Bonnie Lake Productions - A Division of Delta Haze {back to main page} Photograph by M.B. Paul, Chicago. Originally founded in the 1940's as a music production company by Bonnie Lake, one of America's premier singer/songwriters, it became, and continues to be, the publishing entity which controls so many of her outstandingly beautiful original compositions, including "Blue Jeans", "Cuban Boogie Woogie", "Harlem Swing", "Sky Blue Pink and Lovely". (affiliated with ASCAP) INDEX: Biography, Popular Songs, Instrumentals, Specialty Compositions, Incomplete Compositions, Lost Songs, Stage Plays - Scores and Songs, JACK JENNEY biography, and Compositions by JACK JENNEY BIOGRAPHY: BONNIE LAKE composer, author, singer Among musicians, Bonnie Lake became a legend in her own time. A rarity in the music business, she was one of the first singer/songwriters and was acclaimed and successful as a composer, lyricist, singer, and commercial spokeswoman. Bonnie's life began in the state of Iowa - she was born in Waterloo, March 10, 1916 (not 1920, as her biography often stated) - where she "stayed just long enough to be born". Her family then moved to Minneapolis and finally to Hollywood where she attended the Hollywood School for Girls. Bonnie Lake was from a noted musical-theatrical family. Her mother, Annette Yde Lake, was a famous opera and concert singer who was a well-known music teacher, vocal coach and concert singer having worked with many Hollywood stars. That heritage was carried on by Bonnie and her sisters who were active in various phases of the entertainment business. Eldest sister Marian was a writer and for many years the voice of Dear Abby, the popular syndicated newspaper column. Middle sister Harriette is better known to television and motion picture audiences as Ann Sothern. Bonnie, the youngest daughter, became one of the finest lyricists and composers of her day. Bonnie’s childhood training was concentrated in "classical" music - musicales, symphonies and concerts were the order of the day. The progression to popular music was swift. Arriving in New York as a teenager, her songwriting career began in the world-famous Brill Building. Once the inner sanctum for budding composers and lyricists, the back rooms were filled with upright pianos and spawned a generation of great music. It became known as "Tin Pan Alley" and became part of the American Dream - a way of life for many - and one of America's contributions to the world of music. At 17, Bonnie Lake signed her first contract with Irving Mills’ Exclusive Publications (which was co-signed by her mother because of her age!) and was thrown immediately into the world of songwriting alongside Fats Waller, Art Tatum, Claude Thornhill, Johnny Mercer, Eddie de Lange, and so many others. Bonnie's mother, then teaching at Carnegie Hall, made her studio available to her daughter. It was there that Bonnie wrote "Sandman", the first of her compositions to be recorded. She presented the song, and her arrangement of it, to Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey who had the pit band for a Broadway show. They subsequently formed their own commercial big band and recorded "Sandman" as their theme song. Benny Goodman recorded it, too. During this period, even Louis Armstrong took a turn with one of her compositions, "Red Nose", which she had written in collaboration with her sister Marian. The Dorsey Brothers also recorded other Bonnie Lake compositions, including "I've Got Your Number" and "Gracias". A chance meeting with family friend and successful songwriter Vernon Duke brought Bonnie a recording date with Liberty Music Shop - as a vocalist! Upon hearing her sing, Duke suggested that she record his "Water Under the Bridge" backed with "Mad About the Man About Town". It’s a delightful record and today an extremely rare and valuable collector’s item It was inevitable that Bonnie Lake's talent would be brought to the attention of the established songwriters. "I was nervous the day I met Jerome Kern. He asked me to play one or two of my compositions." She responded with "I'm Blessed" and "You Swept Me Off My Feet". Quite expectedly, the singer and her performances captivated the seasoned elder statesman of song and she soon became his protégé. As encouragement to her, he said she had only three competitors: Noel Coward, Cole Porter and George Gershwin. High praise indeed. The late Oscar Hammerstein became another benefactor. Years later she recalled, "I remember his great thoughtfulness when one day