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Jimmy Joyce

“Jimmy” Joyce (James Campbell Joyce, June 9, 1920-May 17, 1974) was a Hollywood session singer, choral leader and arranger who worked in film, television and recording. He sang with Alvino Rey, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and others. He arranged for and led The Jimmy Joyce Singers on television programs such as Red Skelton and The Smothers Brothers. He was a mentor to many young singers in The Jimmy Joyce Children’s Choir, which his wife Betty Joyce took over after his death at age 53, earning many gold records herself with Disney.

Personal Life

James Campbell Joyce was born June 9, 1920, in Toledo, Ohio. He was a golden gloves boxer and the elder of two boys. Jimmy served in WWII as a radio carrier in the Rangers (though he signed up as a piano player/band leader). His father passed in 1943, and his younger brother, a pilot, died the next year.

After the war, Jimmy pursued a career in music in Los Angeles. In 1946 he and singer Betty Jean Perkins married at a courthouse in —- while touring as members of Alvino Rey’s Blue Reys. Their five sons were born between 1947-1960, all accomplished musicians themselves.

Career Highlights

Nat King Cole, Alvino Rey,

Worked with Frank Sinatra and his daughter, Nancy

Nelson Riddle

Ray Coniff

Kay Starr

Smart Set, Al Burt, etc.

Television

Alvino Rey

The Red Skelton Hour 1969-70 three episodes of The Red Skelton Show in 1970, including “You Can Take the Boy out of the Country if You Promise Not to Bring Him Back”.http://ctva.biz/US/MusicVariety/RedSkeltonShow_19_(1969-70).htm

The Tim Conway Comedy Hour, which aired in the fall of 1970. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0065351/fullcredits/music_department?ref_=m_ttfc_15

The Bobby Darin Show (Amusement Company?)

Make Mine Red, White and Blue, hosted by Fred Astaire in 1972.

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

choral arranger/director for the King Sisters and the King family

John Gary

Film

How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying 1967 (Vocal Supervisor)https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0061791/fullcredits/music_department?ref_=m_ttfc_20

The Great Gatsby (arranger)

Tom Sawyer (arranger)

In the mid-‘70s, they provided the singing voices for Harold Lloyd’s World of Comedy, an unusual re-working of Lloyd’s silent films with new music, narration and sound effects.

Discography

Alvino Rey Collection 1940-50

https://www.allmusic.com/album/collection-1940-50-mw0003407158

Alvino Rey King of the Guitar

https://www.allmusic.com/album/king-of-the-guitar-a-tribute-mw0000706077

Americas Greatest Hits 1947 https://www.allmusic.com/album/americas-greatest-hits-1947-mw0003463212

1954, Frank Sinatra, tracks:  “The Christmas Waltz”, “When I Stop Loving You”, and “White Christmas”.

1958 Billy May A Christmas to Remember

Allan Sherman’s “The Twelve Gifts of Christmas” reached #5 on the Christmas chart.

1963, This is Christmas:  A Complete Collection of the Alfred S. Burt Christmas Carols, nominated for a Grammy Award in 1964.

https://www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-christmas-a-complete-collection-of-the-alfred-s-burt-carols-mw0000713994

1965 Alvin & The Chipmunks on Chipmunks Sing with Children.

1968 The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas.

1969 Nancy Sinatra, “It’s Such a Lonely Time of Year”

1969 Petula Clark on Just Pet, which reached a modest #176 on the Billboard Top 200.

The Smart Set

https://archive.org/details/lp_first-soundsthe-smart-set_the-smart-set

https://archive.org/details/lp_informally-yours_the-smart-set

Peggy Lee The Ultimate Christmas

https://www.allmusic.com/album/ultimate-christmas-mw0003412952

The Alfred Burt Christmas Carols Golden Anniversary Collection

https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-alfred-burt-christmas-carols-golden-anniversary-collection-mw0000141421

Roger McGuinn

https://www.allmusic.com/album/roger-mcguinn-mw0000270153

Tennessee Ernie Ford’s Abide With Me

Kay Starr I Hear The Word

Allan Sherman’s Allan in Wonderland

The Carpenters: Yesterday Once More, Greatest Hits 1969-1983

https://www.allmusic.com/album/yesterday-once-more-greatest-hits-1969-1983-mw0000649958

2007 Alvin & the Chipmunks’ Greatest Hits:  Still Squeaky After All These Years.

Joyce Family Album