# Jerry Herst

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{{Infobox person
| name          = Jerry Herst
| image         = 
| caption       = 
| birth_name    = Jerome Philip Herst
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1909|5|28}}
| birth_place   = [Chicago, Illinois](/source/Chicago%2C_Illinois), U.S.
| death_date    = {{death date and age|1990|11|27|1909|5|28}}
| death_place   = [Alameda, California](/source/Alameda%2C_California), U.S.
| occupation    = [Lawyer](/source/Lawyer), [Songwriter](/source/Songwriter)
| education     = [Northwestern University](/source/Northwestern_University); [University of California, Berkeley](/source/University_of_California%2C_Berkeley); [University of California, Hastings College of Law](/source/University_of_California%2C_Hastings_College_of_Law); [Conservatoire de Paris](/source/Conservatoire_de_Paris)
| known_for     = Composer of ''[So Rare](/source/So_Rare)'' (1937)
| spouse        = Jeanne Lucille Taylor (m. 1947)
| years_active  = 1930s–1975
}}

'''Jerome Philip Herst''' (May 28, 1909, in 
Chicago, Illinois – November 27, 1990, in Alameda, California), known as '''Jerry Herst''',<ref>[http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?PAGE=sbSearch&SEQ=20111029073713&PID=QwJ6MDjBiKLFSXMyQssXauV3gt US Copyright Office]: listings for Jerry Herst, pseudonym of Jerome P. Herst (b. 1909)</ref><ref>''California Death Index, 1940-1997''; United States ''Social Security Death Index''; and ''Cook County, Illinois Birth Certificate Index, 1871-1922''; hosted at [http://search.ancestry.com Ancestry.com], retrieved 29 October 2011.</ref> was a lawyer and a songwriter best known for his collaborations with [Jack Sharpe](/source/Jack_Sharpe_(songwriter)) on a number of compositions, notably "[So Rare](/source/So_Rare)", a much-recorded song that was published in 1937.

== Early life ==

In 1909, was born in Chicago to Abraham and Dora Schwartz. On December 24, 1947, he married Jeannde Lucille Taylor.<ref>“Herst, Jerome P.”, Who’s Who in American Jewry, A Biographical Dictionary of Outstanding Jews. Igal Sieger, editor, Who’s Who in American Jewry, Inc.: New York, New York, 1981, p. 347.</ref>

== Education ==

His early education was in Townsend Hall in New York, followed by Western Military, in Alton Illinois. He attended college at [Northwestern University](/source/Northwestern_University) and [University of California, Berkeley](/source/University_of_California%2C_Berkeley). In 1934, he received his JD from [University of California, Hastings College of Law](/source/University_of_California%2C_Hastings_College_of_Law), San Francisco.<ref>“Herst, Jerome P.”, Who’s Who in American Jewry, A Biographical Dictionary of Outstanding Jews. Igal Sieger, editor, Who’s Who in American Jewry, Inc.: New York, New York, 1981, p. 347.</ref>  He studied music at the [Conservatoire de Paris](/source/Conservatoire_de_Paris), and later studied composition privately with [Joseph Schillinger](/source/Joseph_Schillinger), [Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco](/source/Mario_Castelnuovo-Tedesco) and [Alexandre Tansman](/source/Alexandre_Tansman).<ref>“Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.</ref>

== Career ==

=== Music ===
While in college and law school he performed as a radio and night club performer.<ref>“Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.</ref>

A version of his co-composition "So Rare" released by [Jimmy Dorsey](/source/Jimmy_Dorsey)<ref>The label on the original Fraternity 45rpm record F-755 shows "JIMMY DORSEY" prominently, followed by small print "with Orchestra and Chorus"</ref> in 1957 was a #2 hit in the United States,<ref>Whitburn, Joel (1983) ''The Billboard Book of US Top 40 Hits'', New York: Billboard Publications, Inc, page 94 {{ISBN|978-0-8230-7511-9}}</ref> but it has been recorded by numerous artists including [Carl Ravell and his Orchestra](/source/Carl_Ravazza) (1937), [Gus Arnheim and his Coconut Grove Orchestra](/source/Gus_Arnheim) (1937), [Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians](/source/Guy_Lombardo) (1937), [Andy Williams](/source/Andy_Williams) (1959), [Ella Fitzgerald](/source/Hello%2C_Love_(Ella_Fitzgerald_album)) (1960) and [Ray Conniff](/source/Ray_Conniff) (1965).<ref>[http://78discography.com/ Online Discographical Project discographies for 78 rpm record labels], listings of "So Rare" since 1937; Carl Ravell's version is the earliest session listed there and may be the first release of "So Rare".</ref><ref>[http://allmusic.com/search/track/So+Rare/order:default-asc All Music Guide]{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}: recordings of "So Rare"</ref>

