Jerry Wald (January 15, 1918 – September 1, 1973) was an American clarinetist and band leader.
Jervis Wald was born in Newark, New Jersey and started on soprano saxophone at the age of seven, later taking up alto sax and clarinet. His role model was "the king of the clarinet", Artie Shaw. This reflected strongly in his playing and led to comparisons being drawn, which Jerry eventually came to resent. In 1941, he formed his own orchestra in New York, enjoying lengthy residencies at the Lincoln Hotel and at the Panther Room of the Hotel Sherman in Chicago.
The band's theme song was "Call of the Wild". A number of good arrangements were provided by Ray Conniff and Jerry Gray. Sidemen included several illustrious former Shaw alumni, notably saxophonist Les Robinson, guitarist Art Ryerson, bassist Sid Weiss and trumpeter Bernie Privin. A good swinging outfit, Wald's 15-piece band adopted a more progressive sound by the late 1940's. Recording contracts were with Decca, Majestic and Columbia. Moreover, Wald was featured on the Robert Q. Lewis radio show.
Jerry Wald’s orchestra never made the big time. Nonetheless, he had several notable vocalists on his roster during its existence. A reviewer gave the name of Wald’s vocalist during his first Roseland engagement in 1942 as Francis Wayne. Wayne, who later sang for Woody Herman and married Neal Hefti, was still an unknown at the time. Anita Boyer had joined the band by mid-1942, however, and was Wald’s most notable canary.
She stayed until December, when Lillian Lane replaced her. Lane remained until at least February of 1943. Betty Bonney was singing by July 1943 and stayed through at least November of that year. Ginnie Powell had replaced Bonney by December. Male vocalist Dick Merrick remained with Wald for many years, though he left for the McFarland Twins’ band in late 1942, returning to Wald in May 1943. Johnny Bond replaced him in the interim.
Wald also briefly had a major asset in Billie Rogers. This female trumpet player and vocalist had formerly played with Woody Herman and then led her own band, joined Wald in March 1945. One of the very few women to play in a male band, Rogers’ sensational trumpet playing and bluesy vocal style were highlights of Wald’s 1945 group. Rogers only stayed a few months however, leaving in October to front her own combo.
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| Jean Porter with Jerry Wald |
In 1946, Wald’s band began a noticeable decline. April reviews panned vocalist Anne Russell. Merrick left that month as well, replaced by Bill Raymond. Mary Nash also sang in 1946. Wald disbanded his jump orchestra in November of that year during the big band bust, when many notable leaders hung up their batons, and formed a sweet orchestra. Vocalist was Nick Delano. Jimmy Vanni had replaced him by June. The band appeared in one movie, "Little Miss Broadway" (a 1947 Columbia Pictures film, not the 1938 Shirley Temple 20th Century-Fox feature). The new group struggled, and in January 1949 Wald formed a short-lived bop orchestra before opening a night club.
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| Jerry Wald (left) with Gordon MacRae, Mel Tormé , Marion Hutton, and Jerry Jerome 1947 |
In May 1950, Wald formed a new sixteen-piece orchestra in Los Angeles with Carolyn Grey, ex-Woody Herman vocalist, joining the group in March 1951. In 1952, Chris Connors was female vocalist and recorded 6 sides for Decca. In 1953, Wald did a 10-inch "Tops in Pops" LP for an MGM subsidiary, Lion. In 1955 Kapp records released "Listen to the Music of Jerry Wald and His Orchestra." He finished off his recording career with some 45s for smaller companies, Todd (Moon Over Miami / Sheba) and his own Waldork label (The Creeper / Nightmare) in 1958.
He later moved back to New York and worked in both radio and television. He died on 1st September, 1973 (age 55) in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
(Edited mainly from Bandchips & IMDb)
Date of death sourced from h**ps://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/mastertalent/detail/108248/Wald_Jerry