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Ray Anthony

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For the rapper named Anthony Ray, see Sir Mix-a-Lot.

Ray Anthony
Anthony in 1950
Anthony in 1950
Background information
Born
Raymond Antonini

(1922-01-20) January 20, 1922 (age 103)
Bentleyville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
GenresBig band, jazz, swing
Occupation(s)Musician, bandleader
InstrumentTrumpet
Years active1936–1998
LabelsAero Space, Capitol
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1955; div. 1961)​

Ray Anthony (born Raymond Antonini; January 20, 1922) is an American retired bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter and actor.[1] He is best known for his tenure as a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, from 1940 to 1941 and appearing in the film Sun Valley Serenade.

After returning to professional music in 1945 following a stint in the United States Navy, he became a bandleader in his own Orchestra and had a wrote solo compositions, some of which became chart successes, including "The Bunny Hop", "Thunderbird", "Houseparty Hop", "Trumpet Boogie", "Dream Dancing", "Dream While You Dance", "Dance My Heart", "Let's All Do the Swim", "Big Band Boogie", and "Mr. Anthony's Boogie".[2][3][4][5] He also had an amateur acting career and frequently appeared in the tabloids during his brief marriage to actress Mamie Van Doren.

Anthony continued to tour around the United States in big bands before retiring in 1998. At the age of 103, is the last living member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.[6] He is listed as the oldest living recorded musician.[7][8]

Early life

[edit]

Anthony was born to an Italian family in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania, but moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio, where he studied the trumpet after his father gave him a trumpet when he was five, and as a teenager was influenced by Harry James, later saying of him: "In my opinion, I think Harry James was the greatest trumpet. He had a complete mastery of the instrument and a conception I admired".[9][10]

Anthony played in his family group, The Antonini Family Orchestra.[11]

Career

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Music

[edit]

Anthony made his professional debut in 1940, backing Al Donahue.[11]

He played in Glenn Miller's band from 1940 to 1941.[12] He recalled being teased by the other members for being the youngest member: "He was tough but it’s a business. You don’t have much time to do anything but follow the lines".[9] Reportedly, Anthony was constantly fired by Miller due to him repeatedly suggesting new ideas for the band, but was always rehired again as his "skills were so high"; this led to him being nicknamed "Peck's Bad Boy".[10] Ray appeared in the Glenn Miller movie Sun Valley Serenade.

Anthony lasted less than a year in the group, leaving without return in 1941 after six months due to him not getting along with Miller.[11] He then briefly played with Jimmy Dorsey[11] before he joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 during World War II as Miller also joined the Army, organizing another famous military band before his 1944 disappearance over the English Channel. While in the Navy, Anthony entertained troops in the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.[9]

After the war, he remained in the navy for one more year,[11] and upon being discharged formed his own group, The Ray Anthony Orchestra which became popular in the early 1950s with "The Bunny Hop" (#13 on Billboard, #34 on Cash Box), "Hokey Pokey", and the memorable theme from the radio/television police detective series Dragnet, which reached no. 2 on Billboard and no. 7 in the UK.[13] He had a No. 2 chart hit on Billboard with a recording of the tune "At Last" in 1952, which also reached no. 20 on Cash Box; it was the highest charting pop version of the song in the U.S. His 1962 recording "Worried Mind" received considerable radio airplay, reaching no. 20 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[14]

Anthony performing in 1947

In 1953, Anthony and his orchestra were featured when Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly headlined a summer replacement program for Perry Como's CBS television show.[15]

From 1953 to 1954, Anthony was musical director of the television series TV's Top Tunes. In 1957, Anthony and his orchestra recorded the music score for the film This Could Be The Night,[16] with vocals performed by Julie Wilson.

He continued his musical career and had another hit record with the jazzy drumming theme from the Peter Gunn private detective series featuring Craig Stevens, which reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart with its popularity enduring for decades. The B-side of this single hit "Peter Gun theme" also contains the Norwegian song "Tango for Two" written by Bjarne Amdahl and Alf Prøysen. Among the Anthony band's pianists was Allen "Puddler" Harris, a native of Franklin Parish, in Louisiana, who had been a member of the original rock singer Ricky Nelson's band, and Kellie Greene, who also played the vibraphone.

In the early 1980s, Anthony formed Big Band '80s, with other members of the band including Buddy Rich, Harry James, Les Brown, and Alvino Rey.[17] His later works tended to break away from the big-band jazz style of his earlier days, ranging from MOR and lounge music to blues, film and television themes.

