Ray Anthony

Ray Anthony

1444 fans

A master of catchy, big band dance tunes in the 1950s, Ray Anthony was as an orchestra leader, trumpet player and all round entertainer that helped popularise the Hokey Pokey song and dance in the US. Born as Raymond Antonini, he learned trumpet from his father and started out playing with Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorsey in 1940 before serving in the US Navy during WWII and starting his own group upon his return. A brilliant self-publicist and natural showman, he signed to Capitol Records in 1949 and his novelty hits The Bunny Hop and Hokey Pokey (known in Britain as the Hokey Cokey) started national dance crazes. He penned the theme tune to TV cop show Dragnet and reached Number 2 in the US charts with his version of Glenn Miller's At Last in 1952 and, though derided by snooty jazz critics as being overly populist, his easy listening albums Young Ideas (1957) and Anthony Plays Allen (1958) were well received. Anthony became a regular at Hollywood and Las Vegas nightclubs and away from music he married B-movie sex symbol Mamie Van Doren, briefly had his own television variety show and acted in a series of films including Daddy Long Legs, The Five Pennies and High School Confidential. He scored his last major hit with the theme to spy show Peter Gunn, was later awarded with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and continued performing into his 90s.

Top tracks

17
My Blue Heaven
Ray Anthony
Young Man With A Horn
02:26
Composers: George Whiting - Walter Donaldson
10
A Marshmallow World
Ray Anthony
Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails (Vol. 3)
02:43
Composers: Carl Sigman - Peter De Rose
02
The Hokey Pokey
Ray Anthony & His Orchestra
Fun Songs for Happy Kids - Favorite Lullabies, Rhymes, Stories & More
03:16
10
Peter Gunn Twist Tequila With A Twist
Ray Anthony
Instrumental Hits
03:48
Composers: Mancini, Henry
03
The Fox
Ray Anthony
Standars by Ray Anthony
02:34
Writer: Ray Anthony - George Williams / Composers: Ray Anthony - George Williams
01
Dragnet/Room 43
Ray Anthony
Ultra-Lounge / The Crime Scene - Volume Seven
04:54
Composers: Walter Schumann - Ken Jones
11
Moonlight In Vermont
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony Plays For Dream Dancing
02:26
Writer: Karl Suessdorf - John Blackburn / Composers: Karl Suessdorf - John Blackburn
04
Out Of Nowhere
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony Plays For Dream Dancing
02:40
Composers: John W. Green - Edward Heyman
09
I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony Plays For Dream Dancing
02:39
Composers: Fred E. Ahlert - Roy Turk
01
This Love Of Mine
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony Plays For Dream Dancing
02:47
Composers: Barry Parker - Henry Sanicola - Frank Sinatra
12
September Song
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony Plays For Dream Dancing
02:40
Writer: Maxwell Anderson - Kurt Weill / Composers: Maxwell Anderson - Kurt Weill
06
Embraceable You
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony Plays For Dream Dancing
02:58
Writer: George Gershwin - Ira Gershwin / Composers: George Gershwin - Ira Gershwin
08
Stars Fell On Alabama
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony Plays For Dream Dancing
02:43
Writer: Mitchell Parish - Frank Perkins / Composers: Mitchell Parish - Frank Perkins
03
I'll Never Smile Again
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony Plays For Dream Dancing
02:50
Writer: Ruth Lowe / Composers: Ruth Lowe
02
Dream Dancing
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony Plays For Dream Dancing
02:50
Composers: Ray Anthony - Don Simpson
10
Laura
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony Plays For Dream Dancing
02:45
Composers: David Raksin

