Born in Taunton, Mass., he attended the Boston U. School of Music. During that time, his composition for string quartet was performed by the Boston String Quartet.
In 1958, he conducted a weeklong series, The World Around Us for WJAR TV in Providence, R.I., which explored the phenomena of jazz in America. His recording career began soon thereafter, writing the music for Alan King's well-reviewed comedy album In Suburbia.
After moving to Los Angeles, he recorded albums including Jack Quigley in Hollywood, Class in Session, Listen! Quigley and D'jever? He composed a song to launch the Los Anglees Freedom Bond campaign in 1962 which was recorded by sung by Johnny Mathis, and continued his association with Mathis, composing the title song from Mathis' 1962 album Rapture, and often conducting and arranging for the popular singer.
In 1965, Quigley's composition “Children at Play" was performed at the Los Angeles Music Center by the Los Angeles Neophonic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Stan Kenton. He then became the musical director at The Carousel Theater in West Covina, Calif., and later created and produced a musical game show, Words and Music, for NBC.
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