Jerry Gray(1915-1976)

Composer ("String of Pearls", "Pennsylvania 6-5000", "Sun Valley Jump"), conductor, arranger and violinist, educated in high school and a student of Ondricek. He was a solo violinist in the Boston Junior Symphony at age thirteen, and later formed his own jazz band and performed in night clubs. He joined the Artie Shaw Orchestra in 1936 as first violinist and arranger, and later arranged for Andre Kostelanetz and Glenn Miller, the latter for three years. During World War II he served in the US Army Air Force with the Glenn Miller band as arranger and assistant conductor, and later as conductor. Between 1946 and 1952 he had his own radio programs as Jerry Gray and the Band of Today, led dance orchestras, and made many records. In 1962, he joined Warner Brothers. Joining ASCAP in 1936, his chief musical collaborators included Robert Bruce, Leonard Ware, John Benson Brooks, and Jerome Lawrence. His other popular song-and-instrumental compositions include "Restringing the Pearls", "Crew Cut", "Keep 'em Flying", "I Dreamt I Dwelt in Harlem" and "The Man in the Moon".