Playlists

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  • Discography
Albums
Cocktails & Jazz, Vol. 7 - Lounge Swing & Elegant Vocal Pop
2026 Cocktails & Jazz
20-02-2026
Cocktails & Jazz, Vol. 7 - Lounge Swing & Elegant Vocal Pop
01
Blue Moon
Ray Anthony
Cocktails & Jazz, Vol. 7 - Lounge Swing & Elegant Vocal Pop
02:05
Composers: Richard Rodgers - Lorenz Hart
02
Cook's Tour
Ray Anthony
Cocktails & Jazz, Vol. 7 - Lounge Swing & Elegant Vocal Pop
02:34
Composers: Ray Anthony - Barry Galbraith
03
Bermuda
Ray Anthony
Cocktails & Jazz, Vol. 7 - Lounge Swing & Elegant Vocal Pop
01:52
Composers: Richard Rodgers - Lorenz Hart
04
House Party Hop
Ray Anthony
Cocktails & Jazz, Vol. 7 - Lounge Swing & Elegant Vocal Pop
01:56
Composers: Ray Anthony
05
Moonlight Saving Time
Ray Anthony
Cocktails & Jazz, Vol. 7 - Lounge Swing & Elegant Vocal Pop
02:05
Composers: Raymond Scott
06
You're Driving Me Crazy
Ray Anthony
Cocktails & Jazz, Vol. 7 - Lounge Swing & Elegant Vocal Pop
02:58
Composers: Walter Donaldson
07
The Wheel of Fortune
Ray Anthony
Cocktails & Jazz, Vol. 7 - Lounge Swing & Elegant Vocal Pop
01:58
Composers: Arthur Johnston - Johnny Burke
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
The Twist
2025 Beth Montana
18-04-2025
The Twist
01
Bunny Hop Twist
Ray Anthony
The Twist
02:12
Composers: Leonard Auletti/Ray Anthony
02
Twist Around Mister
Ray Anthony
The Twist
02:13
Writer: Don Simpson/Ray Anthony / Composers: Don Simpson/Ray Anthony
03
Tequila with a Twist
Ray Anthony
The Twist
02:06
Composers: Chuck Rio
04
Let's Twist
Ray Anthony
The Twist
02:12
Writer: Don Simpson/Ray Anthony / Composers: Don Simpson/Ray Anthony
05
Peter Gunn Twist
Ray Anthony
The Twist
01:45
Composers: Henry Mancini
06
Twistin' Hound Dog
Ray Anthony
The Twist
02:00
Writer: Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller / Composers: Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller
07
Bookend Twist
Ray Anthony
The Twist
02:04
Writer: Don Simpson/Ray Anthony / Composers: Don Simpson/Ray Anthony
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
The Quiet Storm
2022 Raymond Creasey
28-11-2022
The Quiet Storm
01
The Ouiet Storm
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
05:32
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
02
For You & I
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
06:06
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
03
Someone to Save Me
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
06:11
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
04
Heart of It's Own
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
05:19
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
05
I Want You to Tell Me
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
05:30
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
06
The Time Is Gone
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
08:38
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
07
Someday
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
05:46
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
Access the complete album info (9 songs)
Man in the Night
2022 Raymond Creasey
23-11-2022
Man in the Night
01
Man in the Night
Ray Anthony
Man in the Night
06:31
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
02
Take Me Away
Ray Anthony
Man in the Night
05:03
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
03
Bring It on Home
Ray Anthony
Man in the Night
05:55
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
04
Another Dead Man
Ray Anthony
Man in the Night
04:42
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
05
In One with You
Ray Anthony
Man in the Night
05:48
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
06
She's a Mystery
Ray Anthony
Man in the Night
06:11
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
07
Cool Water
Ray Anthony
Man in the Night
07:06
Composers: Raymond Anthony Creasey
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
2021 Night Train
05-03-2021
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
01
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Ray Anthony
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
03:25
Composers: Kern - Harbach
02
Thanks for the Memory
Ray Anthony
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
02:22
Composers: Robin - Rainger
03
Moonlight Dreams
Ray Anthony
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
02:51
Composers: Anthony
04
Sleepy Lagoon
Ray Anthony
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
02:35
Composers: Coates - Lawrence
