Guy Lombardo
Star of CBS'
"Guy Lombardo Time"
BORN in London Ontario Canada, June 19, 1902. He attended
St. Peter’s School in Ontario 1909.20. While in school, he organized a
four-piece band consisting of himself, his brothers Carmen and Lebert, and Fred
Kreitzer, all of whom are still with his Royal Canadians orchestra today.
ORIGINAL LOMBARDO GROUP played at church socials and similar
affairs, eventually expanded to nine musicians and thereafter gained fame
throughout Canada.
IN 1923, American booking agent Mike Shea engaged the Royal
Canadians to play at an Elks’ convention in Cleveland. Lombardo gave notice to
the Toronto hotel where he had been playing steadily and stayed in the U.S.A.
FOLLOWING YEAR, after several hotel engagements, Lombardo
persuaded Cleveland’s radio station WTAM to give him air time. At his own
expense he took his crew to the studio in city’s outskirts to broadcast every
night.
AS THE NETWORKS came into being Lombardo’s “sweetest music
this side if heaven” won national popularity. By 1929, the Canadian maestro was
one of the top band men in the country.
IN THAT YEAR, the New York Hotel Roosevelt first booked him,
and then called him back year after year. He returns again this coming season
for his 21st year
YEAR AFTER YEAR, despite the emergence of new bands, Lombardo’s
orchestra has been voted tops in pools by the nation’s radio and music cities.
He attributes his continued popularity to the fact that he plays his songs in
the dance rhythms the public wants. He has introduced more than 275 songs that
became favorites.
PERSONAL NOTES: Maried to the former Lilliebell Glenn, whom
he met in his carly Cleveland days.
Principal bobby is speedboat racing, in which he won the
Detroit Gold Cup in 1946. He belongs to the Columbia Yacht Club in New York and
makes his home at Free-port, Long Island.
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