HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Ray Eberle

Birth of Swing Jazz: Ray Eberle

Ray Eberle

Born on 19 January 1919 in Hoosick Falls, New York, Ray Eberle was the younger brother of singer, Bob Eberly, by two and a half years. Bob Eberly sang with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. As for Ray, he wasn't so popular as Bob, never charted on Billboard and barely exists at YouTube. During his early period in the thirties and forties he worked with the band of Glenn Miller (1938-42). He spent his latter career in the fifties and sixties with Tex Beneke's orchestra. In between during the forties he worked with Gene Krupa (1942-43) before leading a couple of his own operations.

Tom Lord discovers Eberle's first recordings with the Casa Loma Orchestra (CLO) in New York City on February 11, 1930, performing alto sax on 'China Girl' (Okeh 41373) and 'San Sue Strut' (Okeh 41373). Another source, however, has Pat Davis at alto sax on those rather then Eberle. Lord lists Eberle's only vocal with the CLO as of April 18, 1930: 'Leave It That Way'. That may be in error as well, though, as multiple sessionographies by Rust (including with Laird and Shaw) have that sung by Jack Richmond instead (DAHR going by Rust and Laird). It also sounds more like Richmond than Eberle (audio since lost). Lord also traces Eberle with the CLO to December 6 that year, yielding such as 'Alexander's Ragtime Band', 'Overnight' and 'Little Did I Know', Richmond's vocals on the last. That, however, is also contested at Heinz Becker, listing only Glen Gray at alto sax. That is, though Eberle definitely blew an alto sax in the CLO in 1930, his presence on recordings isn't certain, including tracks deposited below.

'China Girl' Glen Gray & the Casa Loma Orchestra

Recorded 11 Feb 1930 in NYC Matrix 403755-A OKeh 41373

Trumpet: Bobby Lee Jones / Frank Martinez / Joe Hostetter

Trombone: Pee Wee Hunt / Billy Rauch

Alto sax: Glen Gray / Pat Davis (?: listed in Lord as Eberle)

Tenor sax: Les Arquette

Piano: Joe Hall Guitar / banjo: Gene Gifford

Bass: Stanley Dennis Drums: Tony Briglia

Composition: Donald Heywood / Will Marion Cook

'Casa Loma Stomp' O.K. Rhythm Kings

Recorded 6 Dec 1930 in NYC Matrix 404569-B OKeh 41476

Trumpet: Bobby Lee Jones / Frank Martinez / Joe Hostetter

Trombone: Billy Rauch / Pee Wee Hunt

Alto sax: Glen Gray (?: Eberle added in Lord)

Piano: Joe Hall Guitar: Gene Gifford (arrangement) Violin: Mel Jenssen

Bass / tuba: Stanley Dennis Drums: Tony Briglia

Composition: Gene Gifford

Lord doesn't pick up Eberle again until a session at alto sax with Irving Aaronson on October 12, 1933 ('Marching Along Together' et al). Eberle worked with Aaronson until April of 1935 ('Jazzaroo' et al). Eberle's big move as a vocalist came with Glenn Miller, recording 'Don't Wake Up My Heart' on May 23 of 1938 in New York City. That was followed on June 18 with a live radio broadcast from the Paradise Restaurant for NBC, 'On the Sentimental Side' among others.

'Jazzeroo' Ray Eberle (alto sax) w Irving Aaronson and His Commanders

Recorded 18 April 1935 in NYC Matrix 17314-1 Columbia 3043-D

Composition: Franklyn Marks

'Don't Wake Up My Heart' Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

Eberle's first recording with Miller

Recorded 23 May 1938 in NYC Matrix 22972-1 Brunswick 8152

Trumpet: Johnny Austin / Bob Price / Gasparre Rebito

Trombone: Glenn Miller / Brad Jenny / Al Mastren

Reeds: Hal McIntyre / Wilbur Schwartz / Sol Kane / Stanley Aronson / Tex Beneke

Piano: Chummy MacGregor Bass: Rollie Bundock

Drums: Bob Spangler Vocal: Ray Eberle

Composition: Pete Wendling / Sam M. Lewis / George W. Meyer

Memorable in 1939 were Eberle's NBC Meadowbrook broadcasts with Miller from Cedar Grove, New Jersey, in March, 'Sometime' from their last session there on April 18. Eberle also appeared with Miller in the films, 'Sun Valley Serenade' and 'Orchestra Wives' in 1941 and 1942.

