Jack Kelly - Badinage LP on Jubilee

[Stonewall15]

I own this 10-inch Jubilee LP (LP-21), titled "Badinage". This is a solo piano session by Jack Kelly recorded in 1955. I have not been able to find any biographical information about this obscure pianist. Can anyone help?

[jazztrain]

Maybe these will get you started:

If this is the same Jack Kelly, the following indicates that he was an accompanist to Vic Damone in early 1950: BIllboard Feb. 4, 1950

Also, he was pianist and conductor for Polly Bergen and backed her on her session for Jubilee: Polly Bergen

He's the pianist on a March 31, 1952 Jerry Wald session for Decca: Jerry Wald

He and his ensemble back singer (and actress) Monica Lewis on another session for Jubilee: Monica Lewis

Here's an earlier reference to Jack Kelly with Vic Damone: November 22, 1947 Billboard

Here's still another reference to him with Damone: January 3, 1948

Here's another Billboard reference with more information saying that he was backing Vic Damone, Jane Harvey, Herb Jeffries, and formerly Buddy Clark: March 4, 1950 Billboard

Still more from Billboard, this time November 22, 1947, mentioning Damone and referring some radio work backing Buddy Clark, Perry Como, and Kate Smith as well as working for Shapiro-Bernstein and doing a nightly show at the Raleigh Room: Billboard November 22, 1947

I've also found references to two other albums by him from 1955, one on Jubilee (JLP-1009, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World) and one on MGM (E-280, 'S Wonderful).

It appears that he was in New York in the late 1940s and early 1950s and spent time backing vocalists in clubs and on radio. There are also references to a Jack Kelly Orchestra making radio appearances in Chicago around 1944, but it's not clear that this is the same person.

Still more from Billboard. This one is from November 19, 1955, indicates he's still in New York, and had just married Marilyn Youngman: Billboard November 19, 1955

[jazztrain]

Kelly died in 1965. His obituary was in the New York Times on Sunday, December 5, 1965 (page 89, 96 words).

Here's a link to the NY Times archive page from which the obituary can be purchased: NY Times Archive

The obit starts as follows: "Jack Kelly of 124 West 55th Street a pianist who played in a number of Midtown Manhattan restaurants, died Friday of cancer at Beth Israel Hospital. ..."

Anyone have access to the NY Times on that date?