Leah Ray (February 16, 1915 – May 27, 1999) was an American singer and actress….who performed in the Big Band era….while singing and acting in more than a dozen motion pictures. Soon after Ray moved to California, her uncle introduced her to Phil Harris and arranged for a tryout…..and as a result, she was singing for the Harris Orchestra at age 16…..as she also sang with Tommy Dorsey’s Orchestra.
Ray’s screen debut came in One in a Million in 1936….as her other work on screen included the short film which was Bob Hope‘s movie debut, Going Spanish in 1934….as seen in this video herewith, The Holy Terror along with Wake Up and Live in 1937. Ray had a co-starring role in 1937’s 20th Century Fox musical comedy Sing and Be Happy, opposite singer Tony Martin.
While performing with the Phil Harris Orchestra, she met Music Corporation of America executive Sonny Werblin….and they married on March 27, 1938….then had three sons, Robert, Thomas and Hubbard….as the Werblin’s were married for more than 50 years until his death in 1991.
