 * 10) "Die Kwela Lied" (1954 Trutone RA155 78 rpm))

Segal's Commercially released albums include: African Albums: •	African Fantasy o	African Fantasy Instrumental o	African Fantasy Orchestra and Chorus •	Opus Africa (CBS) •	Africa Sings in Town and Country (Spin) •	Kwela – in Tune with South Africa, volume 5 •	Songs of Africa o	African Flavors o	African Combination o	African Songs o	African Sunset o	The best of Nico Carstens

Jazz Albums: •	Huis Partyjie-Reeks #1 (House Party Series) (Trek) •	Walk The World (CBS) •	Bouquet of Evergreen Songs •	Live Jazz at Concord •	Dancing with Memories (CBS) •	Honky Tonk Playtime (Columbia, EMI) •	It was A Great Year •	Jazz World •	Miles of Music •	Mirror I See •	Sentimental Journey •	Take the Floor (CBS) •	You’ve Got a Friend •	South African Jazz Scene (Spin) •	"Seagull" Visits USA •	Let’s Go Gay (CBS)
 * May I Have This Dance
 * Artistry of Jazz (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * The Language of Jazz (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Take Me Away (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Forget the Past (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Softly Sleeping (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Just Charles and the Piano (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Simplicity ..... (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Jazz Standard (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Relaxing Jazz (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * In the Mist (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Classical Piano (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Music of George Gershwin (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)

Easy Listening: •	Pastel Moods •	Piano and Strings •	Relax to the Music of Charles Segal •	Spa Music •	Thanks for the Memory •	Relax to Romantic Moments •	In the Mood For Love •	Classical Melodies for Easy Listening
 * Feeling (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Moment in Time (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Distance Apart (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Romantically Yours (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * What Matters Most (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Train Ride Home (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Water Falls (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Too Many Memories (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Moon Love (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Beginning of Love (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Walking in the Rain (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Degrees of Inspiration (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Midnight Melaodies (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)

Classical: •	Classical Melodies (for easy listening) •	Eleonore Loosen Plays Charles Segal Melodies in Classical Style (Gallo)
 * Waltz of the Flowers (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Segal's Fantasy (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * A Touch of the Classics Volume 1 (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * A Touch of the Classics Volume 1 (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Classical Charles (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)

Compilations: •	All By Myself •	As Time Goes By •	African Styles (Pretorius, Gibson, De Waal) •	African Styles 2 (Bosman, Pohl, Stelling) •	The Entertainer •	Original Songs (Volumes 1,2,3,4) •	Smiling Faces of Jack Stodel •	Think Just of Me •	Yesterday Once More •	More with Charles Segal (AVS) •	America The Beautiful •	An Evening with Charles (CBS) •	Cuddle Up a Little Closer (CBS) •	Fabulous Moments with Charles Segal and his Rhythm (CBS) •	 Dink Jy Darem Nog Aan My? (Do you at least still think of me?) •	Charles Segal Song Collection (1) •	Charles Segal Song Collection (2) •	Charles Segal and Friends •	Charles Segal’s Compositions •	Sleepy Shores (MFP) •	Gerry Collins Plays Charles Segal (Spin) •	Charles Segal Piano Hits •	Jos Cleber Plays Charles Segal (Spin) •	The Men on the Border •	Sentimental Journey •	Romantic Feelings •	Festival of Popular Songs (Reader’s Digest) •	Charles Segal & His Orchestra Pay Tribute to Frank Sinatra" (MFP) •	Sybils Chirping Birds (Spin) •	Come Fly With Me and Other Frank Sinatra Classics •	Sprankelende Liedjies
 * Charles Segal Song Collection (3)
 * Charles Segal Song Collection (4)
 * United We Stand (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * On Wings of a Song (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Soft Goodbyes (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Something About Love (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Dreaming of California (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Cold Shivers (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * The Piano's Story (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * To All Lovers (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Man in Love (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Free As a Segal (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Look for the Rainbow (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * The Soul of a Segal (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Charles Segal and the Segal Singers (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Traditional Jewish Music (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Music of Charles Segal (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * When Lights Go Out (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * The Soul of Charles Segal (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Saturday Morning Piano (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)

Pop Albums: •	From Me to You (The Beatles) •	Charles Segal: "Yesterday Once More" (MFP) •	Men on the Border •	Only in Dreams •	Charles Segal Piano Hits •	Seasons in the Sun •	Charles Segal and Orchestra: Sleepy Shores (CBS) •	Too Beautiful to Last (EMI) •	The Years Go By – Songs by Segal / Pam (SABC) •	Segal’s Scene (Gallo) •	Piano Man •	Charles Segal "The Entertainer" (CBS) •	The Beatles – Honky Tonk
 * Bonfires of Our Vanities

