Henry Jerome

   Henry began his career when he was fourteen on a cruise ship. Throughout his career, he was influenced by the conductor Hal Kemp. Henry was the sole producer to the one influential girl singer of his career, Bobbi Martin. In 1952, ABC broadcasted Dinner at the Green Room with Henry Jerome. The critics wrote saying, "Jerome has perfected the style of Hal Kemp."  

 Henry Jerome was born in Norwich, Connecticut in 1917. He went to primary and secondary school in Norwich and attended Julliard school of music. Henry formed his first dance band in 1931 playing trumpet. In high school, he was given an offer to perform with his orchestra on a ship sailing from New York to Europe. He took the offer with written permission from his school. 

 Henry later played in clubs, hotels, ballrooms, and theatres throughout the U.S. He later moved to radio and tv as early as 1940. He carried slogans with him often on programs such as "Hello Nice People." It made people feel welcome to his show. 

 Heny became A&R of Coral Records in 1959. Henry was an influence in the formation of rockabilly with his work as a producer on the debut recordings of the Johnny Burnette trio. He produced all the music of the female singer Bobbi Martin. He left Coral in '67 (as the label was retired) and became A&R for United Artists from 1968 - '70. 

He conducted his own music with his band, Brazen Brass and recorded eleven albums. Dick Jacobs helped him come up with the idea for the band and was his arranger on many productions. The albums were widely successful. Henry won the Norwich Native Son award in 1974. 

 I listened to Henry Jerome when taking long walks out in the woods of my own town. I was out for hours in the evening and liked his easy listening sounds for whatever natural settings. His bio beautiful reads that he would offer a glass of juice for a man on the street. That he really was just a nice guy. He was quite influential for someone who sometimes was funny in his choice of material for his girl-singer. He didn't score a major hit in the rock world, but as I always say the bandleaders though were the ones who brought in the age of pop music. I think of that.