Jerry Herst

Who was Jerry Herst?

Jerome P. Herst, known as Jerry Herst, was a songwriter who collaborated with Jack Sharpe on a number of compositions, notably "So Rare", a much-recorded song that was published in 1937.

Jerome Philip Herst was born in Cook County, Chicago, Illinois on May 28, 1909 and died in Alameda, California on November 27, 1990.

A version of his co-composition "So Rare" released by Jimmy Dorsey in 1957 was a #2 hit in the United States, but it has been recorded by numerous artists including Carl Ravell and his Orchestra, Gus Arnheim and his Coconut Grove Orchestra, Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians, Andy Williams, Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Conniff.

Herst has five compositions listed at the performing rights organisation ASCAP, four of which are collaborations with Jack Sharpe. "So Rare", "World Stands Still" and "What Did You Do It For" are by Herst and Sharpe. "We'll Get A Bang Out Of Life" was written by Herst and Sharpe with the bandleader Anson Weeks and was recorded by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra. A number of other compositions by Jerry Herst - including further collaborations with Jack Sharpe - are listed at the US Copyright Office.