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, her 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 televisions shows 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 Berigan
With Tex Beneke and the Glenn Miller Orchestra
With Les Brown
With Doris Day
With The Modernaires
With Dave Pell
With Tom Talbert Jazz Orchestra
With Scatman Crothers
With John Towner
With Rosemary Clooney
With Ella Fitzgerald
With Pete Fountain
With Henry Mancini
With Frank Sinatra
With Dean Martin
With Bobby Darin
With Bud Freedman
With Abe Most
With Paul Cacia
With others