Background
Mure was born in New York and played violin at age 9, before making guitar his primary instrument.
Mure was born in New York and played violin at age 9, before making guitar his primary instrument.
He played in bands while in the service during World World War II and found work at radio station WNEW after the war until 1957. In addition to his solo recordings, he worked as a session musician, composer, and arranger. He wrote the popular instrumental "Toy Balloons".
In 1959, he released the single "A String of Trumpets", credited to Billy Mure and the Trumpeteers.
The song reached #64 on the Billboard Hot 100. Mure had been performing for the past seven years with his band (Top Hats) at Squid Lips in Sebastian, Florida.