he gifted me with a special rhyming lexicon he had sent to England for. It was Oscar Hammerstein who helped me learn to write lyrics." What great help! Bonnie's New York successes were interrupted suddenly by illness and a recommended move to the West Coast. There, in 1939, she began making personal appearances in Hollywood and the surrounding area singing her own compositions and getting herself and her songs known among the local cognoscenti. She joined the big band of Johnny Cascales, later internationally famous as Johnny Richards, for his weekend engagements. Among the personnel of that band were pianist Charlie LaVere, with whom she wrote "Cuban Boogie Woogie", and drummer Spike Jones, who with LaVere and herself formed an informal vocal group. Before too long, "Cuban" became her most widely recorded composition, receiving interpretations by Charlie Barnet, Bob Zurke, Andy Kirk, and over time, John Scott Trotter and even Bob Chester! She also chanced to record a group of songs, one of her own among them, for Davis & Schwegler, a budding record, transcription and publishing concern, with a fresh new group lead by a transplanted Chicagoan. The result was the captivating "Harlem Swing", on which she was accompanied both vocally and instrumentally by a very young Nat Cole and his King Cole Swingsters. (That record is also extremely valuable today.) Returning to New York, Bonnie was introduced to the highly respected trombonist Jack Jenney. She became the vocalist and arranger with Jenney’s new band, recording her own arrangement of "Cuban Boogie Woogie", and eventually became the third Mrs. Jenney. The big band era was about to swing out of business with the ever-expanding war in Europe and hundreds of bands competing for dancers’ dollars. As a result, Jenney eventually joined Artie Shaw’s band. Today he is widely remembered for his brilliant solos on "Star Dust", both Shaw’s recording of it, as well as the two extremely different alternate takes made earlier with his own band. Bonnie, too, joined the Shaw band as its female vocalist - its male singer was "Hot Lips" Page! - and during her tenure, recorded "This Time the Dream's on Me". (That record is not especially valuable, but Bonnie’s vocal is wonderful!) During the early part of the war, Jack Jenney formed a new band and, together with Bonnie, accepted numerous engagements to entertain the G.I.'s. Jenney himself was tapped for active duty and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In his absence, Bonnie made guest appearances with the orchestras of Bob Crosby, Gordon Jenkins and others on their radio shows and sang for the major film studios, dubbing in her voice for the less musically inclined actresses on the screen. It was during this time that both with and for Jenney, she and Eddie DeLange wrote "Man With A Horn", which, through its countless recordings - usually not by trombone players - has since become a "standard". Toward the end of the war, Bonnie lost the love of her life - her man with a horn - when Jenney underwent an appendectomy and died unexpectedly from complications. He was 35 years old...she was 29. She did a good deal of writing and singing for the Armed Forces Radio Service during those so-called post-war years and continued to appear and work on various radio and, later, television programs. She appeared on the Paul Whiteman and Steve Allen shows, wrote the opening song for the Julius LaRosa television show ("Come On In") and the theme for her sister, Ann Sothern’s program ("Katy"). She even guested on MacGregor transcriptions with fellow songwriter, Matt Dennis, each singing their own compositions. Eventually, Bonnie returned to New York, where she began a third career. Forming her own company, Bonnie Lake Productions, she began writing jingles and singing commercials. She was elected to A.S.C.A.P. in 1952, Bonnie's unusual and varied style of writing and performance kept her busy selling everything from Whitman Samplers to Rheingold Beer and between then and 1958. At the same time, she married the highly respected musician and arranger, trumpeter and band leader, Russ Case, with whose orchestra she recorded many of her songs, including "Wild Card", for MGM Records. Subsequently, she organized Bonnie & Her Beaus – she and a male quartet – with which she continued to record her compositions, "As Simple as That" and "Give Me a Shoulder to Cry On" among them, for Decca Records. During this time too, Frank Sinatra & Rosemary Clooney recorded her "Love Means Love". The