Dick Mango was an American Bandleader and saxophonist, originally from Detroit. He led a well-known territory band

Territory band

Territory bands were dance bands that crisscrossed specific regions of the United States from the 1920s through the 1960s. Beginning in the 1920s, the bands typically had 8 to 12 musicians. These bands typically played one-nighters, 6 or 7 nights a week at venues like VFW halls, Elks Lodges,...

 — The Dick Mango Orchestra — that was booked out of Omaha in the 1950s. In the mid-1940s, he served in the US Army as a saxophonist and arranger.

Early years

Mango began his professional career at age 16. His family had moved to Detroit from Vandergrift, Pennsylvania

Vandergrift, Pennsylvania

Mosher shows how Vandergrift was representative of the new industrial suburbs of Pittsburgh. Caught up in a dramatic round of industrial restructuring and labor tension, Pittsburgh steelmaker George McMurtry hired Frederick Law Olmsted's landscape architectural firm in 1895 to design Vandergrift...

, where he received his early musical training from his parents, both of whom were music teachers. Before moving, he had attended Vandergrift High School in 1927-28 as a Freshman. His first full-time job was with a traveling dance band, I. Fiscus and the Kiski Valley

Kiskiminetas River

The Kiskiminetas River is a tributary of the Allegheny River, approximately long, in Western Pennsylvania in the United States...

 Blue Ribbon Boys, a popular east coast attraction. He later played with Phil Brestoff, conductor of the Michigan Theater house band, Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman

Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...

, Artie Shaw

Artie Shaw

Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....

, Johnny Long

Johnny Long (musician)

Johnny Long was an American violinist and bandleader, known as "The Man Who's Long on Music". He was raised on a farm in Newell, North Carolina, currently a subdivision of Charlotte. He started practicing with the violin at the age of six, but injured two fingers on his left hand when he was...

, and Ted Lewis

Ted Lewis (musician)

Theodore Leopold Friedman, better known as Ted Lewis , was an American entertainer, bandleader, singer, and musician. He led a band presenting a combination of jazz, hokey comedy, and schmaltzy sentimentality that was a hit with the American public. He was known by the moniker "Mr...

. He has appeared in two films with the Lewis band: "Three Cheers for the Boys" and "Is Everybody Happy?

Is Everybody Happy? (1943 film)

Is Everybody Happy? is an American black and white musical film.The taglines for the film were: "18 of the grand songs made famous by the High-Hatted Tragedian of Song'", "A FAST-STEPPING MUSICAL JAMBOREE!", "GET HAPPY! - Here comes the sweetest show in town!" and "IT'S GAY IN A GREAT BIG WAY!".-...

" During his tenure in the military, he organized dance bands and entertained the GIs. Upon his return from the service, he bagan his own band.

Selected compositions and arrangements

• You're the Answer, William S. Mango (Dick's brother) & Richard J. Mango © Sept 14, 1944 (41433)

Former members of the Dick Mango Orchestra

• Bob Olsen – trumpet
• Herbie Phillips – trumpet