Rediscover “The Little Prince” Grammy Award Winner “Best Children’s Recording” on iTunes

March 24, 2016 – “The Little Prince” has been a favorite story of both young and old for decades. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s world famous novella has spawned numerous adaptations for film, stage and television, including the 2015 animated movie to premiere in the U.S. on NetFlix later this year. For those who love “The Little Prince,” rdkRecords invites you to reacquaint yourself and your loved ones with the most celebrated and beloved recording of “The Little Prince,” narrated by Richard Burton (Grammy Award Winner “Best Children’s Recording”) on iTunes .

The poignant, life-and-death odyssey offers timeless lessons when The Little Prince miraculously appears in the Sahara desert and tells a downed Aviator of his love for a Rose, and tales of the very strange grownups he encountered on his interplanetary journey. Disillusioned and saddened, his childlike innocence is regained when The Little Prince tames a Fox who tells him: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” 

In addition to Richard Burton (who plays the Aviator), the celebrated cast also features Jonathan Winters (as the King, and the Snake), John Carradine (as the Fox, Geographer, and Conceited Man), Jim Backus (as the Businessman, Tippler, and Railway Switchman), Claudine Longet (as the Rose), Mark Conrad (as the Lamplighter), and Billy Simpson (now affectionately known as Whimsical Will of the Dr. Demento radio show) as “The Little Prince.”

World-renowned songwriter/lyricist, the late Buddy Kaye (“‘A’ You’re Adorable,” “Full Moon and Empty Arms,” “I’ll Close My Eyes,” “Till The End of Time,” “Quiet Nights,” “The Old Songs”), produced, directed and did the book adaptation for the Grammy Award-winning album. His son, Richard D. Kaye, was associate producer and was instrumental in securing the license to record “The Little Prince” from representatives of the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry estate.

According to Richard D. Kaye, Burton declined the role of the Aviator in the 1974 Paramount Pictures live action musical, choosing instead to narrate the audio recording. “We were thrilled that an actor of Burton’s stature, with that majestic voice, would consider working with an indie record production company — for a fraction of his million-dollar fee,” said Kaye. And, to further accommodate us, “He traveled at his own expense by limo from a Northern California film location to Hollywood for our two-day recording session. Richard Burton loved “The Little Prince” and his decision to decline the role of the Aviator in the Paramount live-action film paid off when he won a Grammy Award in 1975 for his narration of “The Little Prince” album — and the movie turned out to be a box office disappointment.”

Pioneer music, film and TV composer Mort Garson (“the First Space-Age Composer”) created the entire album score on a Moog synthesizer, the forerunner of the electronic music of today.

Praise for the recording included: “Best Children’s Recording” …NATIONAL ACADEMY OF RECORDING ARTS & SCIENCES (NARAS); “One of the most treasurable audio recordings ever made” …LOS ANGELES TIMES CALENDAR (Oct. 7, 2004); “A Parents Choice Classic” …PARENTS’ CHOICE FOUNDATION; and “An amazing cast of performers” …WGBH Radio, Boston, among its many stellar accolades and reviews.

Richard D. Kaye was assigned copyright ownership of “The Little Prince” Sound Recording in 1986, and has since licensed distribution rights to Cassette Book Company, Newman Communications, Warner Bros./Music for Little People, BMG Record Club, iTunes, and amazon mp3. Out of his love for this recording and the timeless message of the book — “what is essential is invisible to the eye” — he has dedicated his career to keeping this album available to the public as technology and distribution channels changed over the past five decades.

“While other adaptations may come and go, the Grammy Award-winning narration of ‘The Little Prince’ by Richard Burton, based on the original 1943 Katherine Woods translation, remains truest to the spirit and eloquence of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s magnificent words and will forever touch the hearts of listeners around the world,” said Kaye.

Visit: https://www.facebook.com/The-Little-Prince-186433484722004 and enjoy this timeless classic while waiting to see the new animated movie!

Listen to the 1974 Richard Burton Radio Spots:
 http://thelittleprince.net/richard-burton-radio-spots.htm

GET IN TOUCH
Flo Selfman
Selfman & Others Public Relations
323-653-4555
http://www.thelittleprince.net

Release ID: 244738