Wayne King
Encyclopedia
Wayne King was an American
musician, songwriter, singer and orchestral leader. He was sometimes referred to as "the Waltz King" because much of his most popular music involved waltzes; "The Waltz You Saved For Me" was his standard set closing song in live performance and on numerous radio broadcasts at the height of his career.
, King was an impressive athlete in high school, and briefly played professional football with the Canton Bulldogs
. He also attended Valparaiso University
in Indiana
for two years, but left to begin a career in music.
After playing saxophone for the Paul Whiteman
Orchestra, he created "Wayne King and Orchestra" in 1927. King's innovations included converting Carrie Jacobs-Bond
's "I Love You Truly" from its original 2/4 time over to 3/4.
The orchestra disbanded during World War II
, and King joined the army
, advancing to the rank of major. The orchestra was reestablished in 1946.
King's orchestra had a television show in Chicago
from 1949 to 1952. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
in the Radio category. His wife of 53 years, the retired silent film
actress Dorothy Janis
, died on March 10, 2010 at the age of 98.
In later years he operated a black angus
cattle farm and a car rental business. In early 1958 he appeared as a guest challenger on the TV panel show To Tell The Truth
.
He released a Christmas
album on Decca Records
, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, in 1963.
King's orchestra played its last engagement in March 1983 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
in Sarasota, Florida
. Wayne was honored in his hometown of Savanna, with a sign acknowledging that he was a resident of the town.
King died in July 1985 and his body was cremated after his death. His wife Dorothy Janis
kept his urn with her for the rest of her life until her death from natural causes at age 100 on March 10, 2010. When she was laid to rest in the All Saints Episcopal Church Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona his urn was placed into her casket by request when she was interred in March 2010.
Wayne King wrote a great song called, "Corn Silk".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician, songwriter, singer and orchestral leader. He was sometimes referred to as "the Waltz King" because much of his most popular music involved waltzes; "The Waltz You Saved For Me" was his standard set closing song in live performance and on numerous radio broadcasts at the height of his career.
Life and career
Born Harold Wayne King in Savanna, IllinoisSavanna, Illinois
Savanna is a city in Carroll County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,062 at the 2010 census, down from 3,542 at the 2000 census. Savanna is located along the Mississippi River at the mouth of the Plum River. Going from north to south, the second automobile bridge between Iowa and...
, King was an impressive athlete in high school, and briefly played professional football with the Canton Bulldogs
Canton Bulldogs
The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and its successor, the National Football League, from 1920 to 1923 and again from 1925 to 1926. The Bulldogs would go on to win the 1917, 1918...
. He also attended Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
for two years, but left to begin a career in music.
After playing saxophone for the Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman
Paul Samuel Whiteman was an American bandleader and orchestral director.Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz"...
Orchestra, he created "Wayne King and Orchestra" in 1927. King's innovations included converting Carrie Jacobs-Bond
Carrie Jacobs-Bond
Carrie Minetta Jacobs-Bond was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter who composed some 175 pieces of popular sheet music from the 1890s through the early 1940s....
's "I Love You Truly" from its original 2/4 time over to 3/4.
The orchestra disbanded during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and King joined the army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, advancing to the rank of major. The orchestra was reestablished in 1946.
King's orchestra had a television show in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
from 1949 to 1952. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
in the Radio category. His wife of 53 years, the retired silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
actress Dorothy Janis
Dorothy Janis
Dorothy Janis was an American silent film actress.-Early life:Born as Dorothy Penelope Jones in Dallas, Texas, her short film career began when she was visiting a cousin, who was working on a film for Fox Film Corporation in 1927. Her beauty was noticed at once and she was asked to make a screen...
, died on March 10, 2010 at the age of 98.
In later years he operated a black angus
Angus cattle
Angus cattle are a breed of cattle much used in beef production. They were developed from cattle native to the counties of Aberdeenshire and Angus in Scotland, and are known as Aberdeen Angus in most parts of the world....
cattle farm and a car rental business. In early 1958 he appeared as a guest challenger on the TV panel show To Tell The Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
.
He released a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
album on Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, in 1963.
King's orchestra played its last engagement in March 1983 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is a theater in Sarasota, Florida.The 1,736 seat hall's 1968-69 construction was partly funded by a bequest from local residents Lewis and Eugenia Van Wezel....
in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
. Wayne was honored in his hometown of Savanna, with a sign acknowledging that he was a resident of the town.
King died in July 1985 and his body was cremated after his death. His wife Dorothy Janis
Dorothy Janis
Dorothy Janis was an American silent film actress.-Early life:Born as Dorothy Penelope Jones in Dallas, Texas, her short film career began when she was visiting a cousin, who was working on a film for Fox Film Corporation in 1927. Her beauty was noticed at once and she was asked to make a screen...
kept his urn with her for the rest of her life until her death from natural causes at age 100 on March 10, 2010. When she was laid to rest in the All Saints Episcopal Church Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona his urn was placed into her casket by request when she was interred in March 2010.
Recordings
- "Goodnight, SweetheartGoodnight, Sweetheart (1931 song)"Goodnight, Sweetheart" is a popular song of the 1930s and 1940s, and was written by the British song-writing team of Ray Noble, Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly, and performed by Rudy Vallée, Bing Crosby and Dean Martin, among others....
" (1931) - "Dream a Little Dream of Me" (1931) a #1 hit
- "Maria ElenaMaria Elena"María Elena" is a 1932 popular song written by Lorenzo Barcelata . It was published by Peer International Corporation of Mexico...
" (1941) a #2 hit - "All AloneAll Alone (1924 song)"All Alone" is a popular song.It was written by Irving Berlin. The song was published in 1924. The song has been recorded many times, becoming a standard; it was most popular in a 1962 recording by Frank Sinatra....
" (1946) - "Dancing With Tears in My EyesDancing with Tears in My Eyes-12" vinyl :* UK: Chrysalis - UVX 1* Germany: Chrysalis - 601 322-12" vinyl :* US: Chrysalis - 4V9 42783* Canada: Chrysalis - CS 42783-Cover versions:...
" (orchestral, 1952)
Wayne King wrote a great song called, "Corn Silk".
Trivia
- On an episode of Ricky Gervais' XFMXfmXfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
radio show a running joke was started due to King's name sounding like "Wanking".
Sources
- Stevens Orchestra Project website
- Songwriters Hall of Fame
- [ Allmusic]
- Big Band Library: WAYNE KING "Melody of Love"
- US Billboard Charts placement
External links
- Early RCA publicity photo of Wayne King and his band Enter "Wayne King" in "Find" function of browser; link to photo is near beginning of bio.
- Listen Wayne King, his life and music on Big Band Serenade #199, 49 minutes. Scroll down to show 199; direct download available.