Joel Herron was born in Chicago, Illinois on January 16, 1916 and died in Charleston, South Carolina on January 30, 2012, living to be 96 years old.  He graduated from Hyde Park High School in Chicago and attended the University of Chicago from 1933-1935.  He had two marriages, the first to Gertrude Meyer a model and mother of surviving children, Roark Herron and Lama Ji.  His second and late wife was Geraldine Hamburg, a former Chicago Quiz Kid, Julliard graduate, who appeared in the original Broadway production of “The King and I” with Yul Brenner as well as singing in operas conducted by Toscanini and Stravinsky.

Joel Herron was the notable songwriter (he wrote the music and Jack Wolfe and Frank Sinatra created the lyrics) of “I’m a Fool to Want You” that has been subsequently recorded by Billie Holiday, Dexter Gordon, Chet Baker, Linda Ronstadt, Shirley Bassey, Tony Bennett, Donald Byrd, and others.  It was his “hit”.  In addition, Joel was a composer, arranger, conductor, and author, and copyrighted 118 works (list attached). His stage scores include “Go Fight City Hall” and he wrote a number of musical themes for various musical commercials, as well as a recording performed by Roberta Flack (“Cream Smooth Jazz” for Manischewitz wine).

He was the Musical Director at WMGM between 1946 and 1956 for “MGM Theatre of the Air”, “MGM Musical Comedy Theatre of the Air”, the U.S. Treasury program “Guest Star”, and the Jane Froman Show.  Joel was also the conductor for the Jimmy Dean Show that aired on WCBS TV in the mid 1950’s and orchestra leader on the Jaye P. Morgan Show.  In addition, he worked closely with Johnny Mandel (whom he mentored early on), Hans Conried (in creating the album “Monster Rally”), Morey Amsterdam (on WMGM), Bucky Pizzarelli (on several pieces), and was a dear friend of Jimmy Dean.  He also toured a bit with Jane Froman who sought his talents on the piano and as band leader. Joel Herron conducted his orchestra in night clubs and hotels (mostly in the NYC area where he lived most his adult life), and was notably the band leader at the famous Copacabana Club and Persian Room at the Plaza Hotel in NYC for a short period in the 1950s and traveled as band leader with the Barry Sisters on a play tour in Israel in 1962.