Henry King (February 8, 1906 – August 8, 1974) was an American orchestra leader and pianist who achieved significant success as a recording artist, hotel bandleader, and as leader of radio orchestras. He was most popular in the 1930s and 1940s. Today he is remembered as the orchestra leader of the Burns and Allen radio program.
Henry King was born in February 8, 1906 in New York.[1][2] He initially intended to be a classical concert pianist,[3] having studied under Walter Damrosch for six years.[4] Finding pop music to be more lucrative, he organized his first band in the early 1930s.[3] The band was a society band, not a jazz band, and as the band became successful it found engagement at the most prestigious hotels.[5]
Over his career, King believed his band to have broadcast more than 5000 remotes.[6] His theme was the Mitchell Parish-Frank Signorelli composition, "A Blues Serenade".[1] King became the band leader of the Burns and AllenCampbell's Tomato Juice program Adventures of Gracie in 1936, and his first appearance was on September 2 that year.[7] During this time period, he resided in San Francisco, but traveled to Hollywood on the day of the broadcast.[7] He married Baltimore resident Vilma Lewis in January 1937 in the very early hours of the morning, given special dispensation as their careers interfered with a marriage during normal hours.[8] This event was incorporated into the January 20, 1937, Burns and Allen program.[7] When Burns and Allen left CBS for NBC and a new show sponsored by Grape Nuts at the end of March 1937, King did not follow them on radio, but took on an extended appointment at the Palmer House in Chicago instead.[7] Later in his career, he modified his style to focus on Latin American-influenced music, becoming an early-adopter of rhumba and samba rhythms.[5][4] In 1940, he was living in New York City on West 92nd Street.[9]
King died in Houston, Texas,[3] on August 8, 1974, following a lengthy period of poor health.[6]
King was reviewed as a superior emcee, presenting acts in a low-key manner that best suited his style.[10]
^ abStudwell, William Emmett; Baldin, Mark (2000). The Big Band Reader: Songs Favored by Swing Era Orchestras and Other Popular Ensembles. Psychology Press. p. 211. ISBN9780789009142.
^"THEMES OF THE BIG BANDS: Drifting and Dreaming - NaxosDirect". naxosdirect.co.uk. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
^ abcLee, William F. (2005). American Big Bands. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 162. ISBN9780634080548.
^ ab"Henry King's Band to Open Natatorium". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane, Washington. March 12, 1948. p. 12.
^ abcdefLiebman, Roy (January 8, 2009). Musical Groups in the Movies, 1929–1970. McFarland & Company. p. 87. ISBN978-0-7864-3484-8.
^ ab"Maestro Henry King Dies at 68". Billboard. August 17, 1974. p. 16.
^ abcdClements, Cynthia; Weber, Sandra (1996). George Burns and Gracie Allen – A Bio-Bibliography. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 135–137. ISBN0-313-26883-5.
^"Night Marriages Scored by Court". New York Times. January 8, 1937. p. 21.
^"Orchestra Leader Rents Apartment". New York Times. February 1, 1940. p. 43.
^ "Reviews:Night Clubs-Vaudevill: Biltmore Bowl, Los Angeles". Billboard. July 17, 1943. p. 17.
