Glen Gray
Glen Gray Knoblauch, better known as Glen Gray, (7 June 1900 – 23 August 19… Read Full Bio ↴Glen Gray Knoblauch, better known as Glen Gray, (7 June 1900 – 23 August 1963) was a well-known jazz saxophonist and leader of the Casa Loma Orchestra.
When he was 13 years old, Gray organized a group known as Spike's Jazz Band. A graduate of Roanoke High School, he later attended Illinois Wesleyan University but left to work as a bill clerk for the Santa Fe Railroad. In the late 1920s Gray was playing saxophone in the Orange Blossoms Band. After performing at the Casa Loma Hotel in Toronto for eight months, the group incorporated in 1929 as a co-op in NYC as The Casa Loma Orchestra and began recording.
In the early 1930s, the Casa Loma Orchestra was one of the bands that paved the way for the rise in popularity of Big Band swing, becoming well-known with the college-age crowd and wowing audiences at schools in the Ivy League and the mid-west. The Casa Loma Band is credited as the first white big band with a deliberate jazz policy and sound. Although they played in a rather stiff and precise style, the Casa Loma Orchestra helped popularize the sound of Big Band jazz with a generation of white kids who were largely unaware of the great black jazz orchestras.
The Casa Loma Orchestra began to be billed under leader Glen Gray’s name in 1935. Two of the bands biggest-sellers were ballads; For You, as sung by Kenny Sargent, and the group's theme song, Smoke Rings. The band’s late 1930s and early 1940s recordings, such as Stompin’ Around, Come And Get It, Malady In F, Zig Zag, Swingtonic, and No Name Jive, still have great appeal. In 1940 Glen Gray was one of the winning bandleaders in Down Beat's All American Musicians Poll.
Gray stopped touring in 1950 due to ill health, but returned to the studio in 1956 to record a series of commercially-successful albums recreating the Big Band sound.
When he was 13 years old, Gray organized a group known as Spike's Jazz Band. A graduate of Roanoke High School, he later attended Illinois Wesleyan University but left to work as a bill clerk for the Santa Fe Railroad. In the late 1920s Gray was playing saxophone in the Orange Blossoms Band. After performing at the Casa Loma Hotel in Toronto for eight months, the group incorporated in 1929 as a co-op in NYC as The Casa Loma Orchestra and began recording.
In the early 1930s, the Casa Loma Orchestra was one of the bands that paved the way for the rise in popularity of Big Band swing, becoming well-known with the college-age crowd and wowing audiences at schools in the Ivy League and the mid-west. The Casa Loma Band is credited as the first white big band with a deliberate jazz policy and sound. Although they played in a rather stiff and precise style, the Casa Loma Orchestra helped popularize the sound of Big Band jazz with a generation of white kids who were largely unaware of the great black jazz orchestras.
The Casa Loma Orchestra began to be billed under leader Glen Gray’s name in 1935. Two of the bands biggest-sellers were ballads; For You, as sung by Kenny Sargent, and the group's theme song, Smoke Rings. The band’s late 1930s and early 1940s recordings, such as Stompin’ Around, Come And Get It, Malady In F, Zig Zag, Swingtonic, and No Name Jive, still have great appeal. In 1940 Glen Gray was one of the winning bandleaders in Down Beat's All American Musicians Poll.
Gray stopped touring in 1950 due to ill health, but returned to the studio in 1956 to record a series of commercially-successful albums recreating the Big Band sound.
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Glen Gray Lyrics
A Hundred Years From Today Life is such a great adventure Learn to live it as…
A String Of Pearls Savoy, the home of sweet romance Savoy, it wins you with…
After You've Gone Now won't you listen honey, while I say, How could…
Begin The Beguine When they begin the beguine It brings back the sound of…
Blue Again Blue again Blue again And you know darn well It's you again …
Blue Moon Blue moon you saw me standing alone Without a dream in…
Bugle Call Rag You're bound to fall for the bugle call; You're gonna brag…
Farewell Sadness just makes me sigh, I've come to say goodbye, Altho'…
For You Princess cards she sends me with her regards Oh, bar-room e…
Heaven Can Wait Heaven can wait, this is paradise, just being here with…
How High the Moon Somewhere there's music How faint the tune Somewhere there's…
I Got Rhythm A B C D E …
I Maybe Wrong I may be wrong but I think you're wonderful I may…
I Never Knew I'll never smile again Until I smile at you I'll never laugh…
I Walked in I left my heart in San Francisco. High on a hill…
I'm Gettin' Sentimental over You Never thought I'd fall, But now I hear love call, I'm gettin…
If I Love Again I often wonder why he came to me Brought such a…
In The Mood Who's the loving daddy with the beautiful eyes What a pair…
In the Still of the Night In the still of the night As I gaze out of…
It's The Talk Of The Town We were more than lovers, We were more than sweethearts, It'…
Little Brown Jug Me and my wife live all alone In a little…
Little Old Lady A little old church in England tumbled down A little…
Lovey Come Back When the swallows come back to Capistrano That's the day…
My Blue Heaven Whippoorwills call, evenin' is nigh Hurry to my Blue Heaven…
My Heart Tells Me My heart tells me this is just a fling Yet you…
My Man It's cost me a lot But there's one thing that I've…
My Shining Hour This will be my shining hour, Calm and happy and bright, In…
Polka Dots And Moonbeams A country dance was being held in a garden I felt…
Riverboat Shuffle All you cotton toters, Mississippi floaters, Gather all ab…
Rockin' Chair Old rockin' chair's got me, my cane by my side Fetch…
Should I Should I reveal exactly how I feel? Should I confess I…
Should I? Should I reveal exactly how I feel? Should I confess I…
Sleepy Time Gal Wouldn't it be a change for you and me to…
Smoke Rings Where do they go, the smoke rings I blow each…
Song of the Islands Islands of Hawaii Where skies of blue are calling me Where b…
Star Dust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Sunrise Serenade Good morning Good morning You sleepyhead It's dawning Stop y…
Talk Of The Town We were more than lovers, We were more than sweethearts, It'…
The Man I Love I often wonder why he came to me Brought such a…
Theme: Smoke Rings Where do they go, the smoke rings I blow each…
Tuxedo Junction Feelin' low Rockin' slow I want to go Right back…
Under A Blanket Of Blue Under a blanket of blue, Just you and I beneath the…
Who's Sorry Now Who's Sorry Now? Who's Sorry Now? Who's heart is aching for …
You Go To My Head You go to my head And you linger like a…
You Stepped out of a Dream You stepped out of a dream You are too wonderful to…