Ray Anthony facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ray Anthony
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Anthony in 1950
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Raymond Antonini |
| Born | January 20, 1922 Bentleyville, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Big band, jazz, swing |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader |
| Instruments | Trumpet |
| Years active | 1936–1998 |
| Labels | Aero Space, Capitol |
Ray Anthony, born Raymond Antonini on January 20, 1922, is a famous American musician. He was a bandleader, played the trumpet, wrote songs, and even acted! He is also the last living member of the legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra. As of July 2025, he is 103 years old.
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Ray Anthony's Early Life and Music Career
Ray Anthony was born in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania. His family was Italian. They later moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he learned to play the trumpet.
Joining Glenn Miller's Band
From 1940 to 1941, Ray played in Glenn Miller's famous band. He even appeared in the movie Sun Valley Serenade with the band. After that, he joined the United States Navy during World War II. Glenn Miller also joined the United States Army and led another military band. Sadly, Miller disappeared in 1944 over the English Channel.
Forming His Own Orchestra
After the war, Ray Anthony started his own music group. The Ray Anthony Orchestra became very popular in the early 1950s. They had hit songs like "The Bunny Hop" and "Hokey Pokey". Their theme song for the TV show Dragnet was also a big hit. In 1952, his recording of "At Last" was very popular.
Ray Anthony on TV and in Movies
In 1953, Ray Anthony and his orchestra were featured on a TV show. From 1953 to 1954, he was the music director for the TV series TV's Top Tunes. He also appeared as himself with his orchestra in the 1955 movie Daddy Long Legs. This movie starred famous actors Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron.
In 1955, Ray married actress Mamie Van Doren. Their son, Perry Ray, was born in 1956. Ray started acting more around this time. He had his own TV show called The Ray Anthony Show in 1956–57. He also appeared in several movies, including The Five Pennies, where he played another musician named Jimmy Dorsey. He acted alongside Mamie Van Doren in movies like High School Confidential (1958), The Beat Generation, and Girls Town (both 1959). His band also appeared in the movie The Girl Can't Help It (1956).
Later Music and Hits
Ray Anthony and Mamie Van Doren divorced in 1961. After that, Ray focused more on his music. He had another big hit with the jazzy theme from the detective TV series Peter Gunn. This song was very popular for many years. One of the pianists in Ray Anthony's band was Allen "Puddler" Harris. Another was Kellie Greene, who also played the vibraphone.
Ray Anthony also wrote many songs himself. Some of his compositions include "Thunderbird", "The Bunny Hop", "Houseparty Hop", and "Mr. Anthony's Boogie". He was known as one of the most modern big band leaders of his time.
Ray Anthony became the last living member of Glenn Miller's band when trombonist Nat Peck passed away in 2015.
Later Career and Achievements
In the early 1980s, Ray Anthony started a new group called Big Band '80s. Other famous musicians like Buddy Rich, Harry James, Les Brown, and Alvino Rey were also part of this band.
Ray Anthony has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His later music explored different styles, from easy-listening and lounge music to blues and themes from movies and TV shows.
Images for kids
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Anthony performing in 1947
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See also
In Spanish: Ray Anthony para niños
