Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

JURGENS, Dick

(b 8 January 1910, Sacramento CA; d there 5 October 1995) Trumpet, composer, bandleader. Formed first band '28; played highly regarded dance music in hotels and on the radio. Introduced with 'Here's That Band Again!', the band played with rhythmic ease and a rich ensemble sound, far less slurpy than other so-called 'sweet' bands, featuring vocalists Eddy Howard, Ronnie Kemper on novelties. Jurgens co-wrote his theme 'Day Dreams Come True At Night', hits 'Careless' '39, 'Elmer's Tune' (Glenn Miller had no. 1 version '41; Jurgens's own was no. 8), 'One Dozen Roses' '42. Pop Memories credited the band with 25 hits '39-47, twelve in top ten. He entertained troops during WWII, formed another band post-war, worked into the '70s. LPs on Hindsight included '37-9 material.