Jack Sperling (August 17, 1922 – February 26, 2004) was an American jazz drummer who performed as a sideman in big bands and as a studio musician for pop and jazz acts, movies, and television.

Career

In 1941 he played with trumpeter Bunny Berigan. After World War II, he and Henry Mancini joined the Glenn Miller band when it was led by Tex Beneke. Sperling drew attention with his performance on the song St. Louis Blues (1948). He then joined Les Brown and His Band of Renown, which played regularly for the Bob Hope radio program. Sperling and other members of Brown's band joined Dave Pell's octet in 1953. He recorded with octet on Plays Irving Berlin (1953) and on The Original Reunion of the Glenn Miller Orchestra (1954). From 1954–57, he was a member of Bob Crosby's Bobcats. During the rest of his career, he worked in bands led by Charlie Barnet, Page Cavanaugh, Pete Fountain, and Benny Goodman. Sperling was among the studio musicians who accompanied Henry Mancini on the television show Peter Gunn. He recorded with Mancini on the film soundtracks Charade (1963) and Days of Wine and Roses (1962). Sperling was the featured solo drummer on the theme song for the TV show Hogan's Heroes. From 1959–1972, he was under contract with the NBC Orchestra. This meant working for The Tonight Show Band, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and TV variety shows hosted by Bob Hope, Dean Martin, and Andy Williams. In the music world, he recorded with Rosemary Clooney, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis Jr., Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, The Four Freshmen, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Mel Tormé.

Discography

With Bunny Berigan With Tex Beneke and the Glenn Miller Orchestra With Les Brown With Doris Day With The Modernaires With Dave Pell With Tom Talbert Jazz Orchestra With Scatman Crothers With John Towner With Rosemary Clooney With Ella Fitzgerald With Pete Fountain With Henry Mancini With Frank Sinatra With Dean Martin With Bobby Darin With Bud Freedman With Abe Most With Paul Cacia With others

Soundtracks

Early musical short films

Television