Rey, Alvino

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Rey, Alvino

Rey, Alvino , pop-jazz bandleader, guitarist; b. Oakland, Calif., July 1, 1911. Between 1934–39, he played with many bands, including Horace Heidt. Rey formed his own group and took the popular King Sisters vocal group from Heidt. The band worked on a West Coast radio station and he gained respect for his guitar work. Rey formed an excellent new band in 1942, using arrangements by Ray Conniff, Johnny Mandel, Billy May, and Neal Hefti; the band included Al Cohn, Zoot Sims and Herbie Steward at various times. He carried on with smaller lineups through the mid 1960s with the King Family Show on TV.

Discography

Uncollected Alvino Rey, Vol. 3 (1940).

—Lewis Porter