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{{Short description|American singer (1919–1979)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ray Eberle
| name = Ray Eberle
| image = Ray Eberle 1960.JPG
| image = Ray Eberle.jpg
| caption = Eberle in 1960.
| caption = Ray Eberle in 1943
| image_size = 220px
| image_size = 220px
| background = solo_singer
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Raymond Eberle
| birth_name = Raymond Eberle
| birth_date = {{birth date|1919|1|19}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1919|1|19}}
|birth_place =[[Hoosick Falls, New York]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Mechanicville, New York]], U.S.
| death_date = {{dda|1979|8|25|1919|1|19}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1979|8|25|1919|1|19}}
|death_place =[[Douglasville, Georgia]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Douglasville, Georgia]], U.S.
| instrument = [[vocals]]
| instrument = [[vocals]]
| genre = [[Big band music|Big band]], [[Swing music|swing]], [[Traditional Pop]]
| genre = [[Big band]], [[Swing music|swing]], [[traditional pop]]
| occupation = [[singing|singer]]
| occupation = [[singing|Singer]]
| years_active = [[1938 in music|1938]] - [[1979 in music|1979]]
| years_active = [[1938 in music|1938]] - [[1979 in music|1979]]
| associated_acts = [[Glenn Miller Orchestra]]<br>[[Tex Beneke]]<br>[[Marion Hutton]]}}
| past_member_of = [[Glenn Miller Orchestra]]<br>[[Tex Beneke]]<br>[[Marion Hutton]]}}


'''Raymond "Ray" Eberle''' (born January 19, 1919, [[Hoosick Falls, New York]] — died August 25, 1979, [[Douglasville, Georgia]]) was a vocalist during the Big Band Era. Eberle sang with the [[Glenn Miller Orchestra]].
'''Raymond Eberle''' (January 19, 1919 – August 25, 1979) was a vocalist during the Big Band Era, making his name with the [[Glenn Miller Orchestra]]. His elder brother, [[Bob Eberly]], sang with the [[Jimmy Dorsey|Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra]].


==Career==
==Career==
He was born in [[Hoosick Falls, New York]]. His father, John A. Eberle, was a local policeman, sign-painter, and publican (tavern-keeper). His elder brother was Big Band singer, [[Bob Eberly]], who sang with the [[Jimmy Dorsey|Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra]]. Ray started singing in his teens, with no formal training. In 1938, [[Glenn Miller]], who was looking for a male vocalist for his big band, asked Eberly if he had any siblings at home who could sing. Bob said "yes", and Ray was hired on the spot.<ref name=solid>[http://www.parabrisas.com/d_eberler.php Solid! -- Ray Eberle]</ref> Eberle recalled walking by a table when his similar looking brother was performing, and being stopped by Miller and invited to audition.<ref name=pc2a>{{Pop Chronicles 40s|2|A}}</ref> Music critics and Miller's musicians were reportedly unhappy with Eberle's vocal style but Miller stuck with him.<ref name=solid/>
Eberle was born in [[Mechanicville, New York|Mechanicville, Saratoga County, New York]]. His father, John A. Eberle, was a local policeman, sign-painter, and publican (tavern-keeper). His elder brother was Big Band singer [[Bob Eberly]], who sang with the [[Jimmy Dorsey|Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra]]. Ray started singing in his teens, with no formal training. In 1938, [[Glenn Miller]], who was looking for a male vocalist for his big band, asked Bob Eberly if he had any siblings at home who could sing. Bob said "yes", and Ray was hired on the spot.<ref name="solid">{{Cite web|title=Solid! -- Ray Eberle|url=http://www.parabrisas.com/d_eberler.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925145048/http://www.parabrisas.com/d_eberler.php|archive-date=2011-09-25|website=parabrisas.com}}</ref>