Acting

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Ray began his acting in the mid 1950s, and trained with the likes of Estelle Harman and Sanford Meisner.[9]

Anthony appeared as himself with his orchestra in the 1955 film Daddy Long Legs starring Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron.[13] Anthony began expanding his acting career.[18] In 1956–57, he starred in a short-lived television variety show, The Ray Anthony Show. He appeared in several films during the late 1950s, including The Five Pennies (in which he portrayed Jimmy Dorsey),[16] and alongside Van Doren in the moves High School Confidential (1958) (as "Bix"), The Beat Generation and Girls Town (both 1959).

During the 1959–60 television season, he guest-starred in the episode "Operation Ramrod" of star David Hedison's espionage series Five Fingers on NBC. Anthony and his band appeared in the movie The Girl Can't Help It (1956).[16]

Personal life

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On August 29, 1955, he married actress Mamie Van Doren in Toledo, Ohio.[19] Their son Perry Ray was born on March 18, 1956. After Van Doren filed for divorce in 1958, citing "cruelty" and long absences,[20][21] they finally divorced in 1961, with Van Doren being granted custody of Perry.[22] He lives in Hollywood, in a house he lived in since 1975.[9] Anthony has reported to have suffered from hearing loss in recent years, described as having "diminished considerably".[9]

A house Anthony bought in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles in 1952 and lived in for a few years was listed in 2018 for $4.5 million.[23]

Anthony became the last living member of Glenn Miller's band when trombonist Nat Peck died in 2015.[24][6] He turned 100 on January 20, 2022.[25]

Legacy

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Anthony was considered one of the most modern big band leaders.

In the lyrics to "Opus One", which imagine a number of players all performing the song, he is cited along with Les Brown and his Band of Renown:

If Mr. Les Brown can make it renown.
And Ray Anthony could swing it for me.

Anthony has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[26]

Discography

[edit]
Year Album
[27] 		Label Peak chart positions Catalog Number
Billboard 200
[28] 		Cash Box
[29]
1950 Dance Time (split album with Jan Garber [one side by each]) Capitol — — H-199
1951 Arthur Murray Favorites: Fox Trots — — H-258
1952 Houseparty Hop 10 — H-292
Campus Rumpus! — — H-362
1953 The Young Man With The Horn — — H-373
The Anthony Choir — — H-442
1954 I Remember Glenn Miller 6 — H-476
Ray Anthony Plays TV's Top Tunes — — H-9118
Arthur Murray Swing Fox Trots — — H-546
1955 Golden Horn 10 — T-563
Swingin' On Campus! — — T-645
Standards By Ray Anthony — — T-663
Big Band Dixieland — — T-678
1956 Dream Dancing 15 21 T-723
Jam Session at the Tower — — T-749
1957 Dancers in Love — — T-786
Star Dancing — — T-831
Young Ideas — — T-866
This Could Be The Night MGM — — E3530 ST
1958 Moments Together Capitol — — T-917
The Dream Girl — — T-969
Dancing Over the Waves — — T-1028
Anthony Plays Steve Allen — — T-1086
1959 Anthony Italiano — — ST-1149
Sounds Spectacular — — ST-1200
More Dream Dancing — — ST-1252
1960 Like Wild! — — ST-1304
Dancing Alone Together: Torch Songs For Lovers — — ST-1420
The New Ray Anthony Show — — ST-1421
1961 That's Show Biz — — ST-1496
Swing-Dance-Dream to 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown' — — ST-1576
Dream Dancing Medley — — ST-1608
The Twist — — ST-1668
1962 Worried Mind: The Soul Of Country Western Blues 14 15 ST-1752
I Almost Lost My Mind: The Soul Of Big City Rhythm & Blues — — ST-1783
1964 Smash Hits of '63! — — ST-1917
Charade and Other Top Themes — — ST-2043
My Love, Forgive Me (Amore Scusami) — — ST-2150
Swim, Swim, C'mon and Swim — — ST-2188
1966 Dream Dancing Today — — ST-2457
Hit Songs to Remember — 93 ST-2530
To Each His Own Sears — — SP-429
1967 Today's Trumpet Capitol — — ST-2750
1968 Ray Anthony Now Ranwood — — RLP-8033
1969 Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero (The More I Love You) — — RLP-8046
Love Is For The Two Of Us [AKA Great Country Music Hits] — — RLP-8059
1970 I Get The Blues When It Rains [reissue of Ray Anthony Now] — — RLP-8062
1971 Direction '71: My Sweet Lord — — RLP-8078
Dream Dancing in Hawaii Aero Space — — RA-1004
1972 Dream Dancing Around The World — — SR 1007
1975 A Little Bit Country Capitol — — SM-11411
1976 Great Golden Hits Ranwood — — R-8153
1978 Touch Dancing Aero Space — — RA-1008
Swing Goes On Vol. 10 Capitol — — 1 C 054-52 719
Dance Along Sunnyvale — — SVL-1018
1980 Big Band Series/Original Recording Picc-a-dilly — — PIC-3422
1981 Volume II-Big Band Series — — PIC-3545
1987 Best 20 Capitol — — CP32-5391
1988 A Música De Glenn Miller — — 054 791016
1988 & All That Jazz Aero Space — — RACD-1030
1989 Ray Anthony Capitol — — CP28-5908
1993 In The Miller Mood Vol. II Aero Space — — RACD-1037

