IT'S A SMALL WORLD WHEN PERREY BRINGS MUSICAL MAGIC TO L.A.

Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer

Jean-Jacques Perrey isn't a household name, but if you're one of the millions who've visited a Disneyland theme park, you've almost certainly heard his music.

One of the pioneers of the synthesizer, Perrey co-wrote the music used in Disney's famous Main Street Electrical Parade. The attraction's kicky theme was adapted from a synthesized wall-of-sound piece known as ``Baroque Hoedown,'' penned in 1967 by Perrey and then-musical partner Gershon Kingsley.

The number was discovered by Jack Wagner, longtime ``voice of Disneyland'' (he's the voice on the monorail that reminds you to ``please stand clear of the doors''), and a recording was produced for the parade's 1972 launch, laced with Disney themes suitable for the various parade segments. The number was later adapted for similar attractions at Disney theme parks in Japan, France and Hong Kong, and Perrey and Kingsley's sprightly melody has now been heard by more than 100 million visitors.

``It came as a surprise,'' Perrey, 77, said from his home in Evian, France. ``I remember visiting there years later and thinking, `That tune sounds familiar.' But the music business is like any other business, and you make mistakes -- the publishing belongs to someone else.''

It's a small world, after all. On Thursday, Perrey and collaborator Dana Countryman, a Seattle musician/composer who became obsessed with Perrey as a teen after hearing one of the synth wizard's tunes on TV in 1971, will perform a rare show at the Knitting Factory Hollywood. That night, Perrey will perform music and tell stories.

Considered one of the innovators of space-age pop, Perrey -- who was pals with Salvador Dali, Jacques Brel and Jean Cocteau, and worked with French artists ranging from Edith Piaf and Django Reinhart to Air -- has been sampled by Dr. Dre, Fatboy Slim, DJ Premier and many more. ``Cocteau told me I'd never have a career in France, because the French will not accept the sort of sounds I was interested in,'' said Perrey. ``So, on Piaf's advice, I came to the U.S. . ... I wanted to make cheerful, humorous music that the public would like,'' he said. ``I decided many, many years ago to make it my mission to bring more optimism, humor and faith in the future to everyone on the planet. I want everyone to always remember to be happy.''

Fred Shuster, [phone]

fred.shuster(at)dailynews.com

JEAN-JACQUES PERREY

Where: Knitting Factory Hollywood, 7021 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles.

When: 8 p.m. Thursday.

Tickets: $8. [phone]; knittingfactory.com.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Disneyland music creator Jean-Jacques Perrey, right, pictured in the studio with collaborator Dana Countryman, will perform at the Knitting Factory Hollywood on Thursday night.