Ray Noble

Raymond Stanley Noble (17 December 1903 – 3 April 1978) was an English jazz and big band musician, who was a bandleader, composer and arranger, as well as a radio host, television and film comedian and actor; he also performed in the United States.

Noble wrote both lyrics and music for many popular songs during the British dance band era, known as the "Golden Age of British music", notably for his longtime friend and associate Al Bowlly, including "Love Is the Sweetest Thing", "Cherokee", "The Touch of Your Lips", "I Hadn't Anyone Till You", and his signature tune, "The Very Thought of You". Noble played a radio comedian opposite American ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's stage act of Mortimer Snerd and Charlie McCarthy, and American comedy duo Burns and Allen, later transferring these roles from radio to TV and popular films.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 17, 1903 (Brighton), Died April 3, 1978 (London)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: director, composer, songwriter, lyricist, conductor, arranger, vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 226-246 of 246 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gramophone 0B6957 10-in. 5/31/1934 I love you truly Ray Noble Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Gramophone 0B7441 10-in. 7/11/1934 It's all forgotten now Ray Noble Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director, composer, lyricist  
Gramophone 0B7449 10-in. On or before 7/18/1934 Lady of Madrid Al Bowlly ; Ray Noble Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Gramophone 0B7451 10-in. 7/18/1934 Driftin' tide Al Bowlly ; Ray Noble Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Gramophone Cc19222 12-in. 4/7/1930 The three musketeers : Vocal gems Light Opera Company ; Ray Noble Vocal soloists and orchestra director  
Gramophone Cc19223 12-in. 4/7/1930 The three musketeers : Vocal gems Artists vary Vocal soloists and orchestra director  
Gramophone Bb19964 10-in. 9/1/1930 Say a little prayer for me New Mayfair Dance Orchestra ; Ray Noble ; Jack Plant Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Gramophone Bb19981 10-in. 9/8/1930 Say a little prayer for me Morton Downey Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Gramophone Bb20317 10-in. 10/20/1930 The same as we used to do New Mayfair Dance Orchestra ; Ray Noble Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Gramophone 2B1659 12-in. 9/14/1931 Goodnight, sweetheart Jack Hylton Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Gramophone 2B3025 12-in. 3/8/1932 The cat and the fiddle : Selection New Mayfair Orchestra ; Ray Noble Jazz/dance band director  
Gramophone 2B3026 12-in. 3/8/1932 The cat and the fiddle : Selection New Mayfair Orchestra ; Ray Noble Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo director  
Gramophone 2B3091 12-in. 6/3/1932 Casanova : Selection New Mayfair Orchestra ; Ray Noble Jazz/dance band conductor  
Gramophone 2B3092 12-in. 6/3/1932 Casanova : Selection New Mayfair Orchestra ; Ray Noble Jazz/dance band conductor  
Gramophone 2EA3847 12-in. 8/24/1936 Ray Noble medley, part 1 Al Bowlly ; Ray Noble London Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal soloist director, composer  
Gramophone 2EA3848 12-in. 8/24/1936 Ray Noble medley, part 2 Al Bowlly ; Ray Noble London Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal soloist director, composer  
Gramophone 2B4384 12-in. 1/6/1933 Mother of pearl : Selection, part 1 New Mayfair Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Gramophone 2B4385 12-in. 1/6/1933 Mother of pearl : Selection, part 2 New Mayfair Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Gramophone 2B7426 12-in. 6/27/1934 Evergreen : Selections Ray Noble Orchestra Jazz/dance band director  
Vocalion 23467 10-in. 9/15/1938 The very thought of you Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist, composer  
Columbia (U.K.) WL3475 10-in. approximately December 16 through 30, 1931 Bonsoir, Chérie Albert Caurat ; Pierre Chagnon Male vocal solo, with orchestra songwriter  
(Results 226-246 of 246 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Noble, Ray," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102805.

Noble, Ray. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102805.

"Noble, Ray." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102805

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