Wayne King

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For the hockey player (born 1951), see Wayne King (ice hockey).
Wayne King
Victor
  • Decca

    • Harold Wayne King (February 16, 1901 – July 16, 1985) was an American musician, songwriter, and bandleader with a long association with both

    3
    4    .[7]

    Early life

    Harold Wayne King was born in Savanna, Illinois, the son of Harvey and Ida King.[2] His father worked for the railroad and traveled frequently, so when King's mother died in 1908, he and his brothers lived in an orphanage in Davenport, Iowa, for a brief period of time.[2] He returned to Savanna in 1911 to live with his aunt and uncle, where he was the quarterback and captain of the football team at Savanna Township High School, where he graduated in 1920.[2][8] He briefly played professional football with the Canton Bulldogs.[2][5] He also began taking saxophone lessons as a teenager.[1] King attended Valparaiso University in Indiana for two years, but left to begin a career in music.[5][8]

    Career

    After playing alto saxophone for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, he created "Wayne King and His Orchestra" in 1927.[5] The group opened the new Aragon Ballroom in Chicago in 1927, and they continued playing there for much of King's career.[2][9] He began recording for RCA/Victor Records in 1929.[1] However, the orchestra didn't rise to prominence until they were featured on "The Lady Esther Serenade", a national radio program sponsored by Lady Esther cosmetics from 1931 to 1937.[4][9][10]

    The orchestra disbanded during

    transcription discs.[11] King's orchestra had a television show in Chicago from 1949 to 1952.[1][9] The telecast was carried by most Midwest NBC Television affiliate stations.[6]

    In early 1958, he appeared as a guest challenger on the TV panel show

    To Tell The Truth. King was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Radio category in1960.[5]

    King's orchestra played its last engagement in March 1983 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Florida.[9]

    Personal life

    King died in July 1985 in Paradise Valley, Arizona.[1][4][12] His wife, silent film actress Dorothy Jones King, kept his urn with her for the rest of her life following their 53 years of marriage. She died on March 10, 2010, at the age of 98.[12][13] They had two children, Wayne King II and Penelope King Pape.[12]

    In 2004, King was honored in his hometown of Savanna, with a sign acknowledging that he was a resident of the town.[9]

    Recordings

    • "
      Goodnight, Sweetheart
      " (1931)
    • "
      Dream a Little Dream of Me
      " (1931) a #1 hit
    • "Maria Elena" (1941) a #2 hit
    • "
      All Alone
      " (1946)
    • "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" (orchestral, 1952)
    • "Isle of Golden Dreams" (1957)
    • "Golden Favorites" (1962)
    • "Cecilia" (1965)

    References

    1. ^ a b c d e f Summers, Kim. "Wayne King | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
    2. ^ a b c d e f "Celebrating Wayne King". Savanna Times Journal.
    3. ^ Grossman, Ron (25 March 2012). "The splendor and romance of Chicago's dance-hall days". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
    4. ^ a b c d "'Waltz King' Wayne King Dies at 84, Led Big Band". Los Angeles Times. 17 July 1985. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
    5. ^ a b c d e f "Wayne King". Hollywood Walk of Fame. 2019-10-25. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
    6. ^ a b "Wayne King". Los Angeles Times. 18 July 1985. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
    7. ISBN 978-0-595-53017-5
      ., p. 19.
    8. ^ a b "'Waltz King' Famous Savanna H.S. Alumnus". Savanna Times-Journal. 13 October 1970.
    9. ^ a b c d e Popa, Christopher (July 2004). "Wayne King 'Melody of Love'". Big Band Library. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
    10. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3
      . Retrieved 2019-08-28.
    11. ^ "Ziv ad" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 17, 1948. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
    12. ^ a b c "Dorothy King Obituary". Legacy. 14 March 2010. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
    13. ^ AltFilmGuide entry

    External links

    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wayne_King&oldid=1217848036"