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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZNOBLE, Ray(b 17 Nov. '03, nr London, England; d there 3 April '78) Pianist, bandleader, arranger, songwriter, his elegant sweet/swing style popular on both sides of the Atlantic, while some of his songs became standards. He was music director at HMV Records '29-34; early records as the New Mayfair Orchestra used now-forgotten show and novelty tunes, but Al Bowlly began recording with the band late '30 and the arrangements and Noble's songwriting developed until it was one of the best dance bands around, with soloists such as Louis Armstrong-inspired trumpeter Nat Gonella (b 7 March '08, London; d there 8 August '98). Noble wrote both words and music for lovely songs including 'Love Is The Sweetest Thing' '33, 'The Very Thought Of You' '34, 'The Touch Of Your Lips' '36, 'I Hadn't Anyone Till You' '38, many more; instrumentals included 'Cherokee' '38, a hit in USA by Charlie Barnet and harmonically interesting enough to be used as a vehicle by modern jazzmen (it was improvising on 'Cherokee', Charlie Parker said, that he first played the music he'd been hearing in his head). Noble's records were issued in the USA on Victor; 'Love Is The Sweetest Thing' and 'The Old Spinning Wheel' (words and music by Billy Hill; radio theme of child singer Mary Small) were big hits '33, 'The Very Thought Of You' and 'Isle Of Capri' '34. He came to the USA late '34 bringing Bowlly and drummer/manager Bill Harty with him and led a band assembled for him by Glenn Miller including Bud Freeman, Claude Thornhill, Will Bradley, Charlie Spivak, Sterling Bose and other top sidemen: 'Paris In The Spring' and 'Let's Swing It' were top hits '35. Bowlly returned to England '36; Noble accompanied Fred Astaire on huge hits 'Nice Work If You Can Get It', 'A Foggy Day', 'Change Partners' '37-8 on Brunswick, switched to that label himself, then to Columbia '40; the hits carried on until there were about 60 altogether in the USA '31-48 including the Astaire sides. 'By The Light Of The Silv'ry Moon' (written for Ziegfeld Follies in '09 by Edward Madden and Gus Edwards, later heard in many films; also recorded '42 by Fats Waller and the Deep River Boys) eventually sold a million copies with a vocal by Roy 'Snooky' Lanson, later famous on radio/TV show Your Hit Parade. Noble's last no. 1 was the delightful 'Linda' '47 (words and music by Jack Lawrence, written for the baby daughter of his lawyer: Linda Eastman grew up to became Linda McCartney) with vocal by Buddy Clark, who also sang on 'I'll Dance At Your Wedding', no. 3 the same year. |