ANDERSON TOWNSHIP — Cliff Lash, the man behind the music for the popular Ruth Lyons 50-50 Club and its successor, the Bob Braun Show, died Monday at Arbors at Milford.
He was a resident of the New England Club in Anderson Township and had been ill for the past few weeks.
Mr. Lash was part of the dwindling WLWT (Channel 5) family. Mr. Braun died in January.
Mr. Lash served as the station's music director and orchestra leader from 1949 until 1978.
After his retirement, he traveled around the world performing with vocalist Ruby Wright, and accompanied Marian Spelman and Bob Braun on riverboat and ocean cruise shows.
The 88-year-old continued to perform at holiday concerts and other public appearances until a few years ago when, as he told his friend Michael Jaggers of Milford, he was "too old to get a gig."
"He was a really talented guy, a wonderful pianist," said Dick Murgatroyd, former producer of the Bob Braun Show and current Kenton County judge-executive.
The Cliff Lash Orchestra accompanied the show to the Ohio State Fair and hundreds of county fairs and festivals, said Mr. Murgatroyd. "He played the piano off the back of the truck, in a hayfield or wherever he went."
Miss Lyons praised Mr. Lash in her 1969 biography, Remember With Me,writing, "Our band was a great one, and Cliff Lash, the bandleader, was a tremendous accompanist."
Mr. Lash, who hailed from Michigan, studied at Hillsdale College and received bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
Survivors include a sister, Esther Barron of Dallas, a nephew and nieces.
There will be a memorial service at a later date.
He was a resident of the New England Club in Anderson Township and had been ill for the past few weeks.
Mr. Lash was part of the dwindling WLWT (Channel 5) family. Mr. Braun died in January.
Mr. Lash served as the station's music director and orchestra leader from 1949 until 1978.
After his retirement, he traveled around the world performing with vocalist Ruby Wright, and accompanied Marian Spelman and Bob Braun on riverboat and ocean cruise shows.
The 88-year-old continued to perform at holiday concerts and other public appearances until a few years ago when, as he told his friend Michael Jaggers of Milford, he was "too old to get a gig."
"He was a really talented guy, a wonderful pianist," said Dick Murgatroyd, former producer of the Bob Braun Show and current Kenton County judge-executive.
The Cliff Lash Orchestra accompanied the show to the Ohio State Fair and hundreds of county fairs and festivals, said Mr. Murgatroyd. "He played the piano off the back of the truck, in a hayfield or wherever he went."
Miss Lyons praised Mr. Lash in her 1969 biography, Remember With Me,writing, "Our band was a great one, and Cliff Lash, the bandleader, was a tremendous accompanist."
Mr. Lash, who hailed from Michigan, studied at Hillsdale College and received bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
Survivors include a sister, Esther Barron of Dallas, a nephew and nieces.
There will be a memorial service at a later date.
ANDERSON TOWNSHIP — Cliff Lash, the man behind the music for the popular Ruth Lyons 50-50 Club and its successor, the Bob Braun Show, died Monday at Arbors at Milford.
He was a resident of the New England Club in Anderson Township and had been ill for the past few weeks.
Mr. Lash was part of the dwindling WLWT (Channel 5) family. Mr. Braun died in January.
Mr. Lash served as the station's music director and orchestra leader from 1949 until 1978.
After his retirement, he traveled around the world performing with vocalist Ruby Wright, and accompanied Marian Spelman and Bob Braun on riverboat and ocean cruise shows.
The 88-year-old continued to perform at holiday concerts and other public appearances until a few years ago when, as he told his friend Michael Jaggers of Milford, he was "too old to get a gig."
"He was a really talented guy, a wonderful pianist," said Dick Murgatroyd, former producer of the Bob Braun Show and current Kenton County judge-executive.
The Cliff Lash Orchestra accompanied the show to the Ohio State Fair and hundreds of county fairs and festivals, said Mr. Murgatroyd. "He played the piano off the back of the truck, in a hayfield or wherever he went."
Miss Lyons praised Mr. Lash in her 1969 biography, Remember With Me,writing, "Our band was a great one, and Cliff Lash, the bandleader, was a tremendous accompanist."
Mr. Lash, who hailed from Michigan, studied at Hillsdale College and received bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
Survivors include a sister, Esther Barron of Dallas, a nephew and nieces.
There will be a memorial service at a later date.
He was a resident of the New England Club in Anderson Township and had been ill for the past few weeks.
Mr. Lash was part of the dwindling WLWT (Channel 5) family. Mr. Braun died in January.
Mr. Lash served as the station's music director and orchestra leader from 1949 until 1978.
After his retirement, he traveled around the world performing with vocalist Ruby Wright, and accompanied Marian Spelman and Bob Braun on riverboat and ocean cruise shows.
The 88-year-old continued to perform at holiday concerts and other public appearances until a few years ago when, as he told his friend Michael Jaggers of Milford, he was "too old to get a gig."
"He was a really talented guy, a wonderful pianist," said Dick Murgatroyd, former producer of the Bob Braun Show and current Kenton County judge-executive.
The Cliff Lash Orchestra accompanied the show to the Ohio State Fair and hundreds of county fairs and festivals, said Mr. Murgatroyd. "He played the piano off the back of the truck, in a hayfield or wherever he went."
Miss Lyons praised Mr. Lash in her 1969 biography, Remember With Me,writing, "Our band was a great one, and Cliff Lash, the bandleader, was a tremendous accompanist."
Mr. Lash, who hailed from Michigan, studied at Hillsdale College and received bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
Survivors include a sister, Esther Barron of Dallas, a nephew and nieces.
There will be a memorial service at a later date.
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