About Clay Boland
Lived 1903 – 1963 (aged 59–60). Clay Boland was an American dentist, songwriter, publisher, composer and author.
Clay Boland (October 25, 1903 – July 23, 1963) was a composer. He was born in Olyphant, Pennsylvania, United States.
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. 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.
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.
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.
Compositions "An Apple a Day" "Stop Beating Around the Mulberry Bush" "Stop, It's Wonderful" "Tell Me at Midnight" "When I Climb Down from My Saddle"
Shows This Mad Whirl
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Important facts
People in Clay Boland's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Clay Boland's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Clay Boland?
American songwriter
When was Clay Boland born?
Clay Boland was born on 25 October 1903.
When did Clay Boland die?
Clay Boland died in 1963.
What was Clay Boland's occupation?
Clay Boland was a dentist, songwriter, publisher, composer and author.
What nationality was Clay Boland?
Clay Boland was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Clay Boland. https://biography.guide/clay-boland/
MLA: "Clay Boland." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/clay-boland/.
Chicago: "Clay Boland." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/clay-boland/.
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