Guy Lombardo

"The Royal Canadians" redirects here. For other uses, see Royal Canadian (disambiguation).

Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 – November 5, 1977)^[2] was a Canadian and American bandleader, violinist, and hydroplane racer.

Guy Lombardo
Lombardo in 1944
Born	Gaetano Alberto Lombardo (1902-06-19)June 19, 1902 London, Ontario, Canada
Died	November 5, 1977(1977-11-05) (aged 75) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Spouse	Lillibell Lombardo^[1] (1899-1982)
Relatives	six siblings, including brothers Carmen, Lebert and Victor and sister Rose Marie
Musical career
Genres	Jazz, big band, traditional pop
Occupation(s)	Bandleader, musician
Instrument(s)	Violin
Years active	1924–1977

Lombardo formed the Royal Canadians in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert and Victor, and other musicians from his hometown. They billed themselves as creating "the sweetest music this side of Heaven." The Lombardos are believed to have sold between 100 and 300 million records during their lifetimes,^[3] many featuring the band's lead singer from 1940 onward, Kenny Gardner.^[4]

Early life

Lombardo was born in London, Ontario, Canada,^[5] to Italian immigrants Gaetano Alberto and Angelina Lombardo. His father, who had worked as a tailor, was an amateur singer with a baritone voice and had four of his five sons learn to play instruments so they could accompany him. Lombardo and his brothers formed their first orchestra while still in grammar school and rehearsed in the back of their father's tailor shop.^[6] Lombardo first performed in public with his brother Carmen at a church lawn party in London in 1914.^[7] His first recording session took place where cornetist Bix Beiderbecke made his recordings—in Richmond, Indiana, at the Gennett Studios—both during early 1924.^{[citation needed]}

Royal Canadians

After that solitary Gennett session, they recorded two sessions for Brunswick; a rejected session in Cleveland in late 1926, and an issued session for Vocalion in early 1927. The band then signed to Columbia and recorded prolifically between 1927 and 1931. In early 1932, they signed to Brunswick and continued their success through 1934 when they signed to Decca (1934–35). They then signed to Victor in later 1935 and stayed until the middle of 1938 when again they signed to Decca. In 1938, Lombardo became a naturalized citizen of the United States.^[8] Between 1941 and 1948, their sister Rose Marie, the youngest of seven siblings, joined the Royal Canadians as the band's first and possibly only female vocalist.^[9]

 

The Lombardo brothers: Lebert, Carmen, Guy, and Victor, circa 1931

Although Lombardo's "sweet" big-band music was viewed by some in the jazz and big-band community of the day as "boring, mainstream pap," trumpeter Louis Armstrong regularly named Lombardo's band his favorite orchestra.^[10][11]

After Guy Lombardo's death in 1977, his surviving brothers Victor and Lebert took over the Royal Canadians, though Victor left the band early in 1978 over creative differences.^[12] From 1980, the name was franchised out to various band leaders. Lebert died in 1993, passing rights to the band name to three of his six children.^[13] The band was revived in 1989 by Al Pierson and remained active as of 2021^[update].^[14][15]

New Year's Eve radio and TV programs

 

Lombardo his brothers and sister Rose Marie, 1954

Lombardo is remembered for almost a half-century of New Year's Eve big band remotes, first on radio, then on television. His orchestra played at the Roosevelt Grill in the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City from 1929 ("radio's first nationwide New Year's Eve broadcast" which popularized Auld Lang Syne)^[5] to 1959, and from then until 1976 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Live broadcasts (and later telecasts) of their performances were a large part of New Year's celebrations across North America; millions of people watched the show with friends at house parties.Time magazine even reported that the American public would simply not believe it was New Year's Day until Guy Lombardo heralded its arrival from the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.^[16] Due to his widespread popularity, Lombardo was nicknamed "Mr. New Year's Eve" and received a citation of recognition from the United States Congress for his musical message of hope, peace and happiness for all mankind.^[17]

The band's first New Year's Eve radio broadcast was in 1929; within a few years, they were heard live on the CBS Radio Network before midnight Eastern Time, then on the NBC Radio Network after midnight. As a result, by 1954 Lombardo's popularity soared and sales of his recordings with the Royal Canadians Orchestra soon exceeded 100 million copies. He had already played in Washington D.C. at the inaugural balls for every U.S. president from Franklin Roosevelt to Dwight Eisenhauer and would later play at Ronald Reagan's inaugural ball in 1985.^[18]

On December 31, 1956, the Lombardo band did their first New Year's TV special on CBS; the program (and Lombardo's 20 subsequent New Year's Eve TV shows) included a live segment from Times Square. Although CBS carried most of the Lombardo New Year's specials, from 1965 to 1970, the special was syndicated live to individual TV stations instead of broadcast on a network. By the middle 1970s, the Lombardo TV show was facing competition, especially for younger viewers, from Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, but Lombardo remained famous among viewers, especially older ones.

