Dick Jurgens

Richard Henry Jurgens (January 9, 1910 – October 5, 1995) was an American swing music bandleader and composer who enjoyed great popularity in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

Life and early career Dick Jurgens was born in Sacramento, California, United States, to Dietrich Heinrich Jurgens and Clara Matilda Jurgens (née Erath). Jurgens played in an orchestra in high school but was kicked out of the ensemble for playing pop music. In response, he formed his own group in 1928 while still a student. Dick Jurgens and his Orchestra recorded "Elmers Tune" as an instrumental on April 10, 1941. Sammy Gallop wrote the lyrics when big band leader Glenn Miller asked Jurgens if he could record a vocal version of the tune. Glenn Miller and his Orchestra recorded it on August 11, 1941.

On page 3 of the Wednesday, February 4, 1942 edition of The Rambler, a paper by Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas, was an article entitled, “Elmer’s Tune Written In Morgue”. It is a copy of most of the Kent State University article, “12 Dead Chinamen 'Hear’ Original “Elmer's Tune”” published in The Kent Stater, Volume XVII, Number 62 in Kent, Ohio on January 22, 1942 on page 2. It is written as if the concert mentioned has not yet occurred, but it was published a week days after the concert it mentioned as being played on January 26, 1942. The remainder of the article is an exact copy of the KSU article, starting with ““Elmer’s Tune” was received very coldly”, and ending with “the lyrics were written around the title later.” Here's how the Texas article begins. “Elmer’s Tune Written In Morgue” - The Composer of “Elmer’s Tune,” (who really is a guy named Elmer) and, what’s more, looks like a guy named Elmer plays America’s No 1 novelty hit when he appears as guest-pianist with Dick Jurgens’ orchestra, January 26.

Dick Jurgens wrote or co-wrote a number of songs, including "Elmer's Tune", "Careless", "I Won't Be Home Anymore When You Call", "One Dozen Roses", "It's a Hundred To One (I'm in Love)", "I Guess I'll Be On My Way", "If I Knew Then (What I Know Now)", and "Day Dreams Come True At Night".