Eberle recalled walking by a table when his similar-looking brother was performing, and being stopped by Miller and invited to audition.<ref name=pc2a>{{Pop Chronicles 40s|2|A |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1633210/m1/#track/2 }}</ref> Music critics and Miller's musicians were reportedly unhappy with Eberle's vocal style but Miller stuck with him.<ref name=solid/> Critic [[George T. Simon]] said that Miller pitched Eberle's keys too high, straining Eberle's voice. Simon noted that when singing in lower keys, Eberle's sound was richer.<ref>{{cite book|title=Glenn Miller and His Orchestra|last=Simon|first=George T.|authorlink=George T. Simon|year=1980|publisher=DaCapo|location=New York|isbn =0-306-80129-9
⚫
Ray Eberle went on to find success with Miller,{{sfn|Gilliland|1994|loc=tape 1, side A}} deeming the songs for ''[[Orchestra Wives]]'', such as the jazz standard "[[At Last]]", to be among his favorites as there were songs he could "sink my teeth into, and make a story out of".<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=_Y0yJS0SWdcC&pg=PA144&dq=ray+eberle&as_brr=3&cd=1#v=onepage&q=ray%20eberle&f=false ''Chattanooga Choo Choo: The Life and Times of the World Famous Glenn Miller'' by Richard Grudens, pp. 144-47]</ref> He appeared in the [[Twentieth Century Fox]] movies, ''[[Sun Valley Serenade]]'' (1941) and ''[[Orchestra Wives]]'' (1942).
|page=129|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jCsUAQAAIAAJ}}</ref>


⚫
Eberle went on to find success with Miller,{{sfn|Gilliland|1994|loc=tape 1, side A}} deeming the songs for ''[[Orchestra Wives]]'', such as the jazz standard "[[At Last]]", to be among his favorites, as they were songs he could "sink my teeth into, and make a story out of".<ref>[https://archive.org/details/chattanoogachooc00grud/page/144 <!-- quote=ray eberle. --> ''Chattanooga Choo Choo: The Life and Times of the World Famous Glenn Miller'' by Richard Grudens, pp. 144-47]</ref> He appeared in the [[Twentieth Century Fox]] movies ''[[Sun Valley Serenade]]'' (1941) and ''[[Orchestra Wives]]'' (1942).
⚫
He made several [[Universal Studios|Universal]] films, including ''[[Mister Big 1943 film|Mister Big]]'', making a [[cameo appearance|cameo]] appearance as himself. Eberle mostly sang ballads.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=38tE4wwC0u0C&pg=PA101&dq=ray+eberle&as_brr=3&cd=9#v=onepage&q=ray%20eberle&f=false Swing by Scott Yanow, pp. 101-03]</ref> From 1940-43 he did well on [[Billboard (magazine)]]'s "College Poll" for male vocalist.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=H0UEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA6&dq=ray+eberle&cd=3#v=onepage&q=ray%20eberle&f=false Billboard magazine for April 24, 1948]</ref> He also appeared on numerous television variety shows in the 1950's and 1960's.


⚫
He made several [[Universal Pictures|Universal]] films, including ''[[Mister Big 1943 film|Mister Big]]'', making a [[cameo appearance|cameo]] appearance as himself. Eberle mostly sang ballads. He led his own orchestra, called The Ray Eberle Orchestra, as well as the Serenade In Blue Orchestra from 1943, and maintained his band until his death in 1979.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=38tE4wwC0u0C&dq=ray+eberle&pg=PA101 Swing by Scott Yanow, pp. 101-03]</ref> From 1940 to 1943 he did well on [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']]'s "College Poll" for male vocalist.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=H0UEAAAAMBAJ&dq=ray+eberle&pg=PA6 Billboard magazine for April 24, 1948]</ref> He also appeared on numerous television variety shows in the 1950s and 1960s.
⚫
Ray Eberle sang lead on [[Sometime (1939 Glenn Miller song)|"Sometime"]], composed by Glenn Miller in 1939, "[[Polka Dots and Moonbeams]]", "[[At Last]]", a number 9 chart hit on Billboard in 1942, and "[[To You]]", but Miller ran a tight ship and often fired people after one negative incident. Eberle was stuck in traffic one day during a Chicago engagement, and was late for a rehearsal. Miller fired him on the spot, and replaced him in June 1942 with Skip Nelson. After his departure from Miller, Eberle briefly joined [[Gene Krupa]]'s band before launching a solo career.<ref name=solid/> He later joined former Miller bandmate [[Tex Beneke]]'s orchestra in 1970 for a national tour, and reformed his own orchestra later in the decade.


