Ray Anthony (born January 20, 1922) is an American bandleader, trumpeter, s… Read Full Bio ↴Ray Anthony (born January 20, 1922) is an American bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter and actor.

As a child Anthony, born Raymond Antonini in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania, moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio, where he studied the trumpet with his father. He played in Glenn Miller's band from 1940–1941 and appeared in the Glenn Miller movie Sun Valley Serenade in 1941 before joining the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war he formed his own group. The Ray Anthony Orchestra became very popular in the early 1950s, with recordings that included Anthony's classic dance songs "The Bunny Hop" and the "Hokey Pokey," as well as the theme music from Dragnet. He had a #2 chart hit with a remake of the Glenn Miller tune, "At Last" in 1952.
From 1953-1954 Anthony was the musical director on the television series TV's Top Tunes, and he also appeared as himself in the 1955 film Daddy Long Legs. In 1955 Anthony married his second wife, the sex symbol actress Mamie Van Doren. Their son Perry Ray was born March 18, 1956. He then began expanding his own acting career. He starred in a short-lived television 1956-1957 variety show, The Ray Anthony Show. Anthony also appeared in several films during the late 1950s, including The Five Pennies (where he portrayed Jimmy Dorsey), and Van Doren's movies High School Confidential as "Bix" and Girls Town. In the 1959-1960 television season, he guest starred in the episode "Operation Ramrod" of David Hedison's espionage series Five Fingers on NBC.
After van Doren filed for divorce in 1958, citing cruelty, they finally divorced in 1960, and Anthony's brief film career ended at about the same time. However, he continued his musical career and had another hit record with the theme from Peter Gunn, which reached #8 on Billboard's pop chart. Among his pianists was Allen "Puddler" Harris, a native of Franklin Parish, Louisiana, who had been a member of the original Ricky Nelson band and Kellie Green, who also played the vibraphone.
Anthony was considered one of the most modern of the big band leaders. In the lyrics to "Opus One", which imagine a number of players performing the song, he is cited along with Les Brown and his Band of Renown:
If Mr. Les Brown can make it renowned
And Ray Anthony could rock it for me
Anthony and his band were also featured in the movie, The Girl Can't Help It, and were treated as one of the rockers in the line-up, but also shown in performances with Mansfield that are essential to the plot.
Ray Anthony's compositions include "Thunderbird", "Bunny Hop", "Trumpet Boogie", "Big Band Boogie", and "Mr. Anthony's Boogie".
In the early 1980s, Anthony formed Big Band '80s, other members including Buddy Rich, Harry James, Les Brown, and Alvino Rey.
Anthony, who has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, continues to be active as a bandleader and musician.
Anthony is a close friend of Hugh Hefner and has appeared in numerous episodes of The Girls Next Door.

Marilyn
Ray Anthony Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

An angel in lace,
A fabulous face,
That's no exggeration,
That's my Marilyn.

No gal, I believe,
Beginning with Eve,
Could weave a fascination

like my Marilyn.

She made me a poet,
Thinking up romantic themes,
Though she may not know it,
she's all mine in my dreams!

I've planned everything,
The church and the ring,
The one who doesn't know it yet
Is Marilyn.

She hasn't said "Yes"
I have to confess:
I haven't kissed, or even met
My Marilyn.

But if luck is with me

She'll be my bride forevermore;
I'll be marryin', carryin' Marilyn through my door!!!

Overall Meaning

The song “Marilyn” by Ray Anthony paints a picture of a man who is completely captivated by the beauty and charm of the famous actress Marilyn Monroe. The song emphasizes Monroe’s physical appearance, describing her as an “angel in lace” with a “fabulous face”. The man sings about how Monroe has inspired him to become a poet because of her ability to weave a fascination with just her presence. He even imagines a future with her, planning to marry her someday, although he has never met or kissed her before.

The lyrics of the song are full of romanticism and idealization, but they also reveal the power of celebrity and the media. Marilyn Monroe was one of the most iconic actresses of her time, and her beauty and talent captured the hearts of many. The song reflects the public’s infatuation with her, as well as the desire of many to be near her or even to marry her. It also highlights the ways in which media images can shape our perceptions and fuel our fantasies.

Line by Line Meaning

An angel in lace,
Marilyn is incredibly beautiful and wears clothes that enhance her beauty.

A fabulous face,
Marilyn's facial features are stunning and amazing.

That's no exaggeration,
Ray Anthony is not embellishing, he truly believes Marilyn is that stunning.

That's my Marilyn.
Ray Anthony is proud to say that Marilyn is his.

No gal, I believe,
Out of all the women in the world, Ray Anthony believes Marilyn is the most fascinating.

Beginning with Eve,
Ray Anthony believes Marilyn is the most fascinating woman that has ever existed, including the biblical Eve.

Could weave a fascination
Marilyn has a way of captivating people and drawing them in with her charm and beauty.

like my Marilyn.
Ray Anthony believes nobody can captivate someone like Marilyn can captivate him.

She made me a poet,
Marilyn's beauty and charm inspire Ray Anthony's creativity to express his love for her.

Thinking up romantic themes,
Ray Anthony thinks of and writes about romantic scenarios featuring Marilyn.

Though she may not know it,
Marilyn may not realize how she inspires Ray Anthony to be creative.

she's all mine in my dreams!
Ray Anthony dreams about being with Marilyn, even though he has not met her yet.

I've planned everything,
Ray Anthony has a plan for the future with Marilyn.

The church and the ring,
Ray Anthony plans on marrying Marilyn in a church with a wedding ring.

The one who doesn't know it yet
Marilyn is not aware of Ray Anthony's plan to marry her.

Is Marilyn.
Marilyn is the woman Ray Anthony wants to marry.

She hasn't said "Yes"
Marilyn has not yet agreed to marry Ray Anthony.

I have to confess:
Ray Anthony is admitting to something he feels guilty about saying.

I haven't kissed, or even met
Ray Anthony has not had any physical contact with Marilyn.

My Marilyn.
Ray Anthony has claimed Marilyn as his own.

But if luck is with me
Ray Anthony hopes that fate is on his side.

She'll be my bride forevermore;
If everything goes according to Ray Anthony's plan, Marilyn will be his wife for the rest of his life.

I'll be marryin', carryin' Marilyn through my door!!!
Ray Anthony will be getting married to Marilyn and will bring her into his life at any cost. He is deeply in love with her.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: FAITH, WALTER READE-STERLING INC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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