* En anglais uniquement
Aaron Lightman is likely more well known in contemporary times than when he was an active musician. Hailing from Philadelphia, his slight and short build portrayed him as a much younger person, with a supposed childlike appearance and slight hundred-pound build, which also typified his singing style.
Lightman's voice itself was described as a cross between the
Gibb brothers from
the Bee Gees and
Donovan Leitch. Owing no small allegiance to the '60s psychedelic era,
Lightman's music was very orchestrated, similar to certain songs of
the Beatles or
the Moody Blues in a melodic baroque pop vein. He co-wrote songs with
Dean Christopher and with producer
Ron Frangipane, who also worked with
Melanie,
Janis Ian,
the Monkees,
John Lennon,
Dusty Springfield, and
the Rolling Stones. The Poppy label, distributed by MGM, issued his eponymous debut album in 1970, and the single "Down to the Sea" b/w "Now Is the Time." He worked with string players
Gene Bianco,
George Ricci, and
Gene Orloff; drummer
Al Rogers; flutist
Romeo Penque; and acclaimed jazz woodwind player
Phil Bodner.
Lightman's record does not seem to have attracted much attention when it was first issued, but upon its reissue in 2008 by the Fallout label,
Lightman enjoyed renewed interest. Another factor in his reemergence is that his niece is contemporary pop star
Toby Lightman. She dedicated her second album, 2006's
Bird on a Wire, to him. ~ Michael G. Nastos