- Popular orchestra conductor of the Alvino Rey Orchestra. Married to Luise King of the singing King Family Sisters.
- Brother-in-law of The King Sisters' Maxine King, Alyce King, Donna King, Yvonne King, and Marilyn King. Also brother-in-law of actor Robert Clarke, musician Buddy Cole, musician Del Courtney, and record label executive James Conkling.
- Uncle of Tina Cole, Cathy Cole, Cam Clarke, Ric de Azevedo, Lex de Azevedo, Chris Conkling, Xandra Conkling, Candy Conkling, and Carolyn Thomas.
- Influenced the development of early electric and pedal steel guitars.
- Inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, 1978 (first year).
- Grandfather of Win Butler and Will Butler.
- Performed with the bands of Phil Spitalny, Russ Morgan, Freddy Martin and Horace Heidt, before forming his own big band in California in 1939.
- Went by the nickname Al McBurney, of Scottish-Irish ancestry (birth name Alvin Henry McBurney).
- His band became more jazz-oriented after 1942, when Rey commissioned arrangements by Billy May, Ray Conniff, Neal Hefti and Johnny Mandel. This was one of the biggest bands of the era, with six saxes, ten brass, four bass trumpets and seven vocalists.
- His theme songs were "Blue Rain" and "Nighty-Night".
- Worked at an L.A. war plant for Vega Aircraft in 1943, inspecting radio parts for Flying Fortress bombers. He subsequently led a band in the U.S. Navy during 1944-45.
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