Children's Albums written, produced and performed by Colleen and Charles Segal: •	Animal Concert (CBS) •	Everyday Things (MFP) •	Magical Mystery Man (CBS) •	Dierekonsert (EMI MFP) •	Children’s Tales in English: Volume 1: Snow White, Black Beauty, Cinderella, Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves (MFP) •	Children’s Tales in English: Volume 2: Treasure Island, Jack & the Beanstalk, Pinocchio (CBS) •	Children’s Tales in English: Volume 3: Puss in Boots, Peter Pan, Aladdin and his Magical Lamp •	Fairy Tales in Afrikaans: Volume 1: The 3 Little Pigs, Hansel & Gretel, King Midas, Sleeping Beauty, Golden Goose, Wild Swans, Ugly Duckling, Pied Piper •	Fairy Tales in Afrikaans: Volume 2: Puss in Boots, Peter Pan, Aladdin and his Magical Lamp •	Children’s Bible stories in English: Volume 1:  Moses, Daniel, King Saul, Three Wise Men (MFP) •	Children’s Bible stories in English: Volume 2:  Noah, Exodus, King Solomon (Butterfly) •	Children’s Bible stories in Afrikaans: Moses, Daniel, King Saul, Three Wise Men (MFP)
 * Rocky Road Soundtrack (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)
 * Broadway Hits for Kids (soundcloud.com/charlessegalmusic/sets)

SABC Transcription Recordings - 25 long-playing albums

Scores: •	Soundtrack from "Glenda", the movie (CBS) •	Theme for the "Forsyte Saga" - SABC radio serial broadcast •	Theme for "The Summons" (SABC radio serial broadcast)

Original Musicals: recorded series - 6 released •	Story of an African Farm (full soundtrack) •	Saga of Prunella •	Magical Mystery Man •	Everyday Things
 * Over My Dead Body, Beautiful
 * Rocky Road
 * Freedom! A Refusenik Story
 * Mystery Mansion
 * Once Upon A Story Land
 * Living! The Inside Story

Recently released 2,250 albums recorded Albums including: •	Charles’s Modern Jazz Piano – Volumes 1 – 20 •	Lullaby Hits of Michael Jackson •	Lullaby Hits of Britney Spears •	Lullaby Hits of Madonna •	Lullaby Hits of 1990s •	Lullaby Hits of the new Millennium – Volumes 1 – 10 •	Baby Music – Volumes 1 – 15 •	Beatles for Kids – Volumes 1 – 10 •	Life is a moment in Time •	A Taste of Wine •	Artistry of Pianist •	A Brief Lesson in Jazz •	Orchestration at Christmas •	Jewish Holiday Music •	Christmas Music •	St. Patrick’s Day Music •	Blues Solo Piano •	Midnight Melodies •	Degrees of Inspiration •	Signs of Segal •	Spring Back (Classical Album) •	Stages of My Life •	My Own Good •	That’s a Wrap •	It Should Have Been •	The Gig Pak •	Resting Ground •	Taking Control •	As Sweet as You •	All at Once •	Let it Snow (Christmas) •	White Christmas •	Poetic Pianist •	Music of Gershwin •	Total Relaxation – Volumes 1 – 10 •	Relaxing to Broadway Melodies – Volumes 1 – 5 •	Relaxing to the Classics – Volumes 1 – 10 •	The Artistry of Charles – Volumes 1 – 10 •	Patriotic Songs •	Give the World a Chance •	Speech of Angels •	Fiddler on the Roof •	Favorite Broadway Melodies – Volumes 1 – 15 •	Interpretations of Classical Themes – Volumes 1 – 10 •	Jewish Holiday Songs •	Be My Valentine – Valentine’s Day music •	Dinner Party Music – Volumes 1 – 10 •	Boston Fantasy •	Serene Marine Music •	Favorite Classical Melodies Volumes 1 – 20 •	700 untitled albums •	Seasons with Charles Segal: 80 albums Spring – Volumes 1 – 20 Summer – Volumes 1 – 20 Autumn – Volumes 1 – 20 Winter – Volumes 1 – 20

Vocal Albums: •	Charles Segal Original Songs Volumes 1 – 4

Recorded Interviews: 3 •	Bill Prince •	Interview WBZ Boston •	John Silver London (Track 3) •	Charles Segal interviews Bill Evans (jazz pianist)

Segal Publications Musicals: 11 Scripts, Sheet Music, demo recordings & videos o	Over My Dead Body, Beautiful (unreleased) o	Freedom (A Refusenik Musical) o	Magical Mystery Man o	Once Upon a Storyland o	Living! The Inside Story of your Insides o	Summer Camp o	Mystery Mansion o	Rocky Road o	Melanie! o	The Shoemakers and the Elves o	Rumplestiltskin

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Awards

 * SARIE AWARD (South Africa Record Industry) "1973 Song of the Year" – "My Children, My Wife."
 * SABC AWARD (South African Broadcast Corporation) "Song of the Year" – "Carousel."