Sam Arlen

Musician Sam Arlen is a saxophonist and a music publisher. His S.A. Music Co. publishes and maintains the extensive and important catalog of the songs of Harold Arlen his father, who composed over 400 songs including standards like Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and Stormy Weather
Biography
Arlen was born in Hollywood to Harold and Anya Arlen. He was raised in New York City, where, as a teen, he attended the High School of the Performing Arts. He graduated in 1976, and went on to perform with various bands at notable New York venues such as the Roseland Ballroom. He performed with Latin great Ramon Argueso, the Johnny Mule Orchestra, and opening for accordionist Shirley Evans of “Magical Mystery Tour” fame.
In 1986, Harold Arlen died of cancer. "There would be no more opportunities for words of wisdom or even the possibility of hearing another creation. It affected me deeply.”
Shortly after his father's passing in 1986, Sam set up S.A Music Co., a music publishing company that continued to administer and promote Arlen's vast and lucrative music catalog. Sam continued to perform, but, ironically, just as his father's compositional skill drew him away from the stage, Sam's focus shifted from his work as a performer in his own right and toward the publishing business.
Arlen produced a centennial tribute to his father, the Harold Arlen 2005 Centennial. Co-chaired by Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Michael Feinstein and Marilyn Bergman of ASCAP, it became a two year series of concerts, exhibits, shows, recordings and memorials in tribute to the life and music of the great American composer, both in the U.S. and abroad.
* New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg proclaimed February 15th (Harold’s birthday) “Harold Arlen Day” in 2005.
* Mayor Masiello of Buffalo, New York (Harold’s birthplace) proclaiming June 10th, 2005 “Harold Arlen Day” for their city
* There was an all-star concert at Carnegie Hall on February 14th, 2005
* A national Centennial concert tour launched starring Tony Award winner Faith Prince and television/singing star Tom Wopat
* A four month museum exhibit honoring Harold’s musical career at the New York Library of Performing Arts at Lincoln Center
* A Gala Benefit, concerts, film series and lectures at Chicago’s Annual Humanities Festival
* An award ceremony honoring Harold at ASCAP’s Film and Television Music Awards in Los Angeles
* An Actor’s Fund tribute concert to Harold Arlen.
Recordings
In 2005, Sam Arlen released a CD entitled: “Arlen Plays Arlen - A Timeless Tribute to Harold Arlen.” The instrumental CD features Sam on the tenor saxophone for thirteen of Harold Arlen’s songs recorded live in the studio with Big Band and orchestra.
Performances
As a result of recording “Arlen Play Arlen,” Sam has had the wonderful opportunity to return to the stage as a performer. He has guest-starred at several of the Centennial events (Carnegie Hall Feb. 14th all-star concert, Jazz at Lincoln Center with Tonya Pinkins, at the Buffalo Philharmonic with John Pizzarelli, the ASCAP Awards, and the U.S. Air Force Band of Liberty with Ann Hampton Callaway.

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