⚫
Ray Eberle sang lead on [[Sometime (1939 Glenn Miller song)|"Sometime"]], composed by Glenn Miller in 1939, "[[Polka Dots and Moonbeams]]", "[[At Last]]", a number 9 chart hit on ''Billboard'' in 1942, and "[[To You (1939 song)|To You]]", but Miller ran a tight ship and often fired people after one negative incident. Eberle was stuck in traffic one day during a Chicago engagement, and was late for a rehearsal. Miller fired him on the spot, and replaced him in June 1942 with Skip Nelson.
==Death==

Ray and his wife, Janet (née Young), had two children, Jan and Laurie Eberle. Janet's daughter Nancy Atchison became Nancy Eberle when she married Ray. He had two sons from his second marriage, Ray Eberle Jr. and John Eberle and a daughter Raye’Ellen. He also had a grandson, named Ray the 3rd. Ray Eberle died of a heart attack in [[Douglasville, Georgia]] on August 25, 1979, aged 60.<ref>[http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20A11F6345D12728DDDA10A94D0405B898BF1D3 Obituary from the ''New York Times'']</ref>
After his departure from Miller, Eberle briefly joined [[Gene Krupa]]'s band before launching a solo career.<ref name=solid/> He later joined former Miller bandmate [[Tex Beneke]]'s orchestra in 1970 for a national tour, and reformed his own orchestra later in the decade.

==Personal life==
Eberle and his wife, Janet Eberle (née Young), had three children. He had two sons from his second marriage to Joanne Eberle (née Genthon). Ray Eberle died of a heart attack in [[Douglasville, Georgia]], on August 25, 1979, aged 60.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 28, 1979|title=Ray Eberle, 60, Big‐Band Singer|page=15|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/08/28/archives/ray-eberle-60-bigband-singer-with-tex-beneke-band.html}}</ref>

==See also==
* Ross Eberle, American author and grandson of Ray Eberle


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.hoosickhistory.com/biographies/Eberle.htm Biography]
* [http://www.hoosickhistory.com/biographies/Eberle.htm Biography]
* {{IMDb name|0248083}}
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0248083 IMDb profile]


{{Glenn Miller}}
{{Authority control|PND=134364384|LCCN=n/91/108005|VIAF=37101616}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
|NAME = Eberle, Ray
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Eberle, Raymond
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = American singer
|DATE OF BIRTH = January 19, 1919
|PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Hoosick Falls, New York]], U.S.
|DATE OF DEATH = August 25, 1979
|PLACE OF DEATH = [[Douglasville, Georgia]], U.S.
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eberle, Ray}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eberle, Ray}}
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:1979 deaths]]
[[Category:1979 deaths]]
[[Category:Big band singers]]
[[Category:Big band singers]]
[[Category:People from Hoosick Falls, New York]]
[[Category:People from Mechanicville, New York]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
⚫
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:Bell Records artists]]
[[Category:Bell Records artists]]
[[Category:Musicians from New York]]
[[Category:Singers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction]]
[[Category:Cardiovascular disease deaths in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Apollo Records artists]]
[[Category:Apollo Records artists]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
⚫
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:American male jazz musicians]]
[[Category:Glenn Miller Orchestra members]]

