THE JERRY GRAY STORY – 1955-1960 [Updated Jun 15, 2018 – Version JG.008e] Circa 1955: Jerry Gray and his Band of Today, with Linda Lee. AFRS/AFRTS Series EN-315. Jerry Gray appeared on at least six programs of this Series. He was interviewed on at least three of these programs, likely at the Hollywood Palladium. Bud Widom was a disc jockey/interviewer on this Series. It is unknown whether the versions of the Jerry Gray recordings used were the original Decca commercial releases or other versions. Buds Bandwagon was a 30-minute record program produced and hosted by Bud Widom. There were approximately 655 programs distributed by AFRS/AFRTS. The Billboard, Jun 4, 1955, Page 18: 3 AFRS Live Segs Axed for Economy HOLLYWOOD, May 28. – A move to eliminate all Armed Forces Radio Service productions that emanate live this week resulted in the termination of contracts of three civilian AFRS employees, disc jockey Bud Widom, sports announcer Fred Hessler, and Dave Young, announcer-narrator. Move reportedly came as a result of a recent government order to “effect a drastic budget cut,” with possible future plans of eliminating commercial AFRS shows. Widom, best known of the trio, conducted a successful disk jockey show for AFRS for the past four years, “Bud’s Bandwagon.” _______________ The Billboard, Jul 23, 1955, Page 3: Bernstein, Widom Set Up B&W Outfit HOLLYWOOD, July 16. – B&W Productions was formed here this week by packager Bud Widom and producer Richard Bernstein. First show, “Bud’s Bandwagon,” a five-day, 15-minute Hollywood interview and news strip, is now being packaged. _______________ Part 8 - Page 1 of 312 Buds Bandwagon Series EN-315 Known Buds Bandwagon programs which include Jerry Gray, either as recording artist or as one who was interviewed by Bud Widom: Program #46. A disc jockey, Bud Widom played Jeep Jockey Jump by Jerry Gray to open this program. The interview was with Maynard Ferguson. AFRS. Program #206. Bud Widom interviews band leader Jerry Gray in Part 2, likely at the Hollywood Palladium. AFRS. Program #408. Bud Widom interviews band leader Jerry Gray, likely at the Hollywood Palladium. AFRTS. Program #411. The University of Missouri – Kansas City show Buds Bandwagon 411, Part 2 (matrix 733933), with broadcast date May 11, 1959, and Buds Bandwagon 412, Part 1 (matrix 734281), with broadcast date May 13, 1959. Program #411, Part 2 includes $500 Reward by Jerry Gray with Linda Lee. AFRTS. Program #420. The University of Missouri – Kansas City show Buds Bandwagon 419, Part 1 (matrix 734705), with broadcast date Apr 23, 1959, and Buds Bandwagon 420, Part 2 (matrix 734708), with broadcast date Apr 24, 1959. Program #420, Part 2 includes Champagne Boogie by Jerry Gray. David Goldin also shows an interview with Jerry Gray. AFRTS. Program #483. The University of Missouri – Kansas City show Buds Bandwagon 482, Part 2 (matrix 738417), with broadcast date Mar 27, 1956, and Buds Bandwagon 483, Part 1 (matrix 739075), with broadcast date Mar 29, 1956. Program #483, Part 1 includes Kettle Drum Hop by Jerry Gray. AFRTS. ____________________________________________________________________________________ February 10, 1955 [Thursday]: Jerry Gray and his Band of Today, Disc Jockey program, Radio Station KZ, Melbourne, Australia. The Age [Melbourne, Victoria, Australia], Feb 10, 1955, Page 6, Radio Supplement: 10:45 p.m. MELODY TIME – Featuring Jerry Gray Orch.: Dancing In The Dark, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Desert Serenade, Minuet in G. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Part 8 - Page 2 of 312 March 19, 1955 [Saturday]: Jerry Gray and his Band of Today with Laura Carroll, along with an appearance of the San Fernando-Burbank Fire Department Bagpipe Band under director Howard Fraser; St. Patrick’s Day Dance, Granada Hills VFW Post 2323, Community Building at Devonshire Downs, Northridge, California. The Valley News [Van Nuys, California], Mar 15, 1955, Page 29-A: Dance Planned for Post 2323 Benefit Fund Granada Hills Post 2323, Veterans of Foreign Wars, is sponsoring a St. Patrick’s Day dance to be held Saturday night at Devonshire Downs in Northridge. Jerry Gray’s orchestra, featuring “Laura,” vocalist, will play. Gray, composer and television star, is a former arranger for the late Glenn Miller. His band has been a holdover at the Palladium and Moulin Rouge and also has appeared on the CBS show, Club Fifteen. Post Members to Play Feature of the evening will be the San Fernando-Burbank Fire Dept. Bagpipe Band with exhibition of Highland dancing. Band is also sponsored by the Burbank Elks Lodge 1497. It has appeared throughout the state as well as for the Las Vegas Helldorado Days, winning first place at each appearance. Trophies have been won for parades in Burbank, San Fernando, Canoga Park, Hollywood, Sunland, Granada Hills. etc. Two members of the Granada Hills post, Edgar MacIntyre, drum-major, and Gordon Sherreffs, tenor-drummer, will play with the band. Pipe-Major Howard Fraser of Burbank, is in charge of the colorful kilties. Tickets on Sale The dance is for benefit of the post’s building and land fund with which property is to be purchased for a home to be made available to Granada Hills organizations and children’s groups. Tickets are $1.50 and may be secured from business firms and at the gate. Information may be obtained from Jack McGill, EM 3-1861 or Danny Carroll, Empire 3-2862. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Part 8 - Page 3 of 312 April 16, 1955 [Saturday]: Jerry Gray and his Band of Today; 19th Desert Circus Sheriff’s Dance, Sheriff Bill Groves, American Legion Auditorium, 400 North Belardo Road, Palm Springs, California. The Desert Sun [Palm Springs, California], Mar 31, 1955, Pages 1/8A: Complete Plans Listed by Cooper for 19th Circus They’re all set. The events, that is, for Palm Spring’s BIG EVENT. Desert Circus activities were launched last night at an El Mirador cocktail party given by High Sheriff Bill Groves at which general chairman Jimmy Cooper took the opportunity of outlining for the first time the full program of events. THIS IS THE WAY they line up: ….. SATURDAY – STARTING AT 9:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall will be the fine Dollar Dance. Jerry Gray and his big-time band will play and both the hall and the patio will be available. Both the American Legion and the Elks Club will provide chairman. ….. THIS YEAR, admission to each Circus event will be one dollar. Tickets and book of tickets are already available at Circus headquarters in the Sunset Towers and will soon be in the hands of all merchants and hotel owners. Soon, too, the pretty deputies will be hard at work, each armed with charm, guns, and tickets. Last year the Desert Circus, chairmaned by Milt Hicks and George Strebe, distributed a record $13,000 in proceeds to virtually every church group and charity in the Village area. _______________ The Sun [San Bernardino, California], Apr 12, 1955, Page 18: Desert Circus to Open on Thursday Palm Springs to Offer Event for 19th Year ….. Saturday, April 16 – 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. – Sheriff’s Dance at the American Legion Auditorium, 400 No. Belardo Road. Jerry Gray and his orchestra, fresh from the Hollywood Palladium. Admission $1.00. Dancing for more than 3,000. _______________ Part 8 - Page 4 of 312 The Desert Sun [Palm Springs, California], Apr 14, 1955, Page 1: 19th Annual Desert Circus Under Way Today Palm Springs to Celebrate 4-Day Event Big Parade Will Move Down Drive Saturday Morning . ROBERTA LINN, outstanding TV singer and entertainer, will reign as Queen over the parade, as well as other Circus events. In the evening, Saturday, will be the Sheriff’s dance at the American Legion Auditorium, 400 North Belardo Road, featuring the music of Jerry Gray and his Band of Today. Jimmy Cooper is general chairman of this year’s event, with Mac MacDonald, well known desert horseman, serving as his assistant. Adrian Rosen is president of the Desert Circus Association. _______________ The Desert Sun [Palm Springs, California], Apr 11, 1955, Page 1: The Desert Sun [Palm Springs, California], Apr 14, 1955, Page 4a: OFFICIAL PROGRAM – 19th Annual Desert Circus SATURDAY 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sheriff Bill Groves’ Dance at the American Legion Auditorium, 400 North Belardo Road, featuring Jerry Gray and his Band of Today, one of the nation’s outstanding dance orchestras. Admission $1. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Part 8 - Page 5 of 312 May 7, 1955 [Saturday]: Jerry Gray and his Band Of Today, along with The Chic Rogers Jazz Band, Bobby Troup and his Group, and “Queen” Anita Ekberg; “The Chase” – Tau Delta Phi Annual Charity Dance, Riviera Country Club, on Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California. Southern California Daily Trojan [Los Angeles, California], Apr 29, 1955, Pages 1 and 3: Swede Beauty Will Sell Bids To 9th ‘Chase’ [Portions of the left side of this article is unreadable. The ..... indicate missing text.] Anita Ekberg, 1951 Miss Sweden, Hollywood starlet, and Queen of this year’s 9th annual informal Chase, will be on campus Monday or Tuesday to sell bids for the dance May 7, according to Tau Delta Phi sponsors. Bids for the dance at the Riviera Country Club sell at $3.50 per couple. Three dance floors and the music of Chic Rogers and his seven piece band, Bobby Troup, and Jerry Gray will keep the guests ....., Publicity Chairman Sherman Weiss, said. The Chase is the largest fraternity dance in the nation. It is sponsored annually for the entire student body by the Tau Delta Phi fraternity. Proceeds of the dance go to the fraternity’s scholarship fund. This year the scholarship will go to SC’s outstanding freshman athlete.