Gloria Shayne

Gloria Shayne Baker (September 4, 1923 – March 6, 2008) was an American composer and songwriter best known for composing the "Do You Hear What I Hear?" Christmas carol in 1962 with her then husband, Noël Regney.

Baker was born as Gloria Adele Shain in Brookline, Massachusetts, on September 4, 1923. Born to a Jewish family, daughter of Attorney Mark Shain and Professor Rose Wies Shain, she grew up next door to Joseph and Rose Kennedy and their children, including John F. Kennedy. She began her music career as part of a singing trio, The Shain Sisters, alongside her older sisters, Esther and Thelma. She changed the spelling of her last name from Shain to Shayne early on in her career for professional reasons. She earned her bachelor's degree from the Boston University School of Music. She moved to New York City during the 1940s, where she worked as a pianist performing on demos and in front of live audiences. She also arranged music for composers such as Stephen Sondheim and Irving Berlin.

Shayne met her first husband, French born Noël Regney, while playing piano at a New York City hotel in 1951. Regney and Shayne would later write "Do You Hear What I Hear?" together as collaborators. They were married the same year that they met. The couple divorced in 1973. Regney died in 2002.

Shayne married her second husband, William Baker, in 1973. He died in 2001.

Shayne and Regney collaborated on a number of famous songs. Shayne usually composed the lyrics for their songs, while Regney composed the music. Among the most well known songs written by the couple was "Rain Rain Go Away", which was first performed by singer Bobby Vinton. Shayne and Regney also wrote "Sweet Little Darlin'" which was performed by Jo Stafford. and "Another Go Around," most notably sung by Perry Como and Doris Day.

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