Billy Mure

Billy Mure was born in New York. He played violin by age five and switched to guitar at seven; by 13 he was composing. At the start of World War II he joined the U.S. Army and ended up leading an Air Corps band. After the war, he played at radio station WNEW until 1957. Thereafter, he worked as a session musician and arranger/conductor while establishing his own career as composer and recording artist. Some of his early compositions include "Gazachastaliagen," "Got a Match," and "String of Trumpets."

Billy Mure's records appeal to pop and exotica fans as well as aficionados of early electric guitar. And fans of the wordless choruses associated with Bob Thompson and Esquivel (and other RCA artists, particularly) will appreciate Fireworks.