Johnny Mandel is a legendary composer and arranger of popular songs, film music and jazz. Among the musicians he has worked with are Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Anita O'Day and Shirley Horn. Johnny Mandel studied at the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School. As a young trumpet player, he toured the country with several top bands, but he is best known for his composing and arranging. He wrote jazz compositions like "Not Really the Blues" for Woody Herman in 1949, "Hershey Bar" (1950) and "Pot Luck" (1953) for Stan Getz, "Straight Life" (1953) and "Low Life" (1956) for Count Basie as well as "Tommyhawk" (1954) for Chet Baker. Mandel's most famous compositions include "Suicide Is Painless", "Close Enough for Love", "Emily" and "A Time for Love”. The Jazz Cruise is excited and honored to have him lead the Anita Berry Big Band during the cruise.