henry, king, musician, henry, king, february, 1906, august, 1974, american, orchestra, leader, pianist, achieved, significant, success, recording, artist, hotel, bandleader, leader, radio, orchestras, most, popular, 1930s, 1940s, today, remembered, orchestra, . Henry King February 8 1906 August 8 1974 was an American orchestra leader and pianist who achieved significant success as a recording artist hotel bandleader and as leader of radio orchestras He was most popular in the 1930s and 1940s Today he is remembered as the orchestra leader of the Burns and Allen radio program Henry KingKing in The Yanks Are Coming 1942 Born 1906 02 08 February 8 1906New York U S DiedAugust 8 1974 1974 08 08 aged 68 Houston Texas U S OccupationsOrchestra leader pianist Radio personality actorYears active1933 1950SpouseVilma Lewis m 1937 wbr Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Selected discography 2 Filmography 3 References 4 External linksBiography editHenry King was born in February 8 1906 in New York 1 2 He initially intended to be a classical concert pianist 3 having studied under Walter Damrosch for six years 4 Finding pop music to be more lucrative he organized his first band in the early 1930s 3 The band was a society band not a jazz band and as the band became successful it found engagement at the most prestigious hotels 5 Over his career King believed his band to have broadcast more than 5000 remotes 6 His theme was the Mitchell Parish Frank Signorelli composition A Blues Serenade 1 King became the band leader of the Burns and Allen Campbell s Tomato Juice program Adventures of Gracie in 1936 and his first appearance was on September 2 that year 7 During this time period he resided in San Francisco but traveled to Hollywood on the day of the broadcast 7 He married Baltimore resident Vilma Lewis in January 1937 in the very early hours of the morning given special dispensation as their careers interfered with a marriage during normal hours 8 This event was incorporated into the January 20 1937 Burns and Allen program 7 When Burns and Allen left CBS for NBC and a new show sponsored by Grape Nuts at the end of March 1937 King did not follow them on radio but took on an extended appointment at the Palmer House in Chicago instead 7 Later in his career he modified his style to focus on Latin American influenced music becoming an early adopter of rhumba and samba rhythms 5 4 In 1940 he was living in New York City on West 92nd Street 9 King died in Houston Texas 3 on August 8 1974 following a lengthy period of poor health 6 King was reviewed as a superior emcee presenting acts in a low key manner that best suited his style 10 Selected discography edit Year Title Peak chart positions Issued on1933 Speaking of Heaven Victor 24457 11 Don t You Remember Me Victor 24478 11 April in Paris Victor 24478 11 1934 You re a Builder Upper Columbia 2941 D 11 Fun to Be Fooled Columbia 2941 D 11 1935 Dancing With My Shadow Columbia 2992 D 11 So Close to the Forest Columbia 3010 D 11 Chasing Shadows Columbia 3048 D 11 1936 Would You Decca 760 11 I ve Got a Heavy Date Decca 760 11 A Fine Romance Decca 890 11 1938 A Garden in Grenada Decca 1767 11 1940 Palms of Paradise Decca 3072 11 1948 Baby Face 14 Decca 25356 11 Filmography edit1938 Sunset Murder Case citation needed 1942 The Yanks Are Coming 5 1943 Spotlight Scandals 5 1944 Sweethearts of the U S A 5 1945 Out of This World 5 References edit a b Studwell William Emmett Baldin Mark 2000 The Big Band Reader Songs Favored by Swing Era Orchestras and Other Popular Ensembles Psychology Press p 211 ISBN 9780789009142 THEMES OF THE BIG BANDS Drifting and Dreaming NaxosDirect naxosdirect co uk Retrieved September 19 2023 a b c Lee William F 2005 American Big Bands Hal Leonard Corporation p 162 ISBN 9780634080548 a b Henry King s Band to Open Natatorium Spokane Daily Chronicle Spokane Washington March 12 1948 p 12 a b c d e f Liebman Roy January 8 2009 Musical Groups in the Movies 1929 1970 McFarland amp Company p 87 ISBN 978 0 7864 3484 8 a b Maestro Henry King Dies at 68 Billboard August 17 1974 p 16 a b c d Clements Cynthia Weber Sandra 1996 George Burns and Gracie Allen A Bio Bibliography Westport Connecticut Greenwood Press pp 135 137 ISBN 0 313 26883 5 Night Marriages Scored by Court New York Times January 8 1937 p 21 Orchestra Leader Rents Apartment New York Times February 1 1940 p 43 Reviews Night Clubs Vaudevill Biltmore Bowl Los Angeles Billboard July 17 1943 p 17 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Whitburn Joel 1986 Pop Memories 1890 1954 Menomonee Falls Wisconsin Record Research Inc pp 256 257 ISBN 0 89820 083 0 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Henry King musician Henry King at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry King musician amp oldid 1178033908, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