Even after Lombardo's death, the band's New Year's specials continued for two more years on CBS before Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve came into prominence. The Royal Canadians' recording of the traditional song "Auld Lang Syne" still plays as the first song of the new year in Times Square followed by "Theme from New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra, "America the Beautiful" by Ray Charles, "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong, "Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, and Kenny G's rendition of "Auld Lang Syne".^[19]

Other radio

In the early 1940s Lombardo appeared as a guest on NBC's Red Network in the weekly broadcast of the "I'm An American" radio show.^[20] Presented by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, the program included interviews with prominent naturalized American citizens of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds who made exceptional contributions to American society within literature, politics, the arts and sciences.^[21] When asked to reflect upon the advantages of citizenship within America's democracy, Lombardo adeptly replied, "You don't have to be millionaires or even well-to-do to dance to good dance music in America".^[22] Also included among the honorees on the program were: Frank Capra, Albert Einstein, Thomas Mann and Kurt Weill.^[23]

Beginning June 14, 1953, Guy Lombardo and his orchestra had Guy Lombardo Time, the summer replacement for Jack Benny's radio program.^[24]

External audio
Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians performing live at Harrah's Club Lake Tahoe in 1960 Here on Archive.org'

Other television

In 1954, Lombardo briefly hosted a half-hour syndicated series called The Guy Lombardo Show, and in 1956 Lombardo hosted a show on CBS for three months called Guy Lombardo's Diamond Jubilee.

Guy Lombardo played himself in the hit series Route 66 in the 1963 episode “But What Do You Do in March?” In 1975, Lombardo played himself again, in the first regular episode of Ellery Queen, "The Adventure of Auld Lang Syne," which was set at a Dec. 31, 1946 New Year's Eve gathering.

Film

Lombardo and his orchestra were part of the 1934 film Many Happy Returns.^[25] and he also made a cameo appearance in the 1970 film The Phynx. Clips of his own show appeared in the 1977 film Looking for Mr. Goodbar starring Diane Keaton.

Jones Beach Theater

At the express invitation of Robert Moses, Lombardo served for two decades, as the impresario for numerous summer stock revivals of leading Broadway musicals at the Jones Beach Theater on the south shore of New York's Long Island.^[26][27] Beginning in 1954 with a production of "Arabian Nights" starring the operatic tenor Lauritz Melchior, Lombardo also collaborated with the producer Arnold Spector and choreographer June Taylor in 1964 to produce "Around the World in 80 Days"^[28] and continued to create opulent revivals of several Broadway musicals until 1977.^[29] He would often commute from his home in Freeport, Long Island to the lagoon adjacent to the theater on his yacht "The Tempo IV" to conduct his Royal Canadians Orchestra for dances in the Schaeffer Beer Tent after the shows.^[30][31][32]

Lombardo's productions at the seaside theater were noted for their glamorous and realistic waterborne set designs as well as their lush musical scores which were sometimes arranged by his brother Carmen. His early revival of "Song of Norway" in 1958 featured an actual iceberg floating down the lagoon toward the stage along with an authentic Viking ship. His 1961 rendition of the Hawaiian musical fantasy "Paradise Island" featured 32 native Hawaiian dancers diving off towers into the lagoon adjacent to the theater along with a 100 foot high waterfall. The 1965 production of "Mardis Gras" incorporated a floating set which ushered Louis Armstrong onstage for musical performances with his own band.^[33][34]

External image
Photograph of Jones Beach Theater's production of "Fiddler on the Roof" in 1974 Here on New York State Archives: Digital Collections

Over the decades, Lombardo also collaborated with leading musical artists in his revivals including: Nancy Dussault in the 1968 production of "South Pacific", Constance Towers in the 1970 production of "The Sound of Music".^[35] and Norman Atkins in the 1974 production of "Fiddler on the Roof".^[36] From the realm of grand opera, Lombardo recruited such luminaries as: Jerome Hines and James McCracken along with members of the New York City Ballet.^[37] He also enlisted talented actors from the Broadway stage including William Gaxton and Arthur Treacher for his production of "Paradise Island" in 1961 and the film actor Jules Munshin for his 1960 production of "Hit the Deck".^[38] During the early years, members of Lombardo's fifteen original Royal Canadians were augmented by professional musicians recruited from the New York City area to serve within the pit orchestra as well as on stage. As a result, the orchestra itself often included between thirty and forty accomplished instrumentalists.^[39]

