Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony, born Raymond Antonini on January 20, 1922, in Bentleyville, Pennsylvania, is an American retired bandleader, trumpeter, songwriter, and actor. Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Anthony was introduced to the trumpet by his father at a young age, eventually becoming a teenage protégé of jazz trumpeter Harry James. He gained early prominence as a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 1940 to 1941 and appeared in the film "Sun Valley Serenade." During World War II, Anthony served in the U.S. Navy, entertaining troops in Honolulu.
After the war, he formed the Ray Anthony Orchestra, achieving significant success in the early 1950s with hits like "The Bunny Hop," "Hokey Pokey," and the theme from "Dragnet." His recording of "At Last" in 1952 became a major hit, and his orchestra was featured on television and in films, including "Daddy Long Legs" and "The Girl Can't Help It."
Anthony married actress Mamie Van Doren in 1955, with whom he had a son, Perry Ray Anthony. The couple divorced in 1961. Despite the end of his brief film career, Anthony continued to thrive musically, notably with the "Peter Gunn" theme, which reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
A prolific musician, Anthony recorded for Capitol Records for 19 years and later founded Wood Records. He is celebrated as one of the last surviving members of the original Glenn Miller Orchestra and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As of 2022, Anthony celebrated his 100th birthday, marking a century of contributions to the music industry.
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