http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/eadmus.mu010030 Billy May Arrangements Processed by the Music Division of the Library of Congress Music Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
2010 Guides to Special Collections in the Music Division of the Library of Congress

Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/2010562512

Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Music Division, 2010 Finding aid written in English. Collection Summary Billy May Arrangements 1939-1995 ML31.M214 May, Billy approximately 200 items 16 containers 13.0 linear feet Material in English Music Division Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Billy May (1916-2004) was an American arranger, composer, musician, and bandleader. The collection chiefly consists of holograph or photocopied manuscript scores, parts, lead sheets, and manuscript sketches. Additional materials include printed scores, part changes, film cues, and a handful of counterpoint exercises. Selected Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.

 People Barnet, Charlie. May, Billy--Manuscripts. May, Billy. May, Billy. May, Billy. Selections. Sinatra, Frank, 1915-1998. Subjects Arrangers (Musicians)--United States. Big band music. Motion picture music--Scores. Music--Manuscripts--United States. Popular music--United States. Television music--Scores. Administrative Information Provenance

Gift, Doris May, 2005.

 Accruals

No further accruals expected.

 Processing History

The Billy May Arrangements were re-processed by Christopher Hartten in 2010. The finding aid was coded for EAD by Christopher Hartten in November 2010.

 Related Material

The Ella Fitzgerald Collection (ML31.F58) and Charlie Barnet Collection of Big Band Arrangements (ML31.B27) contain additional Billy May manuscript scores.

 Copyright Status

The Billy May Arrangements are governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.) and other applicable international copyright laws.

 Access and Restrictions

The Billy May Arrangements are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Music Division prior to visiting in order to determine whether the desired materials will be available at that time.

Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.

 Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [item, date, container number], Billy May Arrangements, Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

 Biographical Note Date Event 1916 November 10 Born in Pittsburgh to Isabel Stevenson and Ed May 1933 Arranges first work, When Yuba Plays the Rhumba on the Tuba, while at Schenley High School 1936 October Joins the Pittsburgh Local AFM and tours with the Etzi Covato band as a trombone player 1938 Meets Charlie Barnet and begins writing arrangements for him on a weekly basis, including the hit Cherokee 1939 August Charlie Barnet hires him to play trumpet with his band on a permanent basis 1940-1942 Joins the Glenn Miller band and delivers his first trumpet solo on I Dreamt I Dwelt In Harlem 1944 Writes arrangements for Frank Sinatra's Your Hit Parade and for the Phil Harris band on The Jack Benny Show Begins career as a recording arranger/conductor 1944-1946 Plays on the Red Skelton Show under Ozzie Nelson and works with John Scott Trotter on Bing Crosby's Kraft Music Hall 1946-1950s Works with Alan Livingston at Capitol Records to produce recordings for children, including the hit tune I Taut I Taw a Puddy Tat 1950s-1960s Arranges and records almost constantly for the music and entertainment industry's biggest names, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Johnny Mercer, Mel Blanc, and Stan Freberg Composes original soundtrack for the film Sergeants Three, as well as music for various television shows, such as The Green Hornet 1953-1954 Abandons road touring and sells rights for the traveling Billy May Band to entrepreneur Ray Anthony 1958 Wins Grammy Award for best arrrangement for his album Big Fat Brass 1959 Wins Grammy Award for best arrrangement for Come Dance With Me 1969-1973 Produces arrangements for Time-Life documentaries The Swing Era and As You Remember Them 1973 Marries Doris Ranson 2004 January 22 Dies in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Scope and Content Note

The Billy May Arrangements principally consist of holograph or photocopied manuscript scores, parts, lead sheets, and sketches for works created between 1939 and 1995. Additional materials include printed scores, part changes, film cues, and a handful of counterpoint exercises. Although May worked almost exclusively as an arranger for long periods throughout his career, he did compose original music, and several of these titles are represented in this collection. I Taut I Taw a Puddy Tat, Front Page Rag, and his film score for Sergeants Three are notable examples. Titles and cross-references are arranged alphabetically and standardized according to Jack Mirtle's The Music of Billy May: a Discography (1998). Part sets are complete unless indicated otherwise.