prolonged illness of her mother required Bonnie's presence in California and while caring for her, she composed a dozen new songs including six unusually haunting bossa nova melodies. Simultaneously, she directed her considerable talent into a new field. Eventually, she returned to New York with two major works for Broadway. Together with her old friend, dancer, actor and songwriter Buddy Ebsen, they wrote the book and score for a musical play about life aboard ship entitled NINE BELLS. Similarly, in collaboration with John L. Greene, she also completed a second book and score, LEVI – a musical biography detailing the life of the man who clothed the West, Levi Strauss. Despite their obvious appeal, they both remain to be produced. In her later years - the rock’n’roll years - successes were few. Trini Lopez recorded her "St Francis of Assisi", but there wasn’t much else happening. She took a day job and eventually retired in the mid-1970’s from Columbia Records where she had been a music editor re-programming previously recorded masters for 8-track stereo cartridges. After years of fragile health, Bonnie Lake passed away on September 3, 1992 in New York City. She was survived by her sister Ann Sothern, Ann’s daughter, Tisha Sterling, and Tisha’s daughter, Heidi. Popular Songs All Alone In This Big City (1934) ^ All Winter Long (co-written with Duilio Cosenza) (1964) # ^ As If You Didn't Know (co-written with Howard Phillips) # As Simple As That (co-written with Lee Brody) (1946) * # + ^ recorded by Bonnie & Her Beaus The Band Boy (co-written with Eddie DeLange) (1947) ^ Bessie From Birmingham Birmingham Bessie (co-written with Eddie DeLange) Blue Changes Blue Jeans (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1953) # ^ Butterfly Blues (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1950) # + ^ recorded by Sonny Burke & His Orchestra Calico (aka Sir Calico) (co-written with Duilio Cosenza) (1964) ^ China Blues (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) ^ Corral The Choral (1940) # ^ performed by Gertrude Ross Crazy (1958) # ^ recorded by Joao Donato, Julie Searles & Matthew Allen Scat-Man Crothers (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1950) Cuban Boogie Woogie (co-written with Charles LaVere) (1939) * # + ^ recorded by the orchestras of Charlie Barnet, Bob Chester, Jack Jenney, Andy Kirk, John Scott Trotter & Bob Zurke Dagmar, My Jaguar & Me (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1951) ^ Don't Let Me Go (co-written with Howard & Kate Phillips) (1962) Don't Rush Baby (co-written with Vi Bradley) (1955) ^ Double Barrelled Harold (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1952)v Dude Ranch ^ Empty Rooms (co-written with Ruth Freed) (1958) * # + ^ recorded by June Valli & others Everytime (1955) ^ Finders Keepers (co-written with Bob Stringer) (1944) ^ For Always (co-written with Nick Romano) (1964) ^ The Freeze (1964) ^ From Little Acorns (1955) ^ Give Me A Backdrop (1942) ^ Give Me A Shoulder To Cry On (co-written with Mack David) (1955) * # + ^ recorded by Bonnie & Her Beaus (co-published with Polygram International) Glamour Girl (1939) # ^ Go All the Way (co-written with Buddy Ebsen)(1950) ^ Graduation Blues (1961) A Grain of Salt (co-written with Buddy Bernier) (1957) ^ Greyhound Bus (1967) Ha-De-Do (co-written with Artie Quenzer) (1933) ^ performed by Hal Kemp & His Orchestra The Handsome Stranger (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1950) * # + ^ recorded by Jo Stafford, The Sons of the Pioneers & The Fontane Sisters Harlem Swing (1939) ^ recorded by the King Cole Swingsters (Nat King Cole) with Bonnie Lake Honey Chile (co-written with Lee Kuhn) (1946) ^ Hooray, We're Through (co-written with Lee Brody) I Am What I Am (co-written with Buddy Bernier) (1967) ^ I Can't Say It (1932) ^ I Don't Know You Well Enough (co-written with Lee Brody) (1946) ^ I Looked For Love (1930) ^ I Love The Man (co-written with Duilio Cosenza) (1964) # ^ I Love To Dream (co-written with Lyn Murray) (1946) I Own A Palomino (1937) # ^ I Want My Mammy (1938) ^ If You Get Kissed (co-written with Mack David) (1955) # ^ I'll See Ya In Korea (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1950) ^ I'm Blessed (1935) # ^ arranged by Alec Wilder I'm Bored (1936) ^ performed by Gertrude Ross I'm Musical (1935) # ^ arranged by Alec Wilder It's Goodbye Just For Now (co-written with Peanuts Hucko) (1955) It's Such A Lovely Day (1936) ^ It's This Younger Generation (1932) ^ I've Got Your Number (co-written with Jeanne Burns) (1941) # ^ recorded by The Dorsey Brothers & Their Orchestra I've Heard (co-written with Mack David) (1956) I've Lost My Tranquility (1937) # ^ performed by Bonnie Baker & Trudy Wood July and I (co-written with Eddie DeLange) (1948) * # + ^ recorded by Helen Forrest Just Be Yourself (1947) ^ Just For Laughs (1946) ^ Little Coquette (co-written with Jeanne Burns) (1933) ^ Love Has Not Been Very Kind To Me (1934) * # + ^ performed by Ann Sothern Love, I've Found You ^ Love Means Love (co-written with Carl Sigman) (1946) * # + ^ recorded by Frank Sinatra & Rosemary Clooney, Gordon MacRae & The Ewing Sisters (co-published with ABC/Bourne) Love One Another (1969) ^ Lover, Hold Me (co-written with Duilio Cosenza) (1964) # ^ The Magnolia Tree (co-written with Ruth Freed) (1962) ^ Mama What's A Waltz (co-written with Howard Phillips) (1966) ^ Man That's Sand (1943) ^ (The) Man With A/The Horn (co-written with Jack Jenney & Eddie DeLange) (1945) * # + ^ recorded by Steve Allen, Ray Anthony, Georgie Auld, Hadda Brooks, Randy Brooks, Les Brown, Clora Bryant, Billy Butterfield, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Lou Donaldson, Anita Ellis, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Hackett, John Hardee, Al Hirt, Harry James, J.J. Johnson, Kitty Kallen, Ralph Marterie, Billy May, Oliver Nelson, Red Nichols, Anita O'Day, Boyd Raeburn, Shirley Scott, Charlie Shavers, Billy Taylor, Margaret Whiting & others (presently controlled by Crystal Music Publishers / Scarsdale Music Corporation) Maureen (co-written with Martha Mercer) (1950) * # + ^ performed by Jerry Gray & His Orchestra May The Best Man Win (co-written with Ruth Freed) (1962) Midnight (co-written with Mack David) (1955) # ^ Mississippi (1932) ^ Mucho Hot (A Rhumbalero) (1933) # ^ My Big Romance (1955) # ^ My Guitar (co-written with Duilio Cosenza) (1964) ^ My Heart Has Found The Way To Love (co-written with Phil Charig) (1938) # (sold outright to Hal Roach Studios, Inc.) My Hopes Are High (1935) # ^ performed by Bonnie Baker & others Oh How I Cried (co-written with Russ Case) (circa 1951) ^ One And One Make Two (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1951) ^ Original Joe (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1957) * # + ^ recorded by Les Brown & Jeannie Carson Out of My Mind (1957) ^ Palomar (1947) Please Take It Easy (1937) # ^ performed by Bonnie Baker Poor Patricia (co-written with Eddie DeLange) (1945) The Queen of Chesapeake Bay (co-written with Les Clark) ^ Rainy Day (co-written with Nick Romano) (1964) * # + ^ recorded by Tom West Red Nose (co-written with Marion Lake) (1934) # ^ recorded by Louis Armstrong Sad Eyes (co-written with Jeanne Burns) (1944) * # + ^ recorded by Erskine Hawkins, Vaughn Monroe & others Saddest Heart in Harlem (1937) ^ Sandman (co-written with Ralph Freed) (1934) * # + ^ recorded by Art Tatum & the orchestras of Benny Goodman and The Dorsey Brothers (presently controlled by EMI Mills Music, Inc. / Anne-Rachel Music Corp.) Sky Blue Pink and Lovely (co-written with Eddie DeLange) (1945) ^ performed by Charles LaVere The Sky Is Low (1955) (Glide to the) Slide Trombone (1946) ^ Smile Your Troubles Away (1941) * # + ^ performed by Connee Boswell & others Soda Jerker (co-written with Gus Schillings) # performed by Gertrude Ross & others Squeezin' Polka (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1950) * # + recorded by Blue Barron & His Orchestra St. Francis Of Assisi (San Francisco de Assisi) (1963) * # + ^ (co-written with John L. Greene & Margaret Marmion) recorded by Trini Lopez & Rita Pavone (presently controlled by T. B. Harms Company) Standing On The Threshold (1939) ^ performed by Mark Carter Sunday Jones (co-written with Charles LaVere) performed by Charles LaVere Susy Got a Lousy Break (circa 1933) ^ Swing That Band (1937) ^ Talk To Me, Baby (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1953) # ^ Temporary Love (1931) ^ There Isn't Anyone Like You (co-written with Sydney Smith) (1954) ^ The Tide Will Turn (1956) ^ Tippy-Toes (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1950) # ^ Tonight (co-written with Robert Swan) (1955) Twenty Third Psalm of David (co-written with David) (BC & 1964) ^ Walkin' The Beat (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1950) ^ Wantin' My Home (1932) ^ What Now What's The Use (1940) # ^ Where Are You Now (co-written with Duilio Cosenza) (1964) # ^ Where There's Smoke There's Fire ^ Why Did You Lie? (1933) ^ Wild Card (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1950) * # + ^ recorded by Tex Williams, Russ Case and His Orchestra & Bobby Wayne You Are The Boy ^ You Better Stop It (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1950) # ^ You Couldn't Prove It By Me (co-written with Eddie DeLange) (1946) You Don't Love Me (Anymore) (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) (1953) # ^ You Just You (1932) ^ You Never Even Looked Twice ^ You Swept Me Off My Feet (1936) # ^ You're Gonna Know (co-written with Vi Bradley) (1954) ^ You're Indifferent (1931) You're The First Thing (co-written with Gerald Cook) (1990) The Zombie (co-written with Bill Marine) ^ Instrumentals Choo Choo Blues ^ Gracias (1933) # ^ recorded by The Dorsey Brothers & Their Orchestra I Lost My Heart ^ It's You Love In Central Park Love Is (1955) Malaprop Mixture (late 1930's) # ^ performed by Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra Moon of Madrid Muchacha On the Other Side of the Mountain Paso Doble (1964) ^ Stinky ^ Take Love Where You Find It ^ Willow (1945) ^ You Again ^ Specialty Compositions (Russ Case's) Closing Theme/Number//Tom's Tune # performed by Russ Case & His Orchestra Come On In (Theme Song for Julius LaRosa's Top Tunes) (television show) (1955) * # + ^ (co-written with Lee Cooley) Fud (Livingston)'s Theme (late 1930's) # ^ performed by Fud Livingston & His Orchestra Jack's Theme (circa 1940) ^ performed by Jack Jenney & His Orchestra Katy (The Theme Song from The Ann Sothern Show) (television) (1958) * # + ^ (co-written with Ann Sothern) recorded by Barry Gordon New Krinkles Jingle # Sugar Krinkles Jingle # Success Liquid Wax Jingle # Whitman's Sampler Jingle # Incomplete Compositions  Angels In The Snow (lyric only; co-written with Larry Carr) (1967) Bait (melody line) (1958) Cadence (story line sketch) ^ Chicken Fat (instrumental sketch) ^ Copacabana (instrumental fragments) ^ The Corner Store (lyric only; co-written with Frank Signorelli) (1946) Desire (lyric, melody line and partial sketch) (1958) Dinah (lyric only; co-written with Ralph Freed) Doubtin' Thomas (lyric only) ^ A Dream Of My Own (partial melody line) (1958) Hawaiian Swing (lyric only) I Can't Conceal My Heart (lyric only) ^ I Can't Live Without You (lyric only, co-written with Selma Hautzig) I've Got A Heart That's Haunted (lyric only) Jasmine (4 bar fragment only) ^ Just Like Cincinatti (melody line) Let's Drink (lyric only) Loving You (melody line and partial sketch) (1958) Mission On Olvera Street (lyric only) ^ My Knight In Shining Armor #1 (melody line) (1958) On The Levee (lyric only) (1933) The Pursuit of Happiness (lyric only) ^ Rhumba (music fragment only) ^ Rhumbalero (lyric only; co-written with Selma Hautzig) Sick and Tired of You (lyric only) (1935) ^ Take My Hand (lyric only) (1969) ^ Thanks For Everything (w&m fragments only; co-written with Ann Sothern) (1958) Things Aren't As Bad As They Seem (lyric only) ^ Walk in the Park (instrumental fragment) ^ We'll Meet Again (lyric only) Whirling Dervish (manuscript ideas) White Satin Gown (partial lyric, melody and sketch) (1958) Winter in Waltz Time (lyric only; co-written with Larry Carr) (1967) Lost Songs If you can supply any part of the following compositions, or assist us in doing so, please contact us. Do As You Please Ensenada ^ Hidden Valley I Feel Sorry For You (co-written with Bobby Sherwood) (1962) (have lyric only) I'll Never See My Heart Again (co-written with Ralph Freed) (have lyric only) I'm A Woman ^ Lords And Ladies (co-written with Lee Cooley & Nick Perito) (1956) * # + ^ Love Of My Life (1939) (have piano manuscript only) ^ Mister Merkle (co-written with Buddy Bernier) (1967) (have lyric and melody fragment only) Russian Rhapsody ^ Shore Leave ^ Sloppy Joe's ^ Wild Tune ^ Stage Plays - Scores and Songs The Hand of Bonita Levi (co-written with John L. Greene) Blue Valentine California Ever-Lovin' Buddy-Pal Face Of The Nation Gallstone Gulch A Girl In Love Golden Dreams Hasta Luego Heart Of Gold In The Meantime The Last To Know Look In My Eyes Lucky Forty-Niner A Man's Gotta Do (What He's Gotta Do) Murderer's Guitar My Beloved Land Red Red Lips Tenacity The Whole Enchilada Windjammer You & Me Nine Bells (co-written with Buddy Ebsen) Bamboo Be Careful What You Wish By The Book Fare Thee Well Fly With The Albatross Frustration Hear Ye How To Rig A Frigate A Loose Burnoose The Mermaid's Lament Misty My Blue Star Nine Bells A Question Of Time Show Your Colors Subject: Transfer Who Put The "Eric" In America? Wishing