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.
Melody Of Love
Ray Anthony Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dream with me
Cradled by your kisses, tenderly
While a choir of angels
From above
Sing our melody of love
Heart to heart forever
I am yours and you are mine
All mine
Heaven wrote the music up above
For our melody of love
The lyrics to Ray Anthony's Melody Of Love speak of a deep and romantic connection between two people. The singer implores his love to hold him in her arms, dream with him, and be cradled by his tender kisses. The imagery of the song is quite evocative of a passionate embrace. The couple is so connected that they seem to be in their own little world, oblivious to all around them except for the harmonious choir of angels singing the melody of their love from above. The singer then goes on to say that their love is forever, and their hearts and lips are entwined. He also suggests that their love is divinely inspired, as if the music of the heavens was written specifically for them.
The lyrics to Melody Of Love are simple yet powerful, expressing the depth of the love between the two people in the song. The use of imagery, such as the choir of angels, adds to the romantic atmosphere of the song. It is a song that speaks to the pure and unconditional love that can exist between two people, transcending time and space. The singer's voice is soft and soothing, perfectly capturing the emotional tone of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold me in your arms, dear
Embrace me tightly with your loving arms
Dream with me
Imagine a beautiful future with me
Cradled by your kisses, tenderly
Feeling the gentleness of your affectionate kisses
While a choir of angels
Amidst a chorus of heavenly beings
From above
Descending from the spiritual realm
Sing our melody of love
Performing a heavenly hymn for our affectionate love
Heart to heart forever
Our love will remain connected eternally
Lips entwined
Our mouths locked in a passionate embrace
I am yours and you are mine
We belong to each other completely
All mine
I possess all of your love and affection
Heaven wrote the music up above
A divine force created this love that we share
For our melody of love
To compose a beautiful symphony of our love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Hans Engelmann, Tom Glazer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mirta diaz
AMO A FRANK SINATRA ♥️ SU VOZ SU MELODÍA , ❤️🎧🎵🎶 SALUDOS CORDIALES DESDE ARGENTINA 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷 FELICITACIONES MARAVILLOSO VIDEO ❤️❤️❤️
Serra da Morena de Anadia
Não só os americanos, mas os ouvintes do mundo, sentimos falta dos grandes cantores e das grandes orquestras
yozo Manase
😊
mirta diaz
Yo lo amo a Frank Sinatra, para mí es la voz canta muy hermosas canciones, Inolvidables ♥️ Para mí es él mejor cantante del mundo 🎵🎶❤️🎵🎶🎵🎵🎶
j. Araujo _
Essas músicas tem todo um clima romântico
Carlos Arreola
Hold me in your arms dear - dream with me
Cradled by your kisses - tenderly
While a choir of angels - from above
Sing our melody of love
Heart to heart forever - lips entwined
I am yours - and you are mine
Heaven wrote the music - up above
For our melody of love
Diego Quiroga
Excelente conjunción estelar...
Lo mejor de lo mejor !!!
Domenico Colella
Musica meravigliosa che mi riguarda e molto bella
malikmyuunique
Very nice song by the legends Frank & Ray 🎶💚
Mauricio Durón
So well they complement each other. Had heard it and liked lots but, as was not aware of this collaboration, did not trouble to recognize the characteristic Ray Anthony suppleness.