Vocalist Ray Eberle, with Glenn Miller’s orchestra, recorded “Stairway to the Stars” in May, 1939. Their record hit number one and stayed in the charts for 13 weeks. It was Miller’s second number one record.

• Glenn Miller and His Orchestra (1939, Ray Eberle, vocal, #1)
• Kay Kyser and His Orchestra (1939, #4)
• Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra (1939, Bob Eberly, vocal, #8)
• Al Donahue and His Orchestra (1939, #12)

Violinist Matt Malneck and pianist Frank Signorelli’s composition “Park Avenue Fantasy” was recorded by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra for Victor Records on September 11, 1934. The following year it was published by Robbins Music as “a modern composition for piano.”

“Park Avenue Fantasy” is what is referred to as an extended work, rather than a 32-bar popular song, similar to other pieces recorded by Paul Whiteman such as George Gershwin’s “Concerto in F” and “Cuban Overture.” It is the melody of the final theme that became “Stairway to the Stars.”

Malneck and Signorelli collaborated on a number of pieces. Frequently the tunes would begin as an instrumental with the lyrics added at a later time. “I’ll Never Be The Same,” an early hit for the two, was recorded in 1928 by Eddie Lang as a guitar solo, and three years later Joe Venuti, along with Lang and Signorelli, recorded it as “Little Buttercup.” The lyrics, by Gus Kahn, didn’t appear until the sheet music was published in 1932.

A similar situation befell “Park Avenue Fantasy.” Although Whiteman performed the piece on his Kraft radio program, it wasn’t the type of material that really clicked with the public. The piece languished from 1935 until early 1939, when Malneck used it as the theme for his radio show, “Music by Malneck.” At that time either Signorelli or Malneck approached Mitchell Parish to write lyrics for the finale section of the piece. Lyricist Parish was a perfect choice since he was a specialist in “retrofitting” lyrics to instrumentals, honing his craft on such hits as “Stardust,” “Solitude,” and “Sophisticated Lady.”

Once the publishers had the final copy, they began plugging the tune with various bandleaders. The up-and-coming band led by Glenn Miller was in a position to promote the tune. Miller had worked with both Signorelli and Malneck during his freelance years and was familiar with their talents. Enlisting the aid of arranger Bill Finegan, an arrangement was made of the number featuring vocalist Ray Eberle. It was recorded by Victor Records May 9, 1939, to be issued on their budget label Bluebird. On May 17, 1939, Miller performed the tune during a live broadcast from the Meadowbrook Ballroom in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, and on May 29, from the Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle, New York. This type of air play brought the number to the attention of the public, so once the record was released there would already by a ready audience.

Interestingly Ray Eberle’s brother Bob (who spelled his last name Eberly), recorded the tune with Jimmy Dorsey’s orchestra, their version moving to third position in the charts.