About
Raymond Stanley Noble (17 December 1903 – 3 April 1978) was an English jazz and big band musician, who was a bandleader, composer and arranger, as well as a radio host, television and film comedian and actor; he also performed in the United States. He is best known for his signature tune, "The Very Thought of You", and for "Cherokee".
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Noble wrote both lyrics and music for many popular songs during the British dance band era, known as the "Golden Age of British music", notably for his longtime friend and associate Al Bowlly. His most iconic musical numbers included songs such as "Love Is the Sweetest Thing", "Cherokee", "The Touch of Your Lips", "I Hadn't Anyone Till You", Goodnight, Sweetheart, What More Can I Ask?, and "The Very Thought of You". Noble played a radio comedian opposite American ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's stage act of Mortimer Snerd and Charlie McCarthy, and American comedy duo Burns and Allen, later transferring these roles from radio to TV and popular films.
Member of
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The Ray Noble Band eponymous
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Ray Noble and His Orchestra eponymous
Discography
Links
Artistic director
Also known as
Ray Nobel · Raymond Stanley Noble
Identifiers
- MusicBrainz
- 716a01fc-da79-41b8-816c-4e98168f002f
- ISNI
- 0000000081161439
- IPI
- 00022456507
Data from MusicBrainz, saved 7 Nov 2026. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, covers from the Cover Art Archive and Apple Music.