Billy May

American composer, arranger and trumpeter (1916–2004)

Born: 10 November 1916
Pittsburgh
Died: 22 January 2004
San Juan Capistrano
Country: United States
Record labels: Capitol Records
Discography: 15 albums

Biography

Billy May was a jazz musician who played trumpet. Billy May was born on 10 November 1916 in Pittsburgh and died on 22 January 2004 in San Juan Capistrano. The music is usually filed under jazz, swing and big band music. Record labels: Capitol Records. The discography here lists 15 albums, from “A Band Is Born” (1952) to “You May Swing (2021 Remastered Version)” (2021). Honours include Grammy Award for Best Arrangement (1959).

Edward William May Jr. (November 10, 1916 – January 22, 2004) was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music for The Green Hornet (1966), The Mod Squad (1968), Batman (with Batgirl theme, 1967), and Naked City (1960). He collaborated on films such as Pennies from Heaven (1981), and orchestrated Cocoon, and Cocoon: The Return, among others. May wrote arrangements for many top singers, including Frank Sinatra, Yma Sumac, Nat King Cole, Anita O'Day, Peggy Lee, Vic Damone, Bobby Darin, Johnny Mercer, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Jack Jones, Bing Crosby, Sandler and Young, Nancy Wilson, Rosemary Clooney, the Andrews Sisters and Ella Mae Morse. He also collaborated with satirist Stan Freberg on several classic 1950s and 1960s comedy music albums.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

A Band Is Born 1952

Big Band Bash! 1952

Merry Andrew / Music of the Big Top Circus Band 1958

The Girls and Boys of Broadway 1960

Pow! 1962

Bill's Bag 1963

Johnny Cool 1963

The Green Hornet 1966

Today 1966

The Girls & Boys on Broadway / The Sweetest Swingin' Sounds of 'No Strings' 1997

A Band Is Born / Big Band Bash 2000

Naughty Operetta / Plays for Fancy Dancin' 2000

You May Swing (2021 Remastered Version) 2021

Big Fat Brass

Cha Cha!

Also plays on

Albums where Billy May is credited as a sideman

1954	Swing Easy! — Frank Sinatra	arranger
1956	Frank Sinatra Conducts Tone Poems of Color — Frank Sinatra	arranger
1958	Come Fly With Me — Frank Sinatra with Billy May and His Orchestra	arranger, conductor
1958	Fancy Meeting You Here — Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney	arranger, conductor
1959	Come Dance With Me! — Frank Sinatra with Billy May and His Orchestra	arranger, conductor
1960	Bing & Satchmo — Bing Crosby & Louis Armstrong	arranger, conductor
1961	Come Swing With Me! — Frank Sinatra	arranger, conductor
1961	Swing Along With Me — Frank Sinatra	arranger, conductor
1961	Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Harold Arlen Song Book — Ella Fitzgerald	arranger, conductor, performing orchestra
1967	Francis A. & Edward K. — Frank Sinatra with Duke Ellington	arranger, conductor
1980	Trilogy: Past Present Future — Frank Sinatra	arranger, conductor
2023	Ella Sings the Blues — Ella Fitzgerald	arranger, conductor

Awards

1959 Grammy Award for Best Arrangement

Historic 78 rpm records

"VERY 8 'N BOOGIE" La VERE'S CHICAGO LOOPERS · JOE YUKL · BILLY MAY · ARTIE SHAPIRO ·… archive.org ↗
Skind og ben THE OKEY DOKIES · Harry Arnolds orkester · Billy May · Robert Arnold archive.org ↗
UP A LAZY RIVER La VERE'S CHICAGO LOOPERS · JOE YUKL · BILLY MAY · ARTIE SHAPIRO ·… archive.org ↗
Baby Won't You Please Come Home LaVere's Chicago Loopers · Joe Venuti · Billy May · Artie Shapiro ·… · 1944 archive.org ↗
Very 8 'N Boogie La Vere's Chicago Loopers · Joe Yukl · Billy May · Artie Shapiro ·… · 1944 archive.org ↗
Subdivided in F La Vere's Chicago Loopers · Joe Venuti · Billy May · Artie Shapiro ·… · 1944 archive.org ↗
Sunday La Vere's Chicago Loopers · Joe Venuti · Billy May · Artie Shapiro ·… · 1944 archive.org ↗
September In the Rain Willie Smith and his Orchestra · Les Paul · Willie Smith · Billy May… · 1945 archive.org ↗

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Billy May play?

Billy May is known for playing trumpet.

When and where was Billy May born?

Billy May was born 10 November 1916 in Pittsburgh.

What are Billy May's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include A Band Is Born (1952), Big Band Bash! (1952), Merry Andrew / Music of the Big Top Circus Band (1958), The Girls and Boys of Broadway (1960) and Pow! (1962).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.