Singer, Bandleader. He first went to San Jose State Medical School in hopes of following his father's profession but developed an interest in music after doing part-time work as a singer on a local radio station. His first big break came in 1933 when he landed a job as a trombonist with the Dick Jurgens Band, but it was his singing that saved his job. In 1941, he began leading his own band, went solo during the war and then reorganized his orchestra afterward. Two of his songs were No. 1 on the charts for eight weeks, "To Each His Own" in 1946 and "It's a Sin" in 1951. He had many other hits, including "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons"; "My Abode Hacienda"; "Now Is the Hour"; "Auf Weiderseh'n, Sweetheart"; "Rickety Rickshaw Man"; "Ragtime Cowboy Joe"; "On a Slow Boat to China"; "Room Full of Roses"; "Careless"; "A Penny a Kiss"; "Candy Kisses"; "Be Anything, But Be Mine"; and "I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder." He died in his sleep of a cerebral hemorrhage.
Singer, Bandleader. He first went to San Jose State Medical School in hopes of following his father's profession but developed an interest in music after doing part-time work as a singer on a local radio station. His first big break came in 1933 when he landed a job as a trombonist with the Dick Jurgens Band, but it was his singing that saved his job. In 1941, he began leading his own band, went solo during the war and then reorganized his orchestra afterward. Two of his songs were No. 1 on the charts for eight weeks, "To Each His Own" in 1946 and "It's a Sin" in 1951. He had many other hits, including "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons"; "My Abode Hacienda"; "Now Is the Hour"; "Auf Weiderseh'n, Sweetheart"; "Rickety Rickshaw Man"; "Ragtime Cowboy Joe"; "On a Slow Boat to China"; "Room Full of Roses"; "Careless"; "A Penny a Kiss"; "Candy Kisses"; "Be Anything, But Be Mine"; and "I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder." He died in his sleep of a cerebral hemorrhage.
Bio by: Ron Coons
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