Murray Grand

Murray Grand (August 27, 1919 – March 7, 2007) was an American singer, songwriter, lyricist, and pianist best known for the song "Guess Who I Saw Today".^[1]

Born in Philadelphia, Grand played piano as a teenager. During World War II, he served as an infantryman in U.S. Army and played piano accompaniment for USO Tour stars including Gypsy Rose Lee and Betty Grable.^[1] After the war, Grand studied piano and composition at the Juilliard School and worked as a cabaret performer in New York City.^[1]

In 1952, he wrote “Guess Who I Saw Today” (with lyrics by Elisse Boyd) for the Broadway musical revue New Faces of 1952.^[1][2] The song has been recorded by Nancy Wilson, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, and Eydie Gorme.^[3]

Grand's songs have been recorded by Peggy Lee, Eartha Kitt, Paula West, Blossom Dearie, Toni Tennille, Eydie Gorme, and Michael Feinstein.

Grand appeared in two Paul Mazursky films: The Tempest and Moscow on the Hudson.

In his later years Grand lived for a time in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he ran a pet food business and continued to perform. He died of emphysema in Santa Monica, California in 2007.^[4]