Over the decades, Lombardo faced many challenges in the course of producing extravaganzas in such an outdoor venue during the summer season. The fickle weather conditions which prevailed near the shoreline often featured spontaneous drenching downpours which discouraged concertgoers. Still others balked at the prospect of making a long road trip from New York City onto Long Island for a show. In addition, complex negotiations with a variety of unions representing the stagehands, carpenters and electricians contributed to mounting production costs.^[40] Ultimately, the Lombardo brothers only broke even financially, despite years of dedicated service. Lombardo, however, did not have any regrets. In the final analysis his primary objective was to provide ordinary members of the general public with musical entertainment of the highest possible caliber, while also ensuring memorable nights of dancing pleasure to the strains of "the sweetest music this side of heaven".^[41][42]

Hydroplane racing

 

Lombardo at the helm of Tempo VI, circa 1947.

Lombardo was also an important figure in Step Boat speedboat racing, winning the Gold Cup in 1946 in his record-breaking speedboat, Tempo VI, designed and built by John L. Hacker. He then went on to win the Ford Memorial competition in 1948 and the President's Cup and the Silver Cup in 1952. From 1946 to 1949, Lombardo was the reigning U.S. national champion. Before his retirement from the sport in the late 1950s, he had won every trophy in the field. In 1959 Lombardo was attempting a run on the absolute water speed record with the jet engine-powered Tempo Alcoa when it was destroyed on a radio-controlled test run doing over 250 miles per hour (400 km/h).^[43] After the destruction of the Tempo Alcoa, Lombardo retired from hydroplane racing. In 2002 he was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame for his accomplishments.

Beginning in 1958, Lombardo endorsed the Guy Lombardo Royal Fleet, a line of fiberglass boats manufactured and sold by the United States Boat Corporation of Newark, New Jersey, a division of U.S. Pools Corporation. The boats were manufactured under license from Skagit Plastics of La Conner, Washington. The endeavor was short-lived and ended in 1961 with the closure of Skagit Plastics.^{[44][better source needed]}

In his later years, Lombardo lived in Freeport, Long Island, New York, where he kept Tempo, Tempo VI, and Tempo VII (built in 1955). He invested in a nearby seafood restaurant called "Liota's East Point House" that eventually became "Guy Lombardo's East Point House". Lombardo became a promoter and musical director of Jones Beach Marine Theater. The venue was built with him in mind by Robert Moses, a fan of Lombardo. One of Lombardo's productions at Jones Beach was Paradise Island in 1961. His final production there was the 1977 staging of Finian's Rainbow with Christopher Hewett in the title role.

Life

While playing at the Music Box in Cleveland, Lombardo met Lillibeth Glenn.^[45] They married in 1926.

Death

On November 5, 1977, Lombardo died of a heart attack. Another source says he died "of a lung ailment."^[1] His wife, who died in 1982, was at his bedside when he died in Houston Methodist Hospital.^[1] He's interred at the Pinelawn Memorial Park in East Farmingdale, NY.

Tributes

 

Guy Lombardo's star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto

In 1971 the United States Congress honored Guy Lombardo with an official recognition of his humanitarian accomplishments.^[46]

Lombardo was featured on a postage stamp issued on December 17, 1999, as part of Canada Post's Millennium Collection.^[47][48]

Guy Lombardo has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.^[49][50]

In 2002, he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame and had a star on its Walk of Fame in Toronto. Lombardo was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

The home where Guy Lombardo and his siblings grew up is still standing in London, Ontario, at 202 Simcoe Street. A plaque to the Lombardos has been moved from the exterior wall of the Labatt Retail Store at Richmond and Horton streets in London to the store's entranceway off the parking lot, denoting the site of a subsequent home of the Lombardos.

In his later home of Freeport, New York, there is Guy Lombardo Avenue. There is a bridge named after Lombardo in London, Ontario near Wonderland Gardens, as well as Lombardo Avenue in north London near the University of Western Ontario.

The Guy Lombardo Society is dedicated to preserving the music and history of Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians.

