Ray Jessel

Ray Jessel was a writer and musician best known for his work on the television comedies The Love Boat, Head of Class and The Carol Burnett Show.

He received his degree in music from the University of Wales, and then won a scholarship to study composition for a year in Paris. He moved to Canada thereafter and began a career as an orchestrator and composer for CBC radio and television. Jessel began writing for various theater productions in New York including Upstairs at the Downstairs and Baker Street, the latter of which spawned the hit recording “A Married Man,” sung by Richard Burton. Jessel also co-wrote the score for the revival of Hellzapoppin, the title song for which was recorded by both Jimmy Durante and Louis Armstrong, ending up on Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World album.

Jessel later moved to Hollywood where he began to write musical material and comedy sketches for The Dean Martin Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Smothers Brothers Show, The Bob Newhart Show, The Jacksons, The Love Boat, Comedy Factory, Head of the Class and various John Denver specials.

He was a story editor on 60 episodes of the ABC comedy The Love Boat between 1977 and 1980 and had writing credits on 34 episodes. He was also a writer and executive story consultant on Head of Class between 1986 and 1991, the ABC series followed a group of gifted students in the honors program. Jessel was also a producer on the variety, musical show The Jacksons.

In 2002, at the age of 72, Jessel made his debut as a Cabaret performer at Hollywood’s Gardenia room. Twelve years later he auditioned for NBC’s reality competition program America’s Got Talent, performing an original comedic composition.

Jessel died July 17, 2015, in Studio City, California. He was 85.