Organization of the Billy May Arrangements

The Billy May Arrangements are organized in one series:

Music, 1939-1995 http://lccn.loc.gov/2010562512 Container List Container Contents 1-16 Music, 1939-1995 All of me 5/1 Score 1/1-2 Parts Always 5/2 Score Angel eyes

For Nat King Cole

 5/3 Score Aviation suite

Other title: Wings over Manhattan

 5/4 Score 5/4 Short score Back Bay shuffle

For Artie Shaw

 5/5-6 Scores

Multiple versions

 Be my love 1/3 Score The beat goes on

For Charlie Barnet

 5/7 Score Beer barrel polka 5/8 Score Blonde again 5/9 Score 5/9 Lead sheet Blue and all alone 5/10 Score 5/10 Lead sheet Blue suede shoes

see My little suede shoes

Blues medley 16/1 Score 16/1 Short score/sketch Bouncing runners 5/11 Score Call me

For Charlie Barnet

 5/12 Score Can't I 5/13 Score Carnival

For Harry James

 5/14 Score Cartoon medley

For the Boston Pops

 16/2 Score 16/2 Short score/sketch Charmaine 5/15 Score 5/15 Parts Cheek to cheek

For Glenn Miller

 5/16 Scores

Multiple versions

 Cherokee

For Charlie Barnet

 5/17 Score Chicago 6/1 Scores 6/1 Parts

Laid in: wind and brass part changes

 Children of the night 6/2 Score Christmas medley

For the Boston Pops

 6/3 Short score/sketch Cocktails for two 6/4 Score Come fly with me

For Frank Sinatra

 6/5-6 Scores 6/6 Piano-conductor score Come rain or come shine 6/7 Score 6/7 Horn-double bass score 6/7 Wind and string parts Come together

For Charlie Barnet

 6/8 Score Concentrate 1/4 Short score/sketch Congratulate me

For Jack Lemmon

 6/9 Score Cool water 6/10 Score Dance of the hours 6/11-12 Score Dancing on the ceiling 6/13 Scores 6/13 Parts Dat dere 6/14 Score

Saxophone parts only

see also Studies and sketches

Desert song 6/15 Score Dichter und Bauer

see Poet and peasant

Do nothin' 'till you hear from me

For Diane Schuur

 6/16 Score Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?

For the Canadian Brass

 6/17 Score

Laid in: optional parts and insertions

 Don't be that way 6/18 Score Easy street 6/19 Score Easy to love

For Diane Schuur

 6/20 Score Ebb tide

For Charlie Barnet

 6/21 Score Es ist genug 1/5 Brass parts Fat man boogie 7/1 Score Filet of soul 7/2 Score Finale--G minor symphony (Mozart) 7/3 Score Fingers 7/4 Score Five foot two 7/5 Scores 7/5 Wind parts

Laid in: wind part changes

 Frank Sinatra medley

see Overture '88

Front page rag

From The Front Page (film, 1974).

7/7-8 Scores

Laid in: extra parts

 1/6-9 Parts Frenesi 7/6 Score Gin and tonic

see Ozzie's tune

The girl from Ipanema

For Charlie Barnet

 7/9 Score A handful of stars 1/10 Scores A hard day's night

For Charlie Barnet

 7/10 Score Hello out there, hello 7/11 Score High noon 7/12 Score Honest and truly 7/13 Score How deep is the ocean? 7/14 Score Huguette waltz 8/1 Score Hungarian dance no. 5 (Brahms) 8/2 Score I can't believe (you're in love with me) 8/3-4 Scores

Multiple versions

 I concentrate on you 8/5 Score I don't know where I'm goin' (but I'm glad you come along) 8/6 Score

Laid in: wind part changes

 8/6 Lyric sheets I guess I'll have to change my plans 8/7 Score 8/7 Parts I taut I saw a puddy tat 2/1 Piano part 2/1 Lead sheet I'll see you again 8/8 Score In the mood disco 8/9 Score Italian street song 8/10 Score It's easy to remember

Arrangement by Gil Evans for the Billy May Orchestra

 8/11 Score I've got you under my skin 8/12 Score Joanna 2/2 Short score/sketch Jornal do Brasil 8/13 Score King David 2/3 Brass parts A kiss to build a dream on 2/4 Score Late, late show 8/14 Score Lean baby 8/15 Score 2/5-6, 8/15 Parts Little mo' 8/16 Short score/sketch

Film cue

Includes the tune "Unforgettable"

 Long hair mambo 8/17 Score Love is just around the corner 8/18 Score Love wise 8/19 Score 8/19 Parts Lover 8/20 Score Lover come back to me 9/1 Score 9/2 Parts Lullaby in rhythm 9/3 Score Lulu's back in town 9/4 Score Mad about the boy 9/5 Score The man I love 9/6 Score March of the toys 9/7 Score

Final section of arrangement by Hynie Beau

 Melody in F 9/8 Score Michelle 9/9 Score Miles behind 9/10 Score Minuet (Paderewski) 9/11 Score Minuet in G 9/12 Score Moanin' 9/13 Score Morning sunrise 9/14 Score Music to watch girls by

For Charlie Barnet

 9/15 Score My last affair 9/16 Score My little suede shoes

Other title: Blue suede shoes

 9/17 Score My old flame 2/7 Short score/sketch My silent love 10/1 Score 10/1 Parts Nancy

For Al Hirt

 10/2 Score Nelson [i.e. D.D. Nelson] tunes 2/8 Lead sheets

Includes: "Chloe's song;" "Heard ya the first time;" "I'm back where I started;" "Once more won't hurt;" "Too soon for June"

 Nova amor 10/3 Score Nutty squirrels

Other title: Uh! Oh!