Herst has five compositions listed at the performing rights organisation ASCAP, four of which are collaborations with Jack Sharpe.<ref>[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020915175032/http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?mode=search American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers database]: Works written by Jerry Herst, IPI No. 14006640</ref> "So Rare", "World Stands Still" and "What Did You Do It For" are by Herst and Sharpe. "We'll Get A Bang Out Of Life" was written by Herst and Sharpe with the bandleader [Anson Weeks](/source/Anson_Weeks) and was recorded by [Kay Kyser and His Orchestra](/source/Kay_Kyser) (1938).<ref>[http://www.78discography.com/BRN8000.htm Online Discographies Project]: Brunswick label discography</ref><ref>[http://www.dbopm.com/link/index/4010/54903 dbopm: Database of Popular Music]: "We'll Get a Bang Out Of Life"</ref> A number of other compositions by Jerry Herst – including further collaborations with Jack Sharpe – are listed at the US Copyright Office.<ref>[http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?PAGE=sbSearch&SEQ=20111029073713&PID=QwJ6MDjBiKLFSXMyQssXauV3gt US Copyright Office]: listings for Jerry Herst, pseudonym of Jerome P. Herst (b. 1909)</ref>

In addition to Jack Sharpe, he collaborated with such names as Al Jacobs, Felton Kaufmann, and Richard O’Kreamer.<ref>“Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.</ref>

=== Legal ===

Practiced law from 1935 to 1942. He served as a referee and hearing officer for the State of California Office of Administrative Procedure from 1947 to 1975.<ref>“Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.</ref> Served as an administrative law judge for the State of California until his retirement in 1975<ref>“Herst, Jerome P.”, Who’s Who in American Jewry, A Biographical Dictionary of Outstanding Jews. Igal Sieger, editor, Who’s Who in American Jewry, Inc.: New York, New York, 1981, p. 347.</ref>

=== Military ===
Was on active duty in the USNR, World War II.<ref>“Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.</ref> Served in the United States Naval Reserves as Judge Advocate General Court Martial, 12 Naval District (1942–1946), Senior Judge Advocate until his retirement.<ref>“Herst, Jerome P.”, Who’s Who in American Jewry, A Biographical Dictionary of Outstanding Jews. Igal Sieger, editor, Who’s Who in American Jewry, Inc.: New York, New York, 1981, p. 347.</ref>

== Compositions ==
=== Songs ===
* ''So Rare'' (with Jack Sharpe)
* ''The Call of Tarzan''
* ''The Darling of the Campus''
* ''As Long As I Still Have You'' – 1931 (with Al Jacobs)<ref>Stanley, Don, “So Rare: The 20 Year Cycle of a Hit Song,” Sunday Pictorial Review, San Francisco Examiner, June 2, 1957, p. 18.</ref>
* ''We’ll Get a Bang Out of Life'' – 1938 (with Jack Sharpe)<ref>Stanley, Don, “So Rare: The 20 Year Cycle of a Hit Song,” Sunday Pictorial Review, San Francisco Examiner, June 2, 1957, p. 18.</ref>
* ''Shower of Kisses''
* ''Meand’rin''<ref>“Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.</ref>
* ''Mud in Your Eye'' (with Felton Kauffman)<ref>Stanley, Don, “So Rare: The 20 Year cycle of a Hit Song,” Sunday Pictorial Review, San Francisco Examiner, June 2, 1957, p. 18.</ref>

=== Instrumental works ===
* ''A Child’s Garden'' (suite for symphonic orchestra)
* ''The Golden Spike'' (overture)<ref>“Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.</ref>

Miscellaneous – numerous ballets and wind quintet<ref>“Herst, Jerome P.”, Who’s Who in American Jewry, A Biographical Dictionary of Outstanding Jews. Igal Sieger, editor, Who’s Who in American Jewry, Inc.: New York, New York, 1981, p. 347.</ref>

===  Musicals ===
* ''The Musical Adventures of Tom Sawyer''
* ''The Legend of Bret Harte''
* ''Ozma of Oz''<ref>“Herst, Jerome P.” , ASCAP Biographical Dictionary, Fourth Edition, Jaques Cattell Press/R.R. Bowker Co: New York, 1980, p. 226.</ref>

== Notes and references ==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120402050910/http://www.wikifonia.org/node/10077#/C/0/1 Lead sheet for "So Rare"] at Wikifonia
* [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3452474/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1] Internet Movie Database

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Herst, Jerry}}
Category:1909 births
Category:1990 deaths
Category:Songwriters from Illinois
Category:20th-century American songwriters

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jerry Herst](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Herst) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Herst?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