Guy Lombardo museum

42°57′49″N 81°17′36″W / 42.963674°N 81.293225°W / 42.963674; -81.293225 From the mid-1980s until 2007, there was a museum dedicated to Guy Lombardo in London, Ontario, near the intersection of Wonderland Road and Springbank Drive. In September 2007, lacking visitors and funding, the museum was closed.^[51] Although the city owned many of the exhibits, most of the collection can be found at the private home of former part-time curator Douglas Flood. City staff recommended that the museum not be reopened.^[52] In early 2015 Flood scheduled an auction of remaining items from the collection, under protest from members of the Lombardo family.^[53]

Lebert Lombardo's children also have an extensive collection of artifacts, including photographs, record albums, sheet music, awards, and the band's framed first paycheck from 1918 in their homes and storage units in Fort Myers and Sanibel, Florida. They have tried to donate the collection to various universities and museums but have had no takers. The Library of Congress has a collection of Lombardo films.^[50]

Singles discography

Before the start of Billboard magazine's top 40 charts in 1940, Lombardo had over 140 hits from 1927 to 1940, including twenty-one No. 1 singles. The five biggest being "Charmaine", "It Looks Like Rain in Cherry Blossom Lane", "Boo-Hoo", "We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye", and "Red Sails in the Sunset".

The following singles made the "Top Ten" of the American Billboard singles charts from 1927 to 1940:^[54][55]

Columbia

The following appeared on the Columbia Records label:

• 1927 – Charmaine
• 1928 – Beloved
• 1928 – Coquette
• 1928 – Sweethearts on Parade
• 1929 – College Medley Fox Trot (The Big Ten)
• 1929 – I Get the Blues When It Rains
• 1929 – Singin' in the Bathtub
• 1929 – Where the Shy Little Violets Grow
• 1930 – A Cottage for Sale
• 1930 – Baby's Birthday Party
• 1930 – Confessin' (That I Love You)
• 1930 – Crying for the Carolines
• 1930 – Go Home and Tell Your Mother
• 1930 – Have a Little Faith in Me
• 1930 – I Still Get a Thrill (Thinking of You)
• 1930 – Lazy Lou'siana Moon
• 1930 – Rollin' Down the River
• 1930 – Singing a Song to the Stars
• 1930 – Swingin' in a Hammock
• 1930 – Under a Texas Moon
• 1930 – You're Driving Me Crazy (What Did I Do)
• 1930 – You're the Sweetest Girl This Side of Heaven
• 1931 – (There Ought to Be a) Moonlight Saving Time
• 1931 – Begging for Love
• 1931 – By the River Sainte-Marie
• 1931 – Goodnight Sweetheart
• 1931 – Now That You're Gone
• 1931 – Sweet and Lovely
• 1931 – Whistling in the Dark
• 1931 – Without That Gal!
• 1931 – You Try Somebody Else (We'll Be Back Together Again)

Brunswick

The following appeared on the Brunswick Records label:

• 1932 – How Deep Is the Ocean
• 1932 – I'll Never Be the Same
• 1932 – I'm Sure of Everything But You
• 1932 – Just a Little Home for the Old Folks
• 1932 – Lawd, You Made The Night Too Long
• 1932 – My Extraordinary Gal
• 1932 – Paradise
• 1932 – Pink Elephants
• 1932 – Puh–Leeze, Mr. Hemingway
• 1932 – Too Many Tears
• 1932 – Waltzing in a Dream
• 1932 – We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye
• 1933 – By a Waterfall
• 1933 – Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?
• 1933 – Don't Blame Me
• 1933 – Going, Going, Gone!
• 1933 – Lover
• 1933 – Stormy Weather
• 1933 – Street of Dreams
• 1933 – The Last Round–Up
• 1933 – This Time It's Love
• 1934 – Fare Thee Well
• 1934 – My Old Flame
• 1934 – Night on the Water
• 1934 – Stars Fell on Alabama

Decca (1934–1935)

The following appeared on the Decca Records label:

• 1934 – Winter Wonderland
• 1934 – Annie Doesn't Live Here Anymore
• 1935 – Broadway Rhythm
• 1935 – Cheek to Cheek
• 1935 – I'm Sittin' High on a Hill Top
• 1935 – Red Sails in the Sunset
• 1935 – Seein' Is Believin'
• 1935 – What's the Reason (I'm Not Pleasin' You)

Victor (1936–1938)

• 1936 – Lost
• 1936 – The Broken Record
• 1936 – The Way You Look Tonight
• 1936 – When Did You Leave Heaven
• 1936 – When My Dream Boat Comes Home
• 1937 – A Sail Boat in the Moonlight
• 1937 – Boo–Hoo
• 1937 – I Know Now
• 1937 – It Looks Like Rain in Cherry Blossom Lane
• 1937 – September in the Rain
• 1937 – So Rare
• 1937 – The Love Bug Will Bite You
• 1938 – Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
• 1938 – I Must See Annie Tonight
• 1938 – It's a Lonely Trail (When You're Travelin' All Alone)
• 1938 – Let's Sail to Dreamland
• 1938 – Little Lady Make Believe
• 1938 – So Little Time
• 1938 – Ti–Pi–Tin