References

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  1. ^ Cook, Richard (2005). Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia. London: Penguin Books. p. 15. ISBN 0-141-00646-3.
  2. ^ Songs written by Ray Anthony. Second Hand Songs. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  3. ^ Thunderbird co-written by Ray Anthony. Discogs. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  4. ^ Trumpet Boogie co-written by Ray Anthony. Discogs. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  5. ^ Big Band Boogie co-written by Ray Anthony. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  6. ^ a b Release, Press (August 27, 2023). "Glenn Miller Orchestra to give Valletta performance". Times of Malta. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  7. ^ Phelan, Tom (February 26, 2025). "Who is the oldest living recorded artist?". faroutmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  8. ^ Dutta, Somapika (March 26, 2025). "Oldest Living Musicians". Oldest.org. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e f O’Connell, Sean J. (January 25, 2022). "The secret to reaching 100? For Ray Anthony, his trusty trumpet and a fondness for bombshells". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  10. ^ a b user (March 20, 2023). "Ray Anthony Breaks 100". CMG Worldwide. Retrieved October 28, 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ a b c d e Jazz, All About (February 1, 1999). "Ray Anthony Musician - All About Jazz". All About Jazz Musicians. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  12. ^ "Bio". Rayanthonyband.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  13. ^ a b Wynn, Ron "Ray Anthony Biography", Allmusic, retrieved June 17, 2011
  14. ^ "Ray Anthony and His Orchestra songs. Top songs/Chart singles discography". MusicVF.com. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  15. ^ Warren, Jill (July 1953). "What's New from Coast to Coast" (PDF). Radio-TV Mirror. Vol. 40, no. 2. p. 5. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  16. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Fifties Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 18/20. ISBN 0-85112-732-0.
  17. ^ Arar, Yardena (September 2023). "Ray Anthony: Bandleader Anthony Foresees Big Bands Supplanting Disco". Merced Sun-Star. Los Angeles. AP. p. 19. Retrieved January 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Mamie van Doren, Ray Anthony Wed", Lewiston Daily Sun, August 30, 1955, p. 11, retrieved June 17, 2011
  19. ^ "Celebrity memory: Mamie tied the knot here". The Blade. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  20. ^ "Divorce Sought", Spokane Daily Chronicle, September 9, 1958, p. 8, retrieved June 17, 2011
  21. ^ Staff, Closer (April 4, 2020). "Mamie Van Doren Tells All About Past Romances With Elvis and More". Closer Weekly. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  22. ^ "Mamie Van Doren Granted Divorce". Hartford Courant. Santa Monica, California. Associated Press. March 23, 1960. p. 5. Retrieved January 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Lucking, Liz (November 5, 2021). "Storied Former Home of Big Band Leader Ray Anthony Lists for $4.5 Million". Mansion Global. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  24. ^ "Nat Peck, jazz trombonist - obituary". www.telegraph.co.uk. October 30, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  25. ^ "100. Geburtstag einer Swing-Legende: Ray Anthony in den Menschen des Tages 20.01.2022". schmusa.de (in German). January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  26. ^ "Ray Anthony - Hollywood Walk of Fame". Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  27. ^ "Ray Anthony Discography". discogs.com.
  28. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top LPs, 1955–1996. Record Research. p. 11. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  29. ^ Hoffmann, Frank W (1988). The Cash box album charts, 1955-1974. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. p. 10. ISBN 0-8108-2005-6.
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