Biography.guide
Home › People › Pianist › Terry Shand
Portrait of Terry Shand

Terry Shand

1904 – 1977

American pianist, vocalist, bandleader and songwriter

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Terry Shand

Lived 1904 – 1977 (aged 72–73). Terry Shand was an American pianist, singer, composer, lyricist and bandleader.

Terence Alister Shand (October 1, 1904 – November 11, 1977) was an American pianist, vocalist, bandleader and songwriter.

Biography Terry Shand was born in Uvalde, Texas. He started his career by 1920, playing piano at the Kelly Field Hostess Club, where his mother was manager, and then toured with such musicians as Jack Teagarden, Wingy Manone and Muggsy Spanier. Around 1930, he joined Freddy Martin's orchestra, before forming his own band later in the decade and recording for Decca Records.

He was also a prolific and respected songwriter. Among his compositions are "I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (And Throw Away the Key)", co-written with Jimmy Eaton and first recorded by Billie Holiday in 1938; "Dance with a Dolly (With a Hole in Her Stocking)", written with Eaton and Mickey Leader, and first recorded by Tony Pastor in 1940; and "You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry", written with Bob Merrill. The latter song was recorded in 1950 by Jimmy Dorsey's Orchestra, with Shand on vocals, Moon Mullican, Ernest Tubb and most successfully by English vocal duo The Caravelles in 1963.

His wife, Violet Ott ( Gossett, 1902–1983), collaborated on some of his compositions and toured with him. He lived for most of his life in Texas, New Mexico, and Miami, Florida. He died in hospital in Houston in 1977, aged 73.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Born
1904, Uvalde
Birth century
Died
1977, Houston
Nationality
Also known as
Terence Alister Shand

People in Terry Shand's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Terry Shand's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Terry Shand?

American pianist, vocalist, bandleader and songwriter

When was Terry Shand born?

Terry Shand was born in 1904 in Uvalde.

When did Terry Shand die?

Terry Shand died in 1977 in Houston.

What was Terry Shand's occupation?

Terry Shand was a pianist, singer, composer, lyricist and bandleader.

What nationality was Terry Shand?

Terry Shand was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Terry Shand

· Wikidata: Q98522517

· DBpedia: Terry Shand

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Terry Shand. https://biography.guide/terry-shand/

MLA: "Terry Shand." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/terry-shand/.

Chicago: "Terry Shand." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/terry-shand/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:33 UTC