Ray Eberle |
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which now included the talented Gorden ' Tex' Beneke. A new girl singer Gail Reece and a young man who had never sang with a band before but had a brother who was already an established singer with the Jimmy Dorsey orchestra Bob Eberle the younger brother and look like, Ray Eberle. When Glenn first saw Ray he was attending a session with Jimmy Dorsey and Ray was along for the ride. As he walked passed Glenn who was sitting at a table, Glenn had to look twice at this handsome young man who looked so much like Bob and who Glenn had just been watching. Who was that? Glenn asked and was soon introduced to this young man and immediately Glenn offered him a job even without hearing him sing. "If your a brother of Bob you must be able to sing" was Glenn's reported comment. |
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Ray was extremely grateful for Glenn's consideration and said that he regarded him as an older brother. Glenn had a lot of faith in Ray and considered him a better singer than his brother Bob although some prominent people in the music industry at the time would not have agreed with him. For myself I felt that Ray's voice suited the orchestra's sound although perhaps some of the songs did not suit Ray. Ray Eberle was part of the Glenn Miller sound. Those few wonderful years the orchestra reigned just three and half are probably unique in the world of Big Bands. In the following years from 1939 the orchestra began to recruit other talented musicians and the band got better and better, it began to 'Click' as Glenn once said. Great stars of later years emerged from Glenn Orchestra, Billy May, Ray Anthony. Hal MacIntire, Johnny Best, Paul Tanner, Bobby Hacket and many more Ray sang at just about every concert and recording session the band did in that short period , but trouble was brewing and from all reports the relationship between Ray and Glenn was beginning to breakdown. It has been said by members of the band that Ray would take a few liberties from time to time and this was bugging Glenn. Why Glenn did or didn't raise these matters with Ray at the time is unknown by this writer but Glenn at that time, late 1942, had other things on his mind. He had made up his mind to join the forces, his plan was to take the whole band into the service but this was a none starter. His application to join the navy was turned down because of his age, the official explanation being, " "you have not established to the satisfaction of the Navy Department that your Particular qualifications fit you for a mobilisation billet in the Naval Reserve" This must have been a great blow for Glenn and although he then applied to join the Army and making this big decision which would probably have meant breaking up this great band, it was possible this pressure prompted him to blow his top as Ray, once again walked in late at the recording studios having been held up on the Drawbridge over the Chicago River. "Your fired" retorted Glenn, and that was it. No explanation nothing. Ray was left in shock wondering what had happened. After such a good relationship since day one when Ray joined the band, his first job as band singer, it was suddenly brought to an end. Ray always insisted that it was he who resigned from the band and was not fired. What is for sure is that Ray never held a grudge against Glenn and always has a good word for him. Over the years since that day Ray has had his own band, played tributes to Glenn and has sung at many Glenn Miller tribute concerts and has always said good things about the band and Glenn. Certainly a man who proved his love and friendship for the Glenn Miller band and the leader Glenn Miller. |
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| Ray Died on 25th August 1979. His first wife Janet died of cancer. His second wife Joanne wrote to me recently and told me that " Ray never lost respect for Glenn and always, always spoke well and kindly of him. Ray has two sons Ray jnr. And John, a grandson named (Yes you've guest it) Ray the 3rd, Three daughters Jan, Laurie and guess what 'Raye' Ellen. (This family surely loved and respected their father) Both Jan and Ray jnr. have sung professionally and Ray jnr sent me a tape of his singing some of his fathers Miller favourites. I enjoyed every moment of it. It would be great to see him singing his fathers songs in front of one of the current Glenn Miller Orchestra's | ||||||||||||||||
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Ray's daughter Jan Eberle writes about her Dad........ |
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The Music Supplied on this page by kind permission of |
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