Jack Sperling


Jack Sperling was an American jazz drummer who performed as a sideman in big bands and as a studio musician for pop and jazz acts, movies, and television.

Career

In 1941 he played with trumpeter Bunny Berigan. After World War II, he and Henry Mancini joined the Glenn Miller band when it was led by Tex Beneke. Sperling drew attention with his performance on the song St. Louis Blues. He then joined Les Brown and His Band of Renown, which played regularly for the Bob Hope radio program. Sperling and other members of Brown's band joined Dave Pell's octet in 1953. He recorded with octet on Plays Irving Berlin and on The Original Reunion of the Glenn Miller Orchestra . From 1954–57, he was a member of Bob Crosby's Bobcats. During the rest of his career, he worked in bands led by Charlie Barnet, Page Cavanaugh, Pete Fountain, and Benny Goodman.
Sperling was among the studio musicians who accompanied Henry Mancini on the television show Peter Gunn. He recorded with Mancini on the film soundtracks Charade and Days of Wine and Roses. Sperling was the featured solo drummer on the theme song for the TV show Hogan's Heroes. From 1959–1972, he was under contract with the NBC Orchestra. This meant working for The Tonight Show Band, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and TV variety shows hosted by Bob Hope, Dean Martin, and Andy Williams.
In the music world, he recorded with Rosemary Clooney, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis Jr., Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, The Four Freshmen, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Mel Tormé.

Discography

With Bunny BeriganBunny Berigan Orchestra 1938–1942 Sophisticated Swing
With Tex Beneke and the Glenn Miller OrchestraSt. Louise Blues March Cherokee Canyon Palladium Patrol Dancers Delight Live at the Edgewater Tex Beneke & His Orchestra 1946–1949In Glenn Millers' Footsteps: Blues Serenades & Marches Five Minutes More: A Tribute It's Magic 1947–48 Memories Gary Steven's Sings Midnight Serenade Beyond the Sea
With Les BrownConnee Boswell and Les Brown Short Film
  • Connee Boswell I Don't Know
  • Connie Boswell Martha Over the Rainbow My Heart Belongs to Daddy Back in Your Own Backyard Palladium Concert Live at the Hollywood Palladium Les Brown & His Orchestra, Vol. 2 Blue Moon, Vol. 1 Blue MoonBlue Skies, Vol. 2 Blue MoonPerdido, Vol. 3 Blue MoonRadio Days LiveLes Brown & His Band Renown Swinging Song Book Live at Elitch Gardens 1959 Bandland/ Revolution In Sound Digital Swing Anything Goes America Swings Sentimental Thing No Name BopA Good Man Is Hard to FindThank You for Your Fine AttentionThe Les Brown All-Stars
With Doris DayFrom This Moment On It's Magic
With The ModernairesSt. Louise Blues March RCA VictorLike Swung Mercury
With Dave PellPlays Irving Berlin CapitolBurke and Van Heusen CapitolI Had the Craziest Dream CapitolSay It with Music Jazz for Dancing and Listening
With Tom Talbert Jazz OrchestraThe Warm Cafe Duke's Domain
With Scatman CrothersOh, Yeah! Rock and Roll with Scat Man
With John TownerJazz Beginnings-Fresh Sound
With Rosemary ClooneyJazz Singer Many a Wonderful Moment
With Ella FitzgeraldGet Happy! The Secret of Christmas The Christmas Song
With Pete FountainPete Fountain's New Orleans Pete Fountain Day Pete Fountain Salutes The Great Clarinetists Pete Fountain's French Quarter Live in Santa Monica Jack Sperling and his Fascinatin' Rhythm Plenty of Pete Mr. New Orleans
With Henry ManciniFallout/Music from Peter Gunn The Blues and the Beat Cheers Uniquely Mancini Mancini '67 Mancini Salutes Sousa Martinis with Mancini
With Frank SinatraGuys and Dolls We Open in Venice
With Dean MartinBianca If This Isn't Love Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime
With Bobby DarinFrom Hello Dolly to Goodbye Charlie Broadway Bag Magic of Bobby Darin The Shadow of Your Smile
  • "Breaking Point"/"Silver Dollar" Swingin' the Standards
With Bud FreedmanTender Loving World When It's Time to Tell That's Love How Could I Go On Sleepy Baby
With Abe MostAbe Most Live! I Love Yo Much Too Much
With Paul CaciaPaul & His New Age Jazz Orchestra Cacia: Portrait
With others

Soundtracks

The Five Pennies Peter Gunn Mr. Lucky Rawhide Days of Wine and Roses Hatari Bonanza Charade Bewitched Hogan's Heroes Elvis

Early musical short films

Les Brown Les Brown and His Band of Renown Art Lund-Tex Beneke-Les Brown Connee Boswell and Les Brown's Orchestra Crazy Frolic Dance Demons Rockabilly Baby
  • ''Snarder Telescriptions: The Big Bands Vol. 2''

Television

Bob Hope Show NBC RadioColgate Comedy Hour NBCThe Bob Crosby Show CBSPeter Gunn MGMMr. Lucky CBSRawhide ParamountThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson NBCBob Hope Show NBCThe Steve Allen Show NBCBobby Darin and Friends NBCAndy Williams Show NBCBonanza ParamountStar Time: The Swingin' Singin' Years NBCBewitched ABCBob Hope Thanksgiving Show NBCHogan's Heroes ParamountDean Martin Show NBCDean Martin Summer Show NBCMovin' With Nancy NBCRowan & Martin's Laugh-In NBCRowan & Martin at the Movies NBCDean Martin and The Golddigger's NBCElvis NBCIt Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown CBS