As a child Anthony moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio, where he began studying 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 sex symbol actress Mamie Van Doren and 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.
Anthony and Van Doren divorced in 1961, 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 "Thurderbird", "Bunny Hop", "Trumpet Boogie", "Big Band Boogie", and "Mr. Anthony's Boogie".
Anthony has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
As of 20 January 2011 (2011 -01-20)[update] his 89th birthday, Anthony is active as a bandleader and musician, and is one of the oldest and living big band bandleaders.
Anthony has a close friendship with Hugh Hefner, which has resulted in him appearing in numerous episodes of The Girls Next Door.
Secret Love
Ray Anthony & His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That lived within the heart of me
All too soon my secret love
Became impatient to be free
So I told a friendly star
The way that dreamers often do
Just how wonderful you are
Now I shout it from the highest hills
Even told the golden daffodils
At last my heart's an open door
And my secret love's no secret anymore
The lyrics to Ray Anthony & His Orchestra's song "Secret Love" convey the story of a hidden, deeply-felt love that eventually becomes too strong to be kept secret any longer. The first verse sets the stage by introducing the concept of a secret love residing within the singer's heart. This love is something precious but hidden away and unknown to the world. It suggests that the singer has been carrying this secret within, cherishing it privately.
As the song progresses, the second verse speaks of the growing impatience of this secret love to be set free. The singer acknowledges that the love he holds inside is becoming too strong to be contained any longer. This feeling reflects a desire for the world to know about and experience this love that has been kept hidden for so long. It implies that the emotion has reached a tipping point where it can no longer be confined.
In the third verse, the lyrics take a more imaginative turn, introducing the idea of confiding in a star. This reveals the singer's yearning to share his secret love with someone or something, even if it may seem unconventional. By confiding in a friendly star, the singer is expressing the universal sentiment that dreamers often share their deepest desires and emotions with celestial bodies, hoping that their dreams will be acknowledged and supported.
The final verse reveals the transformation that has taken place within the singer's heart. It's as if a breakthrough has occurred, and the love that was once secret is now proclaimed to the world. The metaphorical image of shouting from the highest hills and sharing the love with the golden daffodils paints a vivid picture of the singer's liberation. This verse signifies a change in the singer's attitude towards secrecy, as they are now ready to openly declare their love and embrace the vulnerability that comes with it. The lyrics convey the joy of self-acceptance and the freedom that comes from releasing hidden emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I had a secret love
Once, I had a deep, hidden affection
That lived within the heart of me
Which resided deep in my soul
All too soon my secret love
But soon, this concealed affection
Became impatient to be free
Yearned to break free and be known
So I told a friendly star
Thus, I confided in a benevolent star
The way that dreamers often do
Like how dreamers often reveal their desires
Just how wonderful you are
Describing your remarkable qualities
And why I am so in love with you
Explaining the depth of my affection towards you
Now I shout it from the highest hills
Now, I proclaim it loudly from mountain peaks
Even told the golden daffodils
Even shared my feelings with the radiant daffodils
At last my heart's an open door
Finally, my heart is an exposed threshold
And my secret love's no secret anymore
And my concealed affection is no longer hidden
Lyrics © Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Paul Francis Webster, Sammy Fain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind