Ray Noble was a British composer-arranger whose sophisticated songs became cornerstones of the Great American Songbook and jazz standard repertoire. Born in Brighton, England, in 1903, Noble composed both lyrics and music for a relatively small but highly influential catalog during the British dance band era of the 1920s and 1930s. His 1934 composition "The Very Thought of You" became his signature tune, while his 1938 "Cherokee" emerged as a swing era classic, later serving as the harmonic basis for Charlie Parker's "Ko-Ko." His romantic ballads "The Touch of Your Lips" and "I Hadn't Anyone Till You" demonstrated his gift for memorable melodies. Other enduring standards include "Love Is the Sweetest Thing" and "Goodnight Sweetheart." Noble later relocated to America and formed an orchestra featuring Glenn Miller on trombone. He died in London in 1978.
