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| VERNON DUKE |
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| BOBBY BYRNE |
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BOBBY BYRNE | VERNON DUKE
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1918 Bobby Byrne, born near Columbus Ohio, became orchestra leader. Died, age 88, 25 NOV 2006. Trombonist of the 1930s and '40s who played with the Dorsey brothers before fronting his own big bands, died at a care facility in Irvine. He had Alzheimer's disease and had recently suffered a stroke. He was a trombone prodigy with a "romantic but forceful" style, according to the online music encyclopedia "Solid!" At 16, he joined the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, but when Tommy Dorsey formed his own band, Byrne stayed with Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra. In 1939, Byrne started an orchestra that became known for its simple yet strong sound. The group disbanded when Byrne joined the Army Air Forces and became a pilot, also serving as a bandleader during World War II. He remained active as both a musician and bandleader up through the 1970s. He worked often on television, leading a dixieland combo on Steve Allen's program from 1952 to 1954, appearing on The Lucky Strike Hit Parade, and performing on the shows of Milton Berle, Perry Como, and Patti Page. He also served as A&R director for Command Records and often performed as a studio musician for that label.
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1903 Vernon Duke was a Russian-Americancomposer/songwriter, who also wrote under his original name Vladimir Dukelsky. He is best known for "Taking a Chance on Love" with lyrics by Ted Fetter and John Latouche, "I Can't Get Started" with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, "April in Paris" with lyrics by E. Y. ("Yip") Harburg (1932), and "What Is There To Say" for the Ziegfeld Follies of 1934, also with Harburg. He wrote the words and music for "Autumn in New York" (1934). Vernon collaborated with lyricists such as Johnny Mercer,Ira Gershwin, Ogden Nash and Sammy Cahn.
Died January 16, 1969.
1908 Birth in NYC of composer John Waldo Green, who arranged for Guy Lombardo's band and wrote songs like Body and Soul.