Latest revision as of 21:40, 26 November 2024

Ray Eberle
Ray Eberle in 1943
Ray Eberle in 1943
Background information
Birth nameRaymond Eberle
Born(1919-01-19)January 19, 1919
Mechanicville, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 25, 1979(1979-08-25) (aged 60)
Douglasville, Georgia, U.S.
GenresBig band, swing, traditional pop
OccupationSinger
Instrumentvocals
Years active1938 - 1979
Formerly ofGlenn Miller Orchestra
Tex Beneke
Marion Hutton

Raymond Eberle (January 19, 1919 – August 25, 1979) was a vocalist during the Big Band Era, making his name with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. His elder brother, Bob Eberly, sang with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.

Career

[edit]

Eberle was born in Mechanicville, Saratoga County, New York. His father, John A. Eberle, was a local policeman, sign-painter, and publican (tavern-keeper). His elder brother was Big Band singer Bob Eberly, who sang with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Ray started singing in his teens, with no formal training. In 1938, Glenn Miller, who was looking for a male vocalist for his big band, asked Bob Eberly if he had any siblings at home who could sing. Bob said "yes", and Ray was hired on the spot.[1]

Eberle recalled walking by a table when his similar-looking brother was performing, and being stopped by Miller and invited to audition.[2] Music critics and Miller's musicians were reportedly unhappy with Eberle's vocal style but Miller stuck with him.[1] Critic George T. Simon said that Miller pitched Eberle's keys too high, straining Eberle's voice. Simon noted that when singing in lower keys, Eberle's sound was richer.[3]

Eberle went on to find success with Miller,[4] deeming the songs for Orchestra Wives, such as the jazz standard "At Last", to be among his favorites, as they were songs he could "sink my teeth into, and make a story out of".[5] He appeared in the Twentieth Century Fox movies Sun Valley Serenade (1941) and Orchestra Wives (1942).

He made several Universal films, including Mister Big, making a cameo appearance as himself. Eberle mostly sang ballads. He led his own orchestra, called The Ray Eberle Orchestra, as well as the Serenade In Blue Orchestra from 1943, and maintained his band until his death in 1979.[6] From 1940 to 1943 he did well on Billboard's "College Poll" for male vocalist.[7] He also appeared on numerous television variety shows in the 1950s and 1960s.

Ray Eberle sang lead on "Sometime", composed by Glenn Miller in 1939, "Polka Dots and Moonbeams", "At Last", a number 9 chart hit on Billboard in 1942, and "To You", but Miller ran a tight ship and often fired people after one negative incident. Eberle was stuck in traffic one day during a Chicago engagement, and was late for a rehearsal. Miller fired him on the spot, and replaced him in June 1942 with Skip Nelson.

After his departure from Miller, Eberle briefly joined Gene Krupa's band before launching a solo career.[1] He later joined former Miller bandmate Tex Beneke's orchestra in 1970 for a national tour, and reformed his own orchestra later in the decade.

Personal life

[edit]

Eberle and his wife, Janet Eberle (née Young), had three children. He had two sons from his second marriage to Joanne Eberle (née Genthon). Ray Eberle died of a heart attack in Douglasville, Georgia, on August 25, 1979, aged 60.[8]

See also

[edit]
  • Ross Eberle, American author and grandson of Ray Eberle

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Solid! -- Ray Eberle". parabrisas.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2011.
  2. ^ Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 2, side A.
  3. ^ Simon, George T. (1980). Glenn Miller and His Orchestra. New York: DaCapo. p. 129. ISBN 0-306-80129-9.
  4. ^ Gilliland 1994, tape 1, side A.
  5. ^ Chattanooga Choo Choo: The Life and Times of the World Famous Glenn Miller by Richard Grudens, pp. 144-47
  6. ^ Swing by Scott Yanow, pp. 101-03
  7. ^ Billboard magazine for April 24, 1948
  8. ^ "Ray Eberle, 60, Big‐Band Singer". The New York Times. August 28, 1979. p. 15.
[edit]
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