Orchestra Leader. He gained fame as an American orchestra leader of the Big Band era with his signature tune, "Harbor Lights," which became a #1 Billboard hit on September 1, 1950, and remained for 25 weeks. Although numerous performers have done their version of "Harbor Lights," his was the most popular. Samuel Zarnocay Jr. was born to Slovak immigrant parents. He excelled in athletics, and upon graduation in 1928 from high school, he received a track scholarship to Ohio University as state low-hurdles champ. He formed a band to earn revenue to pay his way through Ohio University. Samuel Zarnocay became Sammy Kaye, as his band was a regular at a small nickel-a-dance ballroom in the basement of Logan's Book Store located at the gate of the campus. At college, he made the football team and earned a degree in civil engineering. He went on to national acclaim in the big-band world of the 1930s and 1940s. He made many records, composed music, and appeared in a couple of movies; he had several radio series, including "Sunday Serenade," which was featured on national radio. Kaye was living in New York City, where he died of cancer at age 77. His body was returned to Lakewood, and after a Mass at St. Christopher Catholic Church in Rocky River, he was buried in the family plot next to his parents at Lakewood Park Cemetery.
Orchestra Leader. He gained fame as an American orchestra leader of the Big Band era with his signature tune, "Harbor Lights," which became a #1 Billboard hit on September 1, 1950, and remained for 25 weeks. Although numerous performers have done their version of "Harbor Lights," his was the most popular. Samuel Zarnocay Jr. was born to Slovak immigrant parents. He excelled in athletics, and upon graduation in 1928 from high school, he received a track scholarship to Ohio University as state low-hurdles champ. He formed a band to earn revenue to pay his way through Ohio University. Samuel Zarnocay became Sammy Kaye, as his band was a regular at a small nickel-a-dance ballroom in the basement of Logan's Book Store located at the gate of the campus. At college, he made the football team and earned a degree in civil engineering. He went on to national acclaim in the big-band world of the 1930s and 1940s. He made many records, composed music, and appeared in a couple of movies; he had several radio series, including "Sunday Serenade," which was featured on national radio. Kaye was living in New York City, where he died of cancer at age 77. His body was returned to Lakewood, and after a Mass at St. Christopher Catholic Church in Rocky River, he was buried in the family plot next to his parents at Lakewood Park Cemetery.
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