Biography

Drummer, songwriter ("South Rampart Street Parade", "Big Noise from Winnetka"), educated at St. Aloysius College, studied with Paul Detroit, Vic Barton, and Earl Hatch. (Some sources say he was born on June 18, 1906.) He was a drummer in film theatres at 13. He joined Bill Lustig's Scranton Sirens, then Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey's Wild Canaries, and later the orchestras of Joe Venuti, Freddy Rich, Ben Pollack in 1929-1934, Bob Crosby from 1935-1942, Jimmy Dorsey from 1947-1950, and Jack Teagarden from 1950-1955. He formed a touring group with Nappy Lamare, then his own sextet. During World War II, he was a drummer in a US Army band. Ray made many records. In 1953 he joined ASCAP and collaborated musically with Bob Haggart. His other popular-song compositions include "Big Crash from China"; "Hear You Talking"; "Big Tom"; "March of the Bob Cats"; "Big Foot Stomp"; and "Smoky Mary".
- IMDb mini biography by: Hup234!

Jazz drummer and vocalist.