Musician Singer Jerry Graff Dies at 87

The celebrated musician, conductor, singer and arranger Jerry Graff, born in New York City on November 17, 1920, died of cancer on February 14 in Encino, CA at the age of 87.

With a career that spanned five decades, Graff led Rat Pack era vocal group The Beachcombers, ultimately performing and creating arrangements for the "Nat King Cole" TV show. He toured with the revitalized Pied Pipers (Frank Sinatra's original singing group), and segued into a career as a studio singer and composer, as well as doing film work with Woody Allen (Bananas), and on the Fran Drescher starring, The Beautician and the Beast.

A graduate of Brooklyn College and alumni of the famed World War II Special Services Unit that included Carl Reiner, Hal David and Allen Ludden among others, he was married for 40 years to Judith Graff. He is survived by a daughter, actress Ilene Graff ("Mr. Belvedere"), sons Richard and writer/director Todd (Camp), and 2 grandchildren, performer Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Holdenn Graff.