Clay Boland | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 25, 1903 Olyphant, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | July 23, 1963 (aged 59) St. Albans, Queens |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, U.S. Navy Dentist |
Clay Boland (October 25, 1903 – July 23, 1963) was a composer. He was born in Olyphant, Pennsylvania, United States.[1]
He studied dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1924, he won a university competition for a prom song with a composition entitled Dreary Weather.[2] He then composed music for the university's Mask and Wig Club, collaborating especially with lyricist Moe Jaffe in writing the songs for many of their shows. He also performed as a pianist with leading big bands of the era and was noted for his skills as an arranger. He subsequently practiced as a dentist in Ardmore, Pennsylvania but continued to compose and participate as a partner in the music publishing business.[3]
During World War II, he served as a lieutenant commander in the US Navy's Dental Corps, and was called up again for active duty in 1950 at the time of the Korean War.[4]
In later life, he lived in Elizabeth, New Jersey and died on July 23, 1963, aged 59, in the Naval Hospital of St. Albans, Queens.[5]