Jerry Herst

Jerome Philip Herst (May 28, 1909 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois – November 27, 1990 in Alameda, California), known as Jerry Herst,[1][2] was a lawyer and a songwriter best known for his collaborations with Jack Sharpe on a number of compositions, notably "So Rare", a much-recorded song that was published in 1937.

Early life

In 1909, was born in Chicago to Abraham and Dora Schwartz. On 24 December 1947 he married Jeannde Lucille Taylor.[3]

Education

His early education was in Townsend Hall in New York, followed by Western Military, in Alton Illinois. He attended college at Northwestern University and University of California, Berkeley. In 1934, he received his JD from University of California, Hastings College of Law, San Francisco.[4] He studied music at the Conservatoire de Paris, and later studied composition privately with Joseph Schillinger, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Alexandre Tansman.[5]

Career – Music

While in college and law school he performed as a radio and night club performer.[6]

A version of his co-composition "So Rare" released by Jimmy Dorsey[7] in 1957 was a #2 hit in the United States,[8] 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).[9][10]

Herst has five compositions listed at the performing rights organisation ASCAP, four of which are collaborations with Jack Sharpe.[11] "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).[12][13] A number of other compositions by Jerry Herst - including further collaborations with Jack Sharpe - are listed at the US Copyright Office.[14]

In addition to Jack Sharpe, he collaborated with such names as Al Jacobs, Felton Kaufmann, and Richard O’Kreamer.[15]

Career - Legal

Practiced law from 1935-1942. He served as a referee and hearing officer for the State of California Office of Administrative Procedure from 1947-1975.[16] Served as an administrative law judge for the State of California until his retirement in 1975[17]

Career – Military

Was on active duty in the USNR, World War II.[18] Served in the United States Naval Reserves as Judge Advocate General Court Martial, 12 Naval District (1942-1946), Senior Judge Advocate until his retirement.[19]

Compositions - Songs

So Rare (with Jack Sharpe)

The Call of Tarzan

The Darling of the Campus

As Long As I Still Have You - 1931 (with Al Jacobs)[20]

We’ll Get a Bang Out of Life - 1938 (with Jack Sharpe)[21]

Shower of Kisses

Meand’rin[22]

Mud in Your Eye (with Felton Kauffman)[23]

Compositions - Instrumental Works

A Child’s Garden (suite for symphonic orchestra)

The Golden Spike (overture)[24]

Miscellaneous – numerous ballets and wind quintet[25]

Compositions - Musicals

The Musical Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Legend of Bret Harte

Ozma of Oz[26]

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. “Herst, Jerome P.”, Who’s Who in American Jewry, A Biographical Dictionary of Outstanding Jews. Igal Sieger, editor, Who’s Who in American Jewry, Inc.: New York, New York, 1981, p. 347.
  4. “Herst, Jerome P.”, Who’s Who in American Jewry, A Biographical Dictionary of Outstanding Jews. Igal Sieger, editor, Who’s Who in American Jewry, Inc.: New York, New York, 1981, p. 347.
  5. “Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.
  6. “Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.
  7. The label on the original Fraternity 45rpm record F-755 shows "JIMMY DORSEY" prominently, followed by small print "with Orchestra and Chorus"
  8. Whitburn, Joel (1983) The Billboard Book of US Top 40 Hits, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc, page 94 ISBN 978-0-8230-7511-9
  9. 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".
  10. All Music Guide: recordings of "So Rare"
  11. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers database: Works written by Jerry Herst, IPI No. 14006640
  12. Online Discographies Project: Brunswick label discography
  13. dbopm: Database of Popular Music: "We'll Get a Bang Out Of Life"
  14. US Copyright Office: listings for Jerry Herst, pseudonym of Jerome P. Herst (b. 1909)
  15. “Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.
  16. “Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.
  17. “Herst, Jerome P.”, Who’s Who in American Jewry, A Biographical Dictionary of Outstanding Jews. Igal Sieger, editor, Who’s Who in American Jewry, Inc.: New York, New York, 1981, p. 347.
  18. “Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.
  19. “Herst, Jerome P.”, Who’s Who in American Jewry, A Biographical Dictionary of Outstanding Jews. Igal Sieger, editor, Who’s Who in American Jewry, Inc.: New York, New York, 1981, p. 347.
  20. Stanley, Don, “So Rare: The 20 Year Cycle of a Hit Song,” Sunday Pictorial Review, San Francisco Examiner, June 2, 1957, p. 18.
  21. Stanley, Don, “So Rare: The 20 Year Cycle of a Hit Song,” Sunday Pictorial Review, San Francisco Examiner, June 2, 1957, p. 18.
  22. “Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.
  23. Stanley, Don, “So Rare: The 20 Year cycle of a Hit Song,” Sunday Pictorial Review, San Francisco Examiner, June 2, 1957, p. 18.
  24. “Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.
  25. “Herst, Jerome P.”, Who’s Who in American Jewry, A Biographical Dictionary of Outstanding Jews. Igal Sieger, editor, Who’s Who in American Jewry, Inc.: New York, New York, 1981, p. 347.
  26. “Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.
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