Musician, Composer, Arranger. Born Generoso Graziano in Boston, Massachusetts, he was a violinist, arranger and composer, best known for his work with popular music during the big band swing era. In 1936, he joined the Artie Shaw Orchestra as lead violinist and penned some of the band's most popular arrangements, including "Carioca", "Softly, "As in a Morning Sunrise", "Any Old Time" and "Begin the Beguine". He left Shaw in 1939, to join the Glenn Miller Orchestra and was credited with helping create the famous Miller sound. For Miller he arranged "Elmer's Tune", "Moonlight Cocktails", "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" and wrote the band's biggest hits to include "Sun Valley Jump", "The Man in the Moon", "Caribbean Clipper", "Pennsylvania 6-5000" and "String of Pearls". After the death of Glenn Miller, he did radio and studio work for Decca and RCA records in Los Angeles. Gray continued to tour with his band through the 1950s and did arrangements of contemporary songs for Billy Vaughan's
orchestra in the 1960s. He died of a heart attack in Dallas, Texas.
orchestra in the 1960s. He died of a heart attack in Dallas, Texas.
Musician, Composer, Arranger. Born Generoso Graziano in Boston, Massachusetts, he was a violinist, arranger and composer, best known for his work with popular music during the big band swing era. In 1936, he joined the Artie Shaw Orchestra as lead violinist and penned some of the band's most popular arrangements, including "Carioca", "Softly, "As in a Morning Sunrise", "Any Old Time" and "Begin the Beguine". He left Shaw in 1939, to join the Glenn Miller Orchestra and was credited with helping create the famous Miller sound. For Miller he arranged "Elmer's Tune", "Moonlight Cocktails", "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" and wrote the band's biggest hits to include "Sun Valley Jump", "The Man in the Moon", "Caribbean Clipper", "Pennsylvania 6-5000" and "String of Pearls". After the death of Glenn Miller, he did radio and studio work for Decca and RCA records in Los Angeles. Gray continued to tour with his band through the 1950s and did arrangements of contemporary songs for Billy Vaughan's
orchestra in the 1960s. He died of a heart attack in Dallas, Texas.
orchestra in the 1960s. He died of a heart attack in Dallas, Texas.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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