- Collection:
- Johnny Mercer Collections
- Title:
- Billy May oral history interview, October 4, 1996
- Creator:
- May, Billy
- Contributor to Resource:
- Paton, Christopher Ann, 1956-
- Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Georgia State University Library
- Date of Original:
- 1996-10-04
- Subject:
- Lyricists
Lyric writing (Popular music)
Lyricists--Biography
Lyrics and lyricists
Music - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Chatham County, Savannah, 32.08354, -81.09983
United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798 - Medium:
- oral histories (document genres)
interviews
digital audio formats - Type:
- Sound
- Format:
- audio/mpeg
- Description:
- Billy May (born November 10, 1916) began his career as an arranger and trumpet player for Glenn Miller and other big bands in the late 1930s and early 1940s. After moving to California in 1943, May continued to work as an arranger. He was frequently employed by Capitol Records, where he wrote for and directed several major singers, including Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, and Nat King Cole. In addition to his work in radio, film, and television, May made several big band albums in the 1950s and 1960s,including a series titled Billy May and his Orchestra.
In this interview, May discusses his career in the music industry, his relationship with Johnny Mercer, and their work with Capitol Records and Paramount Pictures. He describes early Hollywood, and famous figures from the film and music industries, like Louis Armonstrong, Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby. - Metadata URL:
- http://digitalcollections.library.gsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/music/id/1961
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- May, Billy interviewed by Chris Paton, October 4, 1996, Johnny Mercer Papers, Popular Music and Culture Collection, Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University.
- Original Collection:
- Popular Music and Culture Collection
Johnny Mercer Papers - Holding Institution:
- Georgia State University. Special Collections
- Rights:
-
