Kenny Sargent
Encyclopedia
Kenny Sargent was an American saxophone player, singer and disc jockey.
Sargent was the Casa Loma Orchestra's
primary vocalist. He also played the saxophone with the band. He left the orchestra band in 1943 to begin a career as a disc jockey. He was a well known radio personality in the Dallas
, Texas
area at radio stations KLIF
and WRR in the 1950s and 1960s.
During the early 1960s, Mr. Sargent had an all-night radio program in Dallas that was sponsored by American Airlines. He would sign on every evening with the muted sound of an airliner's engines winding up and taking off into the night, followed by his verbal signature "American Airlines greets you with 'Music . . .[and there would be a long pause] . . . 'til Dawn". Then the theme song "That's All" would come on in the background while he made some introductory remarks. Frequently, and often early in the program, he would respond to a "request" to spin the recording of the great rendition of "For You" that he recorded with Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra. "I would gather stars/Out of the blue/For you, for you./I'd make a string of pearls/Out of the dew/For you, for you . . ." And that last "you" would rise up and seemingly go over the top of a high mountain before settling gently back down on pitch. He had a smooth, high-ranging singing voice, and a very soothing speaking voice that was easy to fall asleep listening to.
Back in the late 1930s and early 40s during his Casa Loma Orchestra days he recorded many well known ballads. One, in particular was "Talk of the Town" which was very high on the National charts and Kenny was the singer associated with it by all. Another popular song associated with him was "City called Heaven" .
Sargent was the Casa Loma Orchestra's
Casa Loma Orchestra
The Casa Loma Orchestra was a popular American dance band active from 1927 to 1963. From 1929 until the rapid multiplication in the number of swing bands from 1935 on, the Casa Loma Orchestra was one of the top North American dance bands...
primary vocalist. He also played the saxophone with the band. He left the orchestra band in 1943 to begin a career as a disc jockey. He was a well known radio personality in the Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
area at radio stations KLIF
KLIF
KLIF is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Dallas, Texas, USA. The station is owned by Cumulus Media. KLIF broadcasts a conservative-leaning news/talk radio format to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.-Call sign history:...
and WRR in the 1950s and 1960s.
During the early 1960s, Mr. Sargent had an all-night radio program in Dallas that was sponsored by American Airlines. He would sign on every evening with the muted sound of an airliner's engines winding up and taking off into the night, followed by his verbal signature "American Airlines greets you with 'Music . . .[and there would be a long pause] . . . 'til Dawn". Then the theme song "That's All" would come on in the background while he made some introductory remarks. Frequently, and often early in the program, he would respond to a "request" to spin the recording of the great rendition of "For You" that he recorded with Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra. "I would gather stars/Out of the blue/For you, for you./I'd make a string of pearls/Out of the dew/For you, for you . . ." And that last "you" would rise up and seemingly go over the top of a high mountain before settling gently back down on pitch. He had a smooth, high-ranging singing voice, and a very soothing speaking voice that was easy to fall asleep listening to.
Back in the late 1930s and early 40s during his Casa Loma Orchestra days he recorded many well known ballads. One, in particular was "Talk of the Town" which was very high on the National charts and Kenny was the singer associated with it by all. Another popular song associated with him was "City called Heaven" .