Decca (1939–1952)

• 1939 – Cinderella Stay in My Arms
• 1939 – Deep Purple
• 1939 – I Ups to Her and She Ups to Me
• 1939 – I'm Sorry for Myself
• 1939 – In an 18th Century Drawing Room
• 1939 – Little Sir Echo
• 1939 – Penny Serenade
• 1939 – South American Way
• 1939 – South of the Border
• 1939 – The Umbrella Man

The following singles made the "Top Ten" of the Billboard Singles Charts, 1940–1952.^[56]

• 1940 – Confucius Say
• 1940 – When You Wish Upon A Star
• 1941 – The Band Played On
• 1942 – Johnny Doughboy Found a Rose in Ireland
• 1944 – Speak Low
• 1944 – It's Love-Love-Love
• 1944 – Together
• 1945 – Always
• 1945 – A Little on the Lonely Side
• 1945 – Bell Bottom Trousers
• 1945 – June Is Bustin' Out All Over
• 1945 – No Can Do
• 1946 – Seems Like Old Times
• 1946 – Symphony
• 1946 – Money Is the Root of All Evil
• 1946 – Shoo-Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy
• 1946 – The Gypsy
• 1946 – Christmas Island
• 1947 – Managua-Nicaragua
• 1947 – Anniversary Song
• 1947 – April Showers
• 1947 – I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder
• 1948 – I'm My Own Grandpaw
• 1949 – Red Roses for a Blue Lady
• 1950 – Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)
• 1950 – The Third Man Theme
• 1950 – Dearie
• 1950 – All My Love (Bolero)
• 1950 – Harbor Lights
• 1950 – The Tennessee Waltz
• 1952 – Blue Tango

Albums discography

Decca: ^[57][58][59]

• Decca DL 9014 Guy Lombardo Presents Arabian Nights (1954)
• Decca DL 8070 A Night At The Roosevelt With Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians (1954)
• Decca DL 8097 Lombardoland USA (1955)
• Decca DL 8119 Guy Lombardo & His Twin Pianos (1955)
• Decca DL 8135 Soft and Sweet (1955)
• Decca DL 8136 Enjoy Yourself (1955)
• Decca DL 8205 Waltztime (1956)
• Decca DL 8208 The Band Played On (1956)
• Decca DL 8249 Lombardoland Volume 1 (1956)
• Decca DL 8251 Twin Piano Magic (1956)
• Decca DL 8254 Everybody Dance to the Music (1956)
• Decca DL 8255 Oh, How We Danced... (1956)
• Decca DL 8256 Waltzland (1956)
• Decca DL 8333 Silver Jubilee (1956)
• Decca DL 8354 Jingle Bells (1956)
• Decca DXM 154 The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven Vols. 1–4 (1957)
• Decca DL 8843 Instrumentally Yours (1959)
• Decca DL 8894 Sidewalks of New York (1959)
• Decca DL 8895 Movieland Melodies (1959)
• Decca DL 8898 Show Tunes (1959)
• Decca DL 8962 Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven, A Musical Autobiography 1926–1932 (1960)
• Decca DL 4123 The Sweetest Pianos This Side of Heaven (1960)
• Decca DL 4149 Far Away Places (1962)
• Decca DL 4117 New Year's Eve with Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians (1962)
• Decca DL 4180 Dance to the Songs Everybody Knows (1962)
• Decca DL 4229 The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven 1932–1939 (1962)
• Decca DL 4268 The Best Songs Are the Old Songs (1962)
• Decca DL 4280 By Special Request (1962)
• Decca DL 4288 Dancing Piano (1962)
• Decca DL 4328 The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven 1941–1948 (1963)
• Decca DL 4329 The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven 1949–1954 (1963)
• Decca DL 4371 Play A Happy Song (1963)
• Decca DL 4380 Golden Minstrel Songs for Dancing (1963)
• Decca DL 4430 Golden Folk Songs for Dancing (1963)
• Decca DL 4516 Italian Songs Everybody Knows (1964)
• Decca DXB 185 The Best of Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians (1964)
• Decca DL 4567 Snuggled on Your Shoulder (1964)
• Decca DL 4593 Golden Medleys (1965)
• Decca DL 4735 Dance Medley Time (1966)
• Decca DL 4812 Guy Lombardo's Greatest Hits (1967)

Vocalion:^[60]

• VL 3605 Dance in the Moonlight (1958)
• VL 3833 Here's Guy Lombardo (1968)

Capitol:

• Capitol W 738 Guy Lombardo in Hi-Fi (1956)
• Capitol T 739 Your Guy Lombardo Medley Vol. 1 (1956)
• Capitol T 788 A Decade on Broadway 1946–1956 (1956)
• Capitol T 892 Lively Guy (1957)
• Capitol T 916 A Decade on Broadway 1935–1945 (1958)
• Capitol ST 1019 Berlin by Lombardo (1959)
• Capitol ST 1121 Dancing Room Only (1959)
• Capitol ST 1191 Lombardo Goes Latin (1959)
• Capitol ST 1244 Your Guy Lombardo Medley Vol. 2 (1960)
• Capitol ST 1306 The Sweetest Waltzes This Side of Heaven (1960)(reissued as SF522)
• Capitol ST 1393 Lombardo at Harrah's Club (1960)
• Capitol SKAO Sing The Songs of Christmas (1960)
• Capitol ST 1453 Bells Are Ringing (1960)
• Capitol ST 1461 The Best of Guy Lombardo (1961)
• Capitol ST 1593 Drifting and Dreaming (1961)
• Capitol ST 1598 Your Guy Lombardo Medley Vol. 3 (1961)
• Capitol ST 1648 Guy Lombardo & The Royal Canadians Go Dixie (1962)
• Capitol ST 1738 Waltzing with Guy Lombardo (1962)
• Capitol 1843 Lombardo with a Beat (1963)
• Capitol ST 1947 The Sweetest Medleys This Side of Heaven (1963)
• Capitol ST 2052 Lombardo Touch (1964)
• Capitol STDL The Lombardo Years (1964)
• Capitol T 2298 Guy Lombardo Presents Kenny Gardner (1965)
• Capitol T 2350 Guy Lombardo Plays Songs of Carmen Lombardo (1965)
• Capitol ST 2481 A Wonderful Year (1966)
• Capitol ST 2559 Guy Lombardo's Broadway (1966)
• Capitol ST 2639 The Sweetest Sounds Today (1967)
• Capitol ST 2777 Lombardo Country (1967)
• Capitol ST 2825 Medleys On Parade (1967)
• Capitol ST 2889 They're Playing Our Songs (1968)
• Capitol SKAO 2940 The Best of Guy Lombardo Vol. 2 (1968)
• Capitol ST 128 The New Songs The New Sounds
• Capitol SM 340 Recorded Live at The Tropicana

London Records:

• London XPS904 Every Night Is New Year's Eve with Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians at The Waldorf Astoria (1973)

Pickwick (Capitol) Budget Compilations / Reissues:

• SPC 1011 – Deck the Halls
• SPC 3073 – Sweet and Heavenly
• SPC 3140 – Taking a Chance On Love
• SPC 3193 – Enjoy Yourself
• SPC 3257 – Red Roses for a Blue Lady
• SPC 3312 – The Impossible Dream
• SPC 3358 – Alley Cat
• ACL 7057 – Guy Lombardo Plays (1977 reissue of RCA Camden CAL255, 1965)