05
Far Away Places
Ray Anthony
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
03:43
Composers: Whitney - Kramer
06
Star Dancing
Ray Anthony
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
03:26
Composers: SIMPSON - Anthony
07
When Your Lover Has Gone
Ray Anthony
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
02:28
Composers: Swan
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
Have Fun
2017 Ray Anthony & Powerslyde
20-06-2017
Have Fun
01
Mr. Sauce
Ray Anthony
Have Fun
03:29
Composers: Ray Anthony Montoya - Steve Oliver
02
Do 4 U
Ray Anthony
Have Fun
04:52
Composers: Ray Anthony Montoya - Steve Oliver
03
Night Abraxas
Ray Anthony
Have Fun
04:34
Composers: Ray Anthony Montoya - Steve Oliver
04
Slydeways
Ray Anthony
Have Fun
04:05
Composers: Ray Anthony Montoya - Steve Oliver
05
R a Chill
Ray Anthony
Have Fun
04:10
Composers: Ray Anthony Montoya - Steve Oliver
06
Have Fun
Ray Anthony
Have Fun
04:41
Composers: Ray Anthony Montoya - Steve Oliver
07
B Wit' Cha
Ray Anthony
Have Fun
04:11
Composers: Ray Anthony Montoya - Steve Oliver
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
Ray Anthony and His Orchestra
05-12-2013
Ray Anthony and His Orchestra
01
The Young Man with a Horn
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony and His Orchestra
01:25
02
The Man on the Beat
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony and His Orchestra
03:00
03
Ooo! If You Knew
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony and His Orchestra
02:54
04
The Honey Dripper
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony and His Orchestra
02:09
05
Leave It to Love
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony and His Orchestra
02:49
06
Mr. Anthony's Mambo
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony and His Orchestra
02:53
07
Medley: Londonderry Air Tirra a Sorento Adios
Ray Anthony
Ray Anthony and His Orchestra
04:36
Access the complete album info (18 songs)
The Man with the Horn
06-08-2013
The Man with the Horn
01
The Man in the Moon
Ray Anthony
The Man with the Horn
02:44
02
Stars Fell on Alabama / Moon over Miami / Darkness on the Delta
Ray Anthony
The Man with the Horn
05:16
03
Mr. Anthony's Raspa
Ray Anthony
The Man with the Horn
02:09
04
Heat Ray
Ray Anthony
The Man with the Horn
02:10
05
Mr. Ghost Goes to Town
Ray Anthony
The Man with the Horn
02:26
06
Wedding Samba
Ray Anthony
The Man with the Horn
01:58
07
Cook's Tour
Ray Anthony
The Man with the Horn
03:04
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
Plays Worried Mind: The Soul Of Country Western Blues
â„— 2012 Capitol Records, LLC
01-01-2012
Plays Worried Mind: The Soul Of Country Western Blues
01
Worried Mind
Ray Anthony
Plays Worried Mind: The Soul Of Country Western Blues
02:37
Composers: Ted Daffan - Jimmie Davis
02
Weary Blues From Waitin'
Ray Anthony
Plays Worried Mind: The Soul Of Country Western Blues
02:37
Composers: Hank Williams
03
I Can't Stop Loving You
Ray Anthony
Plays Worried Mind: The Soul Of Country Western Blues
04:02
Composers: Don Gibson
04
Your Cheatin' Heart
Ray Anthony
Plays Worried Mind: The Soul Of Country Western Blues
03:03
Composers: Hank Williams
05
Born To Lose
Ray Anthony
Plays Worried Mind: The Soul Of Country Western Blues
03:04
Composers: Ted Daffan
06
Too Late To Worry - Too Late To Cry
Ray Anthony
Plays Worried Mind: The Soul Of Country Western Blues
02:53
Composers: Al Dexter
07
You Nearly Lose Your Mind
Ray Anthony
Plays Worried Mind: The Soul Of Country Western Blues
02:26
Composers: Ernest Tubb
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
Sound Spectacular
â„— 2012 Capitol Records, LLC
01-01-2012
Sound Spectacular
01
Annie Laurie
Ray Anthony
Sound Spectacular
03:02
Composers: Jonathan Lee - Ray Anthony
02
Deep River
Ray Anthony
Sound Spectacular
02:56
Composers: Traditional
03
Reuben, Reuben
Ray Anthony
Sound Spectacular
02:28
Composers: Jonathan Lee - Ray Anthony
04
Camptown Races
Ray Anthony
Sound Spectacular
02:51
Composers: Kirk Patrick - Ray Anthony
05
Mocking Bird
Ray Anthony
Sound Spectacular
02:26
Composers: Jonathan Lee - Ray Anthony
06
Blue Bells Of Scotland
Ray Anthony
Sound Spectacular
02:45
Composers: Jonathan Lee - Ray Anthony
07
Kerry Dance
Ray Anthony
Sound Spectacular
02:52
Composers: Kirk Patrick - Ray Anthony
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
Leisure Island Rub
2004 Ray Carless/anthony Jones
01-01-2004
Leisure Island Rub
01
Interlude/ Out Of The Rain
Ray Anthony
Leisure Island Rub
02:04
Composers: Ray Carless/Anthony Jones
02
Mr Melody
Ray Anthony
