Ray Anthony & His Orchestra
A master of catchy, big band dance tunes in the 1950s, Ray Anthony was as an orchestra leader, trumpet player and all round entertainer that helped popularise the Hokey Pokey song and dance in the US. Born as Raymond Antonini, he learned trumpet from his father and started out playing with Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey in 1940 before serving in the US Navy during WWII and starting his own group upon his return. A brilliant self-publicist and natural showman, he signed to Capitol Records in 1949 and his novelty hits The Bunny Hop and Hokey Pokey (known in Britain as the Hokey Cokey) started national dance crazes. He penned the theme tune to TV cop show Dragnet and reached Number 2 in the US charts with his version of Glenn Miller's At Last in 1952 and, though derided by snooty jazz critics as being overly populist, his easy listening albums Young Ideas (1957) and Anthony Plays Allen (1958) were well received. Anthony became a regular at Hollywood and Las Vegas nightclubs and away from music he married B-movie sex symbol Mamie Van Doren, briefly had his own television variety show and acted in a series of films including Daddy Long Legs, The Five Pennies and High School Confidential. He scored his last major hit with the theme to spy show Peter Gunn, was later awarded with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and continued performing into his 90s.
©Copyright Music Story 2023
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Dancing in the Dark (Mono Version)
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1954
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
TV's Top Tunes: Three Coins in the Fountain (Mono Version)
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1955
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tuxedo Junction / In the Mood (Mono Version)
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1954
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
This Could Be the Night (Mono Version)
Jazz - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Anthony Choir (Mono Version)
Jazz - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1955
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dancing Alone Together (Mono Version)
Jazz - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Arthur Murray Favorites - Fox Trots (Mono Version)
Jazz - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
More Dream Dancing (Stereo Version)
Jazz - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
That's Show Biz (Mono Version)
Jazz - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dragnet (Billboard Hot 100 - No. 02)
Pop - Released by Music Manager on 19 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Ray Anthony Concert (Album of 1955)
Lounge - Released by Weird Music - Lounge on 26 Nov 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live At The Sahara Hotel - Las Vegas
Pop - Released by Music to Remember on 20 Jan 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Sentimental Me (Billboard Hot 100 - No. 07)
Pop - Released by Music Manager on 19 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Anthony Choir (Album of 1953)
Lounge - Released by Weird Music - Lounge on 26 Nov 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Anthony Choir
The Anthony Choir, Ray Anthony & His Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Music Manager on 3 Jul 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Classic Years
Jazz - Released by Sleeping Giant Music on 4 Nov 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vintage Dance Orchestras No. 172 - EP: Ray Anthony Concert
Jazz - Released by Vintage Music on 24 Mar 1955
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -