Jerry Herst

Jerome P. Herst (May 28, 1909 - November 27, 1990), known as Jerry Herst,^[1] was a songwriter who collaborated with Jack Sharpe on a number of compositions, notably "So Rare", a much-recorded song that was published in 1937.

Jerome Philip Herst was born in Cook County, Chicago, Illinois on May 28, 1909 and died in Alameda, California on November 27, 1990.^[2]

A version of his co-composition "So Rare" released by Jimmy Dorsey^[3] in 1957 was a #2 hit in the United States,^[4] but it has been recorded by numerous artists including Carl Ravell and his Orchestra (1937), Gus Arnheim and his Coconut Grove Orchestra (1937), Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians (1937), Andy Williams (1959), Ella Fitzgerald (1960) and Ray Conniff (1965).^[5][6]

Herst has five compositions listed at the performing rights organisation ASCAP, four of which are collaborations with Jack Sharpe.^[7] "So Rare", "World Stands Still" and "What Did You Do It For" are by Herst and Sharpe. "We'll Get A Bang Out Of Life" was written by Herst and Sharpe with the bandleader Anson Weeks and was recorded by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra (1938).^[8][9] A number of other compositions by Jerry Herst - including further collaborations with Jack Sharpe - are listed at the US Copyright Office.^[10]

Notes and references

1. ^ US Copyright Office: listings for Jerry Herst, pseudonym of Jerome P. Herst (b.1909)
2. ^ California Death Index, 1940-1997; United States Social Security Death Index; and Cook County, Illinois Birth Certificate Index, 1871-1922; hosted at Ancestry.com, retrieved 29 October 2011.
3. ^ The label on the original Fraternity 45rpm record F-755 shows "JIMMY DORSEY" prominently, followed by small print "with Orchestra and Chorus"
4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1983) The Billboard Book of US Top 40 Hits, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc, page 94 ISBN 0-8230-17511-7
5. ^ Online Discographical Project discographies for 78 rpm record labels, listings of "So Rare" since 1937; Carl Ravell's version is the earliest session listed there and may be the first release of "So Rare".
6. ^ All Music Guide: recordings of "So Rare"
7. ^ American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers database: Works written by Jerry Herst, IPI No. 14006640
8. ^ Online Discographies Project: Brunswick label discography
9. ^ dbopm: Database of Popular Music: "We'll Get a Bang Out Of Life"
10. ^ US Copyright Office: listings for Jerry Herst, pseudonym of Jerome P. Herst (b.1909)

External links

Lead sheet for "So Rare" at Wikifonia