My Tail Off   Sara Sara(h) (co-written with Buddy Bernier) (1967) ^   JACK JENNEY trombone Born: Mason City, Iowa, 12th May 1910 Given name: Truman Elliot Jenney Died: Los Angeles, California, 16th December 1945 His father was a music teacher. Jack began playing trumpet at eight while at school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, then switched to trombone. By the age of 11, he was playing gigs with his father's band. In 1923, he joined Art Brown's Novelty Band in Dubuque, Iowa, then spent three years at Culver Military Academy. Jack Jenney’s first professional work was with Austin Wylie (1928), then briefly joined Earl Hunt's Band. In the early 1930's, he was with Isham Jones' Orchestra, with whom he made his first recordings (including accompanying Bing Crosby on his memorable "Sweet Georgia Brown") which made a great impact on other musicians, especially other trombonists; his tone and facility on the instrument both being superb. Jenney was then with Mal Hallett from spring to autumn of 1933, during which tenure the trombone section consisted of two Jacks: Jenney and Teagarden! (The two trombonists would later place in Metronome Magazine’s Readers’ Poll of 1939 and become members of the first Metronome All-Star Band, which recorded for Columbia in 1940.) He also worked briefly with Phil Harris’ Band at the Hotel Pennsylvania. From 1934-8, Jenney was engaged in radio studio work in New York (N.B.C., C.B.S., Victor Young, Richard Himber, Freddie Rich, etc.) as well as a number of notable recording sessions led by Chick Bullock, Mannie Klein, Dick McDonough, Glenn Miller (his first recordings under his own name) Toots Mondello, Red Norvo (the wonderful Columbia sessions, on which Jenney was featured to great advantage) and Johnny Williams. Jack Jenney led his own studio band in 1938, then formed an unsuccessful touring band which, despite ghosting as Chick Bullock’s orchestra on some of his records of the period and making a number of wonderful recordings under his own name – his "Star Dust" which particularly displayed his great improvisational skills notwithstanding – resulted in bankruptcy. Jenney was married twice, both times to singers. His first wife was Kay Thompson, who co-wrote his big band’s theme, "City Night"; his second, songwriter, Bonnie Lake, made arrangements and sang with his band on its tours. Jenney was mainly with Artie Shaw from September 1940 until late 1941, during which time he was featured on Shaw’s recordings of "Moonglow", as well as his widely remembered version of "Star Dust", which spent 11 weeks on the best selling charts. Jenney then returned to session work.. He was briefly with Benny Goodman from late 1942, including work in the film, Stage Door Canteen. He also appeared in the film, Syncopation, and on a Mildred Bailey recording session for Decca. In 1943, he briefly fronted Bobby Byrne's band, then formed his own band for work in California. From late 1943, he served in the U.S. Navy for less than a year due to medical problems, then returned to West Coast radio and recording studio work. His last recordings were as a member of trumpet virtuoso Rafael Mendez’ Orchestra; his solo on "Tea For Two" being another fine example of his great technique and approach. Died in the hospital at age 35 from complications following an appendectomy! Largely adapted and amended from John Chilton's Who's Who Of Jazz, with a little help from Bob Melvin, whose lengthy biographical article on Jenney appeared in issue 141 of The Record Finder, September-October 1999. Compositions by JACK JENNEY Photograph by Alex Beller, property of Delta Haze Corporation City Night (co-written with Alec Wilder) recorded by Jack Jenney & His Orchestra Man With A Horn (co-written with Bonnie Lake and Eddie DeLange) aka, "The Man With The Horn" (see main catalog for list of recording artists) What More Can I Give You (co-written with Kay Thompson) recorded by Jack Jenney & His Orchestra Catalog Legend: * on ASCAP's Member Catalogue Performed Titles list # on ASCAP's Record of the Works of Lake, Bonnie list + on Writer Detail list on the internet: ASCAP's ACE on the web ^ on HFA's list of PUBLISHED WORKS OF BONNIE LAKE Through acquisition from The Estate of Bonnie Lake, Deceased, Bonnie Lake's interests as writer and/or publisher and Jack Jenney's interest as writer are controlled and administered by:  BONNIE LAKE PRODUCTIONS c/o Delta Haze Corporation To proceed with aquiring a license for use of this music, click here. {back to main page}