Bill Raymond
Bill Raymond
By Children of Anthony W. Scovazzo
This article is based on the recollection of the children of Anthony William Scovazzo. The Vocal section is based on internet research and personal record collections.
Stage Name
Anthony Scovazzo performed under the stage name “Bill Raymond.” It was difficult for a band, with the leader having a Sicilian name, to be hired in the 1940s and 1950s. Mr. Scovazzo thought it would be best for the band if he had a more “American” sounding stage name. The stage name was constructed by using his middle name (William to Bill) and his mother’s maiden name (Raimondo to Raymond).
Anthony W. Scovazzo
Anthony W. Scovazzo was born 2/24/1921 in Scranton, PA, as the eighth of nine children of Antonio Scovazzo and Rosa Raimondo (sometimes Americanized to Raymondi). He ran track for Scranton Technical High School, served as a Navy Warrant Officer in the Philadelphia Yards, and was a steam fitter, plumber, drummer, and big band leader. Mr. Scovazzo married Mary Elizabeth Eutize on 7/13/1946, and they had six children: Teresa, Anita, Vincent, Marie, Anthony, and Paul. Mr. Scovazzo would note that he was “a drummer and a plumber”. He died 10/2/1962 in Scranton, PA from injuries suffered in a construction accident.
Bands
Mr. Scovazzo, concentrated on, but was not limited to, the interwoven genres of big band, swing, and jazz. He “sat-in” playing drums with many of the groups forming from remnants of the Scranton Sirens and other bands becoming friendly with Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, dates unknown.
Mr. Scovazzo joined the Chase’s Parade Band from 1940 to 1942, see photograph. He formed Bill Raymond and His Orchestra, date unknown, see copy of the business card. When the various Dorsey’s orchestras needed more musicians for venue requirements, sickness, or other causes: they would often hire Bill Raymond and His Orchestra to fill out their orchestra. In these cases, the billing would read “Bill Raymond and Band” using this title to appear not to have equal billing to Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra. Billy Raymond would often be hired to play drums or other percussions for the Dorseys. These collaborations were typically confined to mid-Atlantic and surrounding states.
Bill Raymond and His Orchestra often performed well-attended free concerts at the Music Pavilion (The Band Stand) in Nay Aug Park in Scranton, PA in the late 1940s through the early 1960’s.
By the late 1950’s Mr. Scovazzo suffered with partial hearing loss.
Vocalist
Bill Raymond was often the vocalist for Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra. He also sang for both Tex Beneke and His Orchestra, typically under the Glenn Miller estate’s oversight, and the Crew Chiefs. According to “BandChirps, Tex Beneke, (2026, March 2), https://bandchirps.com/band/tex-beneke/”. “In 1951, Bill Raymond was vocalist, with the Crew Chiefs returning to back Beneke on recordings.”
AI Overview, “dorsey bill Raymond, (2026, January 14), https://www.google.com/search?q=dorsey+bill+raymond&sca_esv=etc”. notes;
• “Bill Raymond refers to the collaboration between big band leader Tommy Dorsey, his brother Jimmy Dorsey, and vocalist Bill Raymond, particularly noted on tracks like "I Speak to the Stars," "Three Coins in the Fountain," and "Who," showcasing Raymond's smooth vocals with the iconic Dorsey sound in the mid-1950s, often on jazz and pop standards.”
• “Bill Raymond was a prominent male vocalist for The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra during the mid-1950s. He performed and recorded extensively with the band led by Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, particularly during their residency at the Meadowbrook Ballroom in New Jersey.”
• “Vocalist for The Dorsey Brothers: Raymond was the primary male singer for the orchestra during the "reunion" era when the brothers combined their talents in the 1950s.”
Recordings with Bill Raymond as Vocalist
| Band | Track | Notes |
| TB | Just Say I Love Her | Tex Beneke and His Music / In The Mood album |
| TB | The Day Isn't Long Enough | 'S Wonderful album and M.G.M.78 rpm, 10 inch, B side of You Blew Out the Flame, Tex Beneke and his Orchestra |
| TD | Love You Didn’t Do by Me | Bell Record, 45 rpm, B side of Brother’s |
| TD | Lost in Loveliness | Bell Record, 78 rpm, 7 inch, A side |
| TD | Three Coins in the Foutain | Bell Record, 78 rpm, 7 inch, A side |
| TD | I Speak to the Stars | Bell Record, 78 rpm, 7 inch, B side of Wanted |
| TD | Who | Bell Record, 45 rpm, B side of Tangerine |
| TD | Mr. Rainbow | Tommy and Jimmy Live in the Big Apple 1954-1955 Radio Show) album also Bell Record 78 rpm, 7 inch, and 45 rpm, A side |
| TD | Marie | Tommy and Jimmy Live in the Big Apple 1954-1955 Radio Show)and other albums |
| TD | Tangerine | Tommy and Jimmy Live in the Big Apple 1954-1955 Radio Show) album and Bell Record, 45 rpm, A side |
| TD | Without a Song | The Dorsey Brothers Live in the Meadowbrook, October 28, 1955 album |
TD-Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, TB-Tex Beneke and His Orchestra.
[[File:Jim Rillstone-Tuba, Anthony W. Scovazzo-Drums, Chase’s Parade Band, 1940-1942.jpg|alt=Anita Perry collection, by permission|thumb|Jim Rillstone-Tuba, Anthony W. Scovazzo-Drums, Chase’s Parade Band, 1940-1942, Anita Perry collection, by permission.[[File:Bill Raymond and His Orchestra Sunday concert, Nay Aug Park, Scranton, PA, 1948.jpg|thumb|Bill Raymond and His Orchestra Sunday concert, Nay Aug Park, Scranton, PA, 1948, Anita Perry collection, by permission.
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