Leisure Island Rub
04:26
Composers: Ray Carless/Anthony Jones
03
Dancing In Paradise
Ray Anthony
Leisure Island Rub
05:18
Composers: Ray Carless/Anthony Jones
04
Daydreaming
Ray Anthony
Leisure Island Rub
05:45
Composers: Ray Carless/Anthony Jones
05
I Like Your Smile
Ray Anthony
Leisure Island Rub
04:47
Composers: Walden/Jackson/Wilson/Baker
06
No Hard Food
Ray Anthony
Leisure Island Rub
04:47
Composers: Ray Carless/Anthony Jones
07
Jammin
Ray Anthony
Leisure Island Rub
05:08
Composers: Robert Nesta Marley
Access the complete album info (17 songs)
The Quiet Storm
2004 Ray Creasey
01-01-2004
The Quiet Storm
01
The Quiet Storm (instrumental)
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
05:29
Composers: Raymond A. Creasey
02
For You & I
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
06:05
Composers: Raymond A. Creasey
03
Someone To Save Me
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
06:11
Composers: Raymond A. Creasey
04
Heart Of Its Own
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
05:21
Composers: Raymond A. Creasey
05
I Want You To Tell Me
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
05:32
Composers: Raymond A. Creasey
06
The Time Is Gone
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
08:38
Composers: Raymond A. Creasey
07
Someday
Ray Anthony
The Quiet Storm
05:45
Composers: Raymond A. Creasey
Access the complete album info (9 songs)
Plays The Standards
â„— 2004 Capitol Records, LLC
01-01-2004
Plays The Standards
01
When I Fall In Love
Ray Anthony And His Orchestra
Plays The Standards
02:25
Composers: Edward Heyman - Victor P. Young
02
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Ray Anthony
Plays The Standards
02:11
Writer: Lou Handman - Roy Turk / Composers: Lou Handman - Roy Turk
03
At Last
Ray Anthony And His Orchestra
Plays The Standards
02:37
Writer: Mack Gordon / Composers: Harry Warren
04
You'll Never Know
Ray Anthony And His Orchestra
Plays The Standards
02:35
Composers: Harry Warren - Mack Gordon
05
Misty
Ray Anthony And His Orchestra
Plays The Standards
03:28
Writer: Erroll Garner - Johnny Burke / Composers: Erroll Garner - Johnny Burke
06
A String Of Pearls
Ray Anthony
Plays The Standards
02:45
Composers: Jerry Gray
07
American Patrol
Ray Anthony And His Orchestra
Plays The Standards
02:23
Composers: Ray Anthony - Jonathan Lee
Access the complete album info (22 songs)
Live At The Playboy Jazz Festival
â„— 2002 Concord Records, Inc.
01-01-2002
Live At The Playboy Jazz Festival
01
Opus 1 (Live)
Mel Tormé
Live At The Playboy Jazz Festival
02:17
Composers: Benny Goodman - Lionel Hampton
02
Medley: I Had The Craziest Dream/Darn That Dream (Live)
Mel Tormé
Live At The Playboy Jazz Festival
04:52
Composers: Harry Warren - Mack Gordon - Edgar De Lang - Jimmy Van Heusen
03
I'm Gonna Go Fishin' (Live)
Mel Tormé
Live At The Playboy Jazz Festival
03:06
Composers: Peggy Lee
04
Medley: Sophisticatted Lady/I Didn't Know About You (Live)
Mel Tormé
Live At The Playboy Jazz Festival
05:25
Composers: Irving Mills - Mitchell Parish - Sidney Keith Russell
05
It Don't Mean A Thing (Live)
Mel Tormé
Live At The Playboy Jazz Festival
05:29
Composers: Irving Mills
06
Medley: Stompin' At The Savoy/Don't Be That Way/And The Angels Sing/Why Don't You Do Right?/Avalon/Sing, Sing, Sing (Live)
Mel Tormé
Live At The Playboy Jazz Festival
14:38
Composers: Andy Razaf - Benny Goodman - Irene Higginbotham - Edgar Sampson - Mitchell Parish - Ziggy Elman - Joe McCoy - B.G. DeSylva - Al Jolson - Vincent Rose - Louis Prima
Capitol Collectors Series
â„— 1991 Capitol Records, LLC
01-01-1991
Capitol Collectors Series
01
A Dreamer's Holiday
Ray Anthony And His Orchestra
Capitol Collectors Series
03:09
Composers: Mabel Wayne - Kim Gannon
02
Sentimental Me
Ray Anthony And His Orchestra
Capitol Collectors Series
02:50
Composers: Jim Morehead - Jimmy Cassin
03
Count Every Star
Ray Anthony And His Orchestra
Capitol Collectors Series
03:02
Composers: Sammy Gallop - Bruno Coquatrix
04
The Man With The Horn
Ray Anthony And His Orchestra
Capitol Collectors Series
02:30
Composers: Jack Jenney - Bonnie Lake - Eddie DeLange
05
Can Anyone Explain No No No
Ray Anthony And His Orchestra
Capitol Collectors Series
03:05
Composers: B. Benjamin - G. Weiss
06
Harbor Lights
Ray Anthony And His Orchestra
Capitol Collectors Series
02:33
Composers: James Kennedy - Hugh Williams
07
Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You)
Ray Anthony And His Orchestra
Capitol Collectors Series
02:46
Composers: Bert Kalmar - Harry Ruby
Access the complete album info (21 songs)