'Faithful Forever' Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

Recorded 9 Oct 1939 in NYC Matrix 042925-1 Bluebird 10465

Vocal: Ray Eberle Arrangement: Bill Challis

Composition: Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin

'The Nearness of You' Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

Recorded 28 April 1940 in NYC Matrix 048965-1 Bluebird 10745

Trumpet: Leigh Knowles / Clyde Hurley / Zeke Zarchy / John Best

Trombone: Paul Tanner / Jimmy Priddy / Frank D'Annolfo

Clarinet / alto sax: Hal McIntyre / Wilbur Schwartz

Alto & baritone sax: Ernie Caceres Tenor sax: Tex Beneke / Al Klink

Piano: Chummy MacGregor Guitar: Jack Lathrop Bass: Rollie Bundock

Drums: Maurice Purtill Vocal: Ray Eberle Arrangement: Bill Finegan

Composition: Hoagy Carmichael / Ned Washington

'At Last' Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

From the film 'Orchestra Wives' recorded 24 March-3 May 1941 in NYC

Directed by Archie Mayo Released 4 Sep 1942

Trumpet: Dale "Mickey" McMickle / Ray Anthony / John Best / Billy May

Trombone: Glenn Miller / Paul Tanner / Jimmy Priddy / Frank D'Annolfo

Clarinet / alto sax: Hal McIntyre / Wilbur Schwartz

Alto & baritone sax: Ernie Caceres Tenor sax: Tex Beneke / Al Klink

Piano: Chummy MacGregor Guitar: Jack Lathrop Bass: Trigger Alpert

Drums: Maurice Purtill Vocals: Ray Eberle / Lorraine Elliott dubbing for Lynn Bari

Arrangement: Bill Finegan

Composition: Harry Warren / Mack Gordon 1942

IMDb Wikipedia

'Everything I Love' Glenn Miller and His Orchestra

3 Nov 1941 Matrix BS-068067 Bluebird B-11365

Trumpet: Johnny Best / Alec Fila / Billy May / Dale "Mickey" McMickle

Trombone: Glenn Miller / Frank D'Annolfo / Jimmy Priddy / Paul Tanner

Sax: Tex Beneke / Ernie Caceres / Al Klink / Babe Russin / Wilbur Schwartz

Piano: Chummy MacGregor Guitar: Bobby Hackett (same as trumpet player)

Bass: Doc Goldberg Drums: Maurice Purtill Vocal: Ray Eberle

Composition: Cole Porter

The writer(s) at Wikipedia has Miller terminating Eberle in 1942 upon being late to a rehearsal, Ray offering the excuse of being stuck in traffic. He was replaced by Skip Nelson. Lord has Eberle's last session with Miller on 30 June 1942, Nelson's first on 14 July. Eberle moved on to the band of Gene Krupa, first recording with the latter during a CBS radio broadcast from the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on November 13, 1942: 'Cow Cow Boogie', 'Rose Ann of Charing Cross' and 'Knock Me a Kiss'. Eberle held various sessions with Krupa while touring until their last on February 9, 1943, to harvest 'Knock Me a Kiss' and 'Stuff in Your Cuff'.

It was in New York City sometime in 1945 when Eberle recorded with his band, 3 Men & a Chord also known as his Ex-Glenn Miller Men. Fourteen titles from that session including 'At Last' saw release on McGregor 661. From mid-1945 to mid-1946 Eberle served in California in the U.S. Army. His first recordings with his own orchestra went down for V-Disc in latter 1946 or early 1947: 'Stella By Starlight' and 'It's the Same Old Dream'.

'Endlessly' Paul Whiteman leading the Philco Orchestra

25 Feb 1945 in Boston Philco 'Radio Hall of Fame' for NBC

Sunday night broadcast delivering news of the Battle of Iwo Jima (19 Feb-26 March 1945)

Vocal: Ray Eberle

Music: Walter Kent Lyrics: Kim Gannon

'Stella by Starlight' Ray Eberle and His Orchestra

Late 1946-early 1947 Matrix JB 466 V-Disc 780-B / Jazz Hour JH1011 (CD)

Trumpet: Artie Pollman Trombone: Al Walters

Piano: Billy Maxted (arrangement)

Bass: Phil Nevi Drums: Paul Richter Vocal: Ray Eberle

Composition: Victor Young / Ned Washington / Jule Styne / Sammy Cahn

'It's the Same Old Dream' Ray Eberle and His Orchestra

Late 1946-early 1947 Matrix JB 466 V-Disc 780-B / Jazz Hour JH1011 (CD)

Trumpet: Artie Pollman Trombone: Al Walters

Piano: Billy Maxted (arrangement)

Bass: Phil Nevi Drums: Paul Richter Vocal: Ray Eberle

Composition: Jule Styne / Sammy Cahn 1946

Having first performed with Tex Beneke in Glenn Miller's operation back in 1938, Eberle would sing for Beneke and his orchestra in the fifties and sixties, perhaps to as late as 1970. Lord has him with Beneke in December 1969 contributing to the album, 'Beneke on Broadway'. Eberle's final recordings arrived sometime in 1972, singing 'At Last' and 'Serenade in Blue' with the New Glenn Miller Orchestra directed by Buddy DeFranco. Those were issued respectively on 'The Best of the Glenn Miller Orchestra Volume 2' per Kory KK-3003 and 'The Best of the Glenn Miller Orchestra Volume 1' per Kory KK-3002.