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.
Where or When
Ray Anthony Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We looked at each other in the same way then
But I can't remember where or when
The clothes you're wearing are the clothes you wore
The smile you are smiling you were smiling then
But I can't remember where or when
Seem to be happening again
And so it seems that we have met before
And laughed before, and loved before
But who knows where or when
The lyrics of Ray Anthony's song "Where or When" depict a classic tale of two people possibly meeting again after a long time and reminiscing about their previous encounters. The opening line "It seems we stood and talked like this before" sets the tone for the song's theme of déjà vu. The next line "We looked at each other in the same way then" adds to the feeling of familiarity. The lyrics suggest that the singer and their love interest might have met in a past life, but the details of when and where are vague.
The second verse further cements the idea of familiarity as the singer notes how the clothes their love interest is wearing are the same clothes they wore before, and the smile they have right now is one they had before. The lyrics "Some things that happened for the first time, seem to be happening again" act as a bridge between the two verses, emphasizing the idea of déjà vu. The last verse concludes with an air of mystery, as it cannot be confirmed where or when they met, but it's suggested that they have met before, laughed before, and loved before.
Overall, "Where or When" is a beautiful melancholy song, perfect for those who love the idea of love at first sight, serendipity, and whimsical nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems we stood and talked like this before
We have a sense of familiarity as though we've had discussions in the past
We looked at each other in the same way then
The way in which we gaze upon each other seems familiar, we’ve looked at each other this way before
But I can't remember where or when
I can't recollect the exact moment we made this connection
The clothes you're wearing are the clothes you wore
The outfit you have on now is one you've previously worn back then
The smile you are smiling you were smiling then
That same grin you're beaming was one that you exhibited before
But I can't remember where or when
I still can’t recollect the particulars of how we got to this point
Some things that happened for the first time
Certain events that we encounter initially
Seem to be happening again
Appear to be reoccurring
And so it seems that we have met before
It appears that we have come across each other previously
And laughed before, and loved before
We shared moments of merriment and love in the past
But who knows where or when
However, we're clueless about the specifics of the past experiences we've had together
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@keithtaylor2280
Thank you patriots of America stands strong with Trump and our citizens of America
@elainelosee7974
Oh yes
@mhercilia.tarlatarla2869
Bellissimo!!! GRAZIE
@albiondi4078
HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY RAY! LAST LIVING MEMBER OF THE GLENN MILLER BAND!
@beatrizgonzalezolvera6689
Ĺo mejor de la musica
@RevJohnDixonII
I didnt know he had played with Glen miller.
@albiondi4078
@@RevJohnDixonII Yes starting in 1940 when Ray was just 18! he's now still among the living at 101 yrs old and doing very well!
@belindacorralesgarcia3846
99ooooou8u88uu8889888<😅8
@ipingault
An old favourite
@aminraffy
O que é bom dura pouco nunca mais vamos ter as grandes orquestras como esta , mas agora é só lembrança graças a vocês estamos ouvindo o que o pssado nos beneficiou com estes monstros da boa musica , obrigado