See also

•  Music portal
•  Canada portal

• Carmen Lombardo
• Lebert Lombardo
• Victor Lombardo
• Music of Canada

References

1. "Band Leader Guy Lombardo Dead at 75". Rushville Republican. Rushville, Indiana. Rushville Republican. November 7, 1977. p. 2. Retrieved February 11, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
2. Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1509. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
3. Koda, Cub. "Guy Lombardo". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
4. Goldman, Ari L. (31 July 2002). "Kenny Gardner, 89, Guy Lombardo's Crooner". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
5. Roberts, Joe (December 28, 1977). "Lombardo: Old Acquaintance Not Forgotten". California, Van Nuys. Valley News. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.  
6. "Gaetano Lombardo, Father of Musicians". The New York Times. October 7, 1954. p. 23.
7. Lombardo, Guy (1975). Auld Acquaintance. Doubleday. ISBN 9780385028639.
8. "I'm an American | USCIS". 6 January 2020.
9. "Lombardo's sister left stage for family life".
10. Wald, Elijah (September 2012). "Louis Armstrong Loves Guy Lombardo". In Ake, David; Garret, Charles; Goldmark, Daniel (eds.). Jazz/Not Jazz: The Music and Its Boundaries. University of California Press Online. p. 31. doi:10.1525/california/9780520271036.003.0003. ISBN 9780520271036. Louis Armstrong often referred to Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians as his favorite band, but this fact is rarely cited and almost never pursued.Critics and historians who celebrate African American music tend to dismiss Lombardo's music as boring, mainstream pap, unworthy to be treated alongside the masterpieces of Armstrong or Duke Ellington. Thus, while celebrating Armstrong, they ignore his musical opinion—and that of the public, which made Lombardo's orchestra the most popular dance band not only of white America, but also at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom. How have such prejudices affected our views of the past? How has our understanding of black musicians been limited by an insistence that they fit modern definitions of hipness or authenticity?
11. Wald, Elijah (2007). "Louis Armstrong loves Guy Lombardo! Acknowledging the smoother roots of jazz". Jazz Research Journal. 1 (1): 129. doi:10.1558/jazz.v1i1.129. Though Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians were always considered the sweetest of American dance bands and the antithesis of what is usually called jazz, Louis Armstrong regularly named them as his favorite orchestra. This judgment is usually dismissed as an odd quirk, but by exploring it we can learn something about what made Armstrong unique. Likewise, it is worth examining Armstrong's admiration for classical virtuosos like Herbert Clarke of the Sousa band. In broader terms, we cannot understand the evolution of jazz if we do not explore the deep African-American classical tradition and the extent to which artists like Armstrong and Lombardo shared a single world, and appealed to a broadly overlapping audience. Sweet orchestras and classical concert music, rather than being the opposite of jazz, were among the many inspirations for Armstrong and his peers, and our understanding and appreciation of these musicians is increased when we realize the breadth of their interests.
12. "Clipped from the Paris News". The Paris News. 15 February 1978. p. 15.
13. "Lebert Lombardo, 88, Co-Founder of Band". The New York Times. 22 June 1993.
14. "A New Year's Gig, 1,765 Miles from the Waldorf". 30 December 2008.
15. "Photos: Al Pierson returns to Lake DePue with Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians". 29 July 2021.
16. Crump, William D. Encyclopedia of New Year's Holidays Worldwide. McFarland & Co. Publishers. London. 2008 p. 101 ISBN 978-0-7864-3393-3 Guy lombardo on Google Books
17. United States Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 92nd Congress First Session December 7, 1971 p. 45269 Guy Lombardo on Google Books
18. Auld Lang Syne: Guy Lombardo. CBC Radio December 31, 2015 Biography of Guy Lombardo on the Canadian Broadcasting Company CBC on cbc.ca
19. "Auld Lang Syne: Guy Lombardo". Rewind with Michael Enright. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. December 31, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
20. I'm An American - INS's Foray into Radio Broadcasting - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on uscis.gov
21. Ellis Island Nation: Immigration policy and American Identity in the Twentieth Century. Fleegler, Robert L. University of Pennsylvania Press 2013 p. ISBN 9780812245097 Guy Lombardo I'm An Amerian Radio show on Google Books
22. Guy Lomardo's quote from the "I'm An American" radio program on National public radio at npr.org
23. Ellis Island Nation: Immigration policy and American Identity in the Twentieth Century. Fleegler, Robert L. University of Pennsylvania Press 2013 p. ISBN 9780812245097 Guy Lombardo I'm An Amerian Radio show on Google Books
24. Kirby, Walter (June 14, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. The Decatur Daily Review. p. 54. Retrieved July 1, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
25. Spoonts, Lucille (April 17, 1934). "Lombardo Brothers Agree on Two Things — Fishing and Music; Dynamos of Energy". The Amarillo Globe-Times. Texas, Amarillo. The Amarillo Globe-Times. p. 7. Retrieved February 11, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
26. Jones Beach: An Illustrated History. Hanc, John. Globe Pequot, 2 March 2010, Chapter 7; The Guy Who Loved The Beach pp127-131 ISBN 9781461747949 Guy Lombardo Jones Beach Theater on Google Books.com
27. Jones Beach. Theodosiou, Constantine E. Arcadia Publishing Inc., 30 April 2018 Chapter Five: A Slice of the Good Life ISBN 9781439664575 Guy Lombardo Jones Beach Theater on Google Books
28. "Theater: At Jones Beach; Lombardo Back with 'Around the World'" The New York Times June 29, 1964 p. 33 on nytimes.com
29. The Lombardo Story. Cline, Beverly Fink.Ebookit.com 10 July 2012 ISBN 9780986876318 Guy Lombardo Robert Moses Jones Beach Theater on Google Books
30. Jones Beach. Theodosiou, Constantine E. Arcadia Publishing Inc., 30 April 2018 Chapter Five: A Slice of the Good Life ISBN 9781439664575 Guy Lombardo Jones Beach Theater on Google Books
31. "Remembering When Jones Beach Brought Broadway to Long Island" Merritt, Jim. Newsday June 16, 2022 Guy Lombardo Jones Beach Theater on Newsday.com
32. The New York Times Obituary: Arnold Spector 74 a Producer; Directed Shows at Jones Beach April 16, 1981 Section B p. 12 on nytimes.com
33. "Remembering When Jones Beach Brought Broadway to Long Island" Merritt, Jim. Newsday June 16, 2022 Guy Lombardo Jones Becth Theater on Newsday.com
34. The New York Times: "Drydocked 'Fiddler" is Lombardo's New Flagship" July 3, 1974 p. 20 on nytimes.com
35. "Remembering When Jones Beach Brought Broadway to Long Island" Merritt, Jim. Newsday June 16, 2022 Guy Lombardo Jones Beach Theater on Newsday.com
36. The New York Times: "Drydocked 'Fiddler" is Lombardo's New Flagship" July 3, 1974 p. 20 on nytimes.com
37. The New York Times: "Drydocked 'Fiddler" is Lombardo's New Flagship" July 3, 1974 p. 20 on nytimes.com
38. Broward College Archives: "Jones Beach Stadium (Long Island, NY) Hit the Deck (1960-06-25 Playbill Collection on archives.broward.edu
39. The Lombardo Story. Cline, Beverly Fink.Ebookit.com 10 July 2012 ISBN 9780986876318 Guy Lombardo Robert Moses Jones Beach Theater on Google Books
40. The Lombardo Story. Cline, Beverly Fink.Ebookit.com 10 July 2012 ISBN 9780986876318 Guy Lombardo Robert Moses Jones Beach Theater on Google Books
41. The Lombardo Story. Cline, Beverly Fink.Ebookit.com 10 July 2012 ISBN 9780986876318 Guy Lombardo Robert Moses Jones Beach Theater on Google Books
42. Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century. Stacey, Lee & Henderson, Lol. Taylor and Francis Publishers. 27 January 2014, p. 379 ISBN 9781135929466 Guy Lombardo: the Sweetest Music This Side of heaven on Google Books
43. Bonnier Corporation (December 1959), Popular Science, Bonnier Corporation, pp. 94–, retrieved 22 August 2017
44. "Guy Lombardo Boats". Fiber Classics. 12 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-07-31. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
45. The Villanovan, April 29, 1967, page seven
46. United States Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 92nd Congress First Session December 7, 1971 p. 45269 Guy Lombardo on Google Books
47. "Guy Lombardo: Happy New Year". Canadian Postage Stamps. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
48. "Guy Lombardo New Year's Eve Party premieres in New York". Canadian Stamp News. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
49. "Guy Lombardo | Hollywood Walk of Fame". Walk of Fame. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
50. Wozniak, Mary (31 December 2012). "For Auld Lang Syne: Guy Lombardo's History Needs a Home". USA TODAY. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
51. . National Post, Toronto, Canada. October 29, 2007. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved 2009-10-23.
52. . The London Free Press. January 30, 2009. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012.
53. Maloney, Patrick (19 January 2015). "Legacy for sale". The London Free Press. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
54. "Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians Top Songs". MusicVF. musicVF.com. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
55. Hawtin, Steve; et al. "Guy Lombardo Chart Hits At TsorT.info". TsorT. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
56. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Joel Whitburn's Billboard Pop Hits Singles & Albums 1940-1954. Menomonee, Wisconsin: Record Research. ISBN 0-89820-152-7.
57. Edwards, David; Callahan, Mike; Eyries, Patrice; Watts, Randy; Neely, Tim. "Decca Album Discography, Part 6: Decca DL 9000-9190 (1950-1971)". bsnpubs.com. Both Sides Now Publications. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
58. Edwards, David; Callahan, Mike; Eyries, Patrice; Watts, Randy; Neely, Tim. "Decca Album Discography, Part 5, Main 12-inch Series: DL4000-5397 (1959-1972)". bsnpubs.com. Both Sides Now Publications. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
59. Edwards, David; Callahan, Mike; Eyries, Patrice; Watts, Randy; Neely, Tim. "Decca Album Discography, Part 4 Main 12-inch 8000 Series (1949-1960)". bsnpubs.com. Both Sides Now Publications. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
60. Edwards, Dave; Callahan, Mike; Eyries, Patrice; Watts, Randy; Neely, Tim. "Vocalion Album Discography". bsnpubs.com. Both Sides Now Publications. Retrieved 28 July 2015.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Guy Lombardo.

• Official website biography
• A Tribute to London's Most Famous Musical Son
• Guy Lombardo recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.
• "Guy Lombardo Documentary". YouTube. Sherway Academy of Music. February 8, 2018.