he award for the most difficult Billboard #2 single to pronounce ever had to have been Eumir Deodato's adaptation of the theme from the motion picture 2001: A Space Odyssey, titled "Also Sprach Zarathustra."

Born on June 21, 1942, in Rio de Janeiro, Eumir Deodato Almeida taught himself music at an early age, and while in Brazil wrote an instrumental called "Spirit Of Summer" that won a Brazilian songwriting competition. But his heart was in America, and by the dawn of the 1970s, he had relocated to the States to arrange records for the likes of Wes Montgomery, Frank Sinatra, and Bette Midler.

Deodato's first U.S. album Prelude featured his #2 hit "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)" was the first of 8 albums he charted on the Billboard Hot 200 during the 1970s. Debuting in the Top 40 on Jan. 20, 1973, Prelude climbed to #3 and remained on the charts for 26 weeks.

In 1972 Deodato was given the opportunity to record his own album for CTI Records. For its centerpiece he chose an adaptation of Richard Strauss's score from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. The song had already been a #90 it for the Berlin Philharmonic in 1970, after appearing on the original motion picture soundtrack. Deodato had been performing the piece since 1971 and assembled some of the finest musicians he knew for the recording. Implementing the use of cellos, congas, French horns, and violins, the single verged on classical music. Guitarist John Tropea and bassist Stanley Clarke both had solos on the funky track, and the finished result reminded CTI producer Creed Taylor that his decision to give the song to Deodato to record rather than to CTI arranger Bob James had been the right one.

"Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)," with Deodato's prize-winning "Spirit Of Summer" on the flip side, debuted at #74. It slowly ascended skyward, and in its ninth week on the charts, the artist explored the strange new world of a #2 hit single. It also helped push Deodato's album Prelude to #3 on the Billboard album charts. As if its commercial success wasn't enough, Deodato also received critical acclaim; the recording won a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. Deodato was also up for Best New Artist against such formidable competition as Marie Osmond, Barry White, and the eventual winner, Bette Midler.

Deodato's follow-up single, "Rhapsody In Blue," barely missed the Top 40, climbing to #41. It did, however hit #42 on the R&B charts. In 1976, after switching to MCA, Deodato recorded a cover of the Peter Gunn television series theme and took it to #76. As the 1970s ended, Deodato became the new producer for the R&B funk band Kool & the Gang. One of his last pop hits came in 1982 when he tried adding Kelly Barretto's vocals to his arrangements for a hit, but the #70 "Happy Hour" didn't mark a substantial comeback. His last single came in 2010, a UK-only release titled "Double Face" featuring Al Jarreau.

Unlike Prince's 1983 single "1999," which returned to the Top 40 as 1998 became 1999, Deodato's "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)" didn't have a second life as 2000 became 2001. However he can still be proud of the fact that he has been in demand as a producer and arranger since the 1960s, and worked on more than 500 albums, with fifteen having reached platinum status as defined by the RIAA. His composing skills can also be heard on the soundtrack of the films The Gentle Rain (1966), The Black Pearl (1977), The Onion Field (1979) and Bossa Nova (2000).

Deodato's daughter and granddaughter also have connections to show business, as his daughter Kennya Deodato is married to actor Stephen Baldwin, and their daughter Hailey is married to Canadian singer Justin Bieber.

- Christopher G. Feldman, The Billboard Book of No. 2 Singles, Billboard, 2000.

 

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