 10/4 Score Oh by jingo 10/5 Score

Laid in: wind part changes

 2/9 Wind and brass parts Old Cayucos 10/6 Score 10/6 Lead sheet Old gold--Theme 2/10 Piano score One kiss 10/7 Score Opportunity rag 10/8 Score 10/8 Lead sheet Opus one 2/11 Score Orchids 10/9 Score Overture '88

For Frank Sinatra

Other title: Frank Sinatra medley

 10/10 Score

Includes: "All of nothing at all;" "Getting sentimental;" "Without a song"

 10/10 Piano-conductor score Ozzie's tune

Other title: Gin and tonic

 11/1 Score Panama 11/2 Score

Laid in: wind part changes

 2/12-13 Parts

Laid in: wind and brass part changes

 Perfidia 11/3 Score 11/3 Parts Persian market 11/4 Score

Laid in: wind part changes

 3/1-2 Parts Pick yourself up 11/5 Score Playboy's theme 11/6 Score Poet and peasant

Other title: Dichter und Bauer

 11/7-8 Score The preacher 11/9 Score Pretty playthings 11/10 Score 11/10 Lead sheet Purple

For Frank Sinatra

 11/11 Score

Laid in: optional parts

 11/11 Condensed score Quiet hours 11/12 Score Reunion song

From American Reunion (film, 1976)

 11/13 Score

Laid in: film scenario cues and miscellaneous piano-vocal scores

 Riverboat shuffle 11/14 Score Rose Marie 11/15 Score Santa Lucia 12/1 Score Say it isn't so 12/2 Score 4/1-2 Parts The second chase 12/3 Score Serenade--Student Prince 12/4 Score Sergeants Three (film, 1962) 12/5-7 Short scores The setting sun

For Ella Fitzgerald

 12/8 Score 12/8 Piano-conductor score The shadow of your smile 4/3 Score 4/3 Short score/sketch She didn't say yes 12/9 Score The sheik of Araby 12/10 Score Shiny stockings 13/1 Score Silvery cloud 13/2 Score Skyliner 13/3-4 Scores

Multiple versions

 Softly, as I leave you 13/5 Score Solving the riddle 13/6 Score 13/6 Parts The song is you 13/7 Score Sooper sloop 13/8 Score Sorta blues 13/9 Score South Rampart Street parade

For Al Hirt

 13/10 Scores

Laid in: wind part changes

 3/3-4 Parts Star eyes 13/11 Score Strangers in the night 13/12 Score 13/12 Parts Studies and sketches 4/4 Exercises and miscellaneous sketches

Includes sections titled: Politely; Dat dere; Ala mode; Shout; Noodling; Half step song; Coffee

 4/5 Counterpoint exercises 4/6 Exercises and miscellaneous sketches

Includes section titled: Excerpts from Wozzeck (Alban Berg)

 4/7 Exercises and miscellaneous sketches

Includes sections titled: Whistler; Sally; Quartet for strings; Hope the band; Don’t fence me

 4/8 Counterpoint exercises Sunset colors 13/13 Score Take the A train

For Glenn Miller

 14/1 Score Tenderly 14/2-3 Scores

Multiple versions

 14/2 Parts That old black magic 4/9 Parts There is no greater love 14/4 Score These are the good old days 14/5 Score 14/5 Lead sheet Thou swell 14/6 Score Turk's tune 14/7 Score Twelve days of Christmas

For the Boston Pops

 16/3 Score Uh! Oh!

see Nutty squirrels

Unforgettable 14/8 Score Vilia 14/9 Score Violin concerto (Tchaikovsky) 14/10 Violin and trumpet parts Waltzing Matilda 14/11 Score

Laid in: piano-vocal score used for arrangement

 When I take my sugar to tea 14/12 Score When my sugar walks down the street 14/13 Score When the saints go marching in 14/14 Score 14/14 Short scores/sketches

Multiple versions

For the Boston Pops

 When your lover has gone 15/1 Score Whisper not 15/2 Score Wings over Manhattan

see Aviation suite

You ain't makin' it 15/3 Score You and the night and the music 15/4 Score 15/4 Parts You may swing 15/5 Score You stepped out of a dream 4/10 Score You'd be so nice to come home to 15/6 Score You're the top 15/7 Score 15/7 Parts Unidentified 15/8 Score fragment