Guy Lombardo

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Guy Lombardo, photographed by William P. Gottlieb, 1947

Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 – November 5, 1977) was an American bandleader and violinist from Canada. With his three brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown of London, Ontario, he formed the big band The Royal Canadians in 1924, famous for playing what is considered "The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven."

The band played at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City from 1929 to 1959, and their New Year's Eve broadcasts (which continued until 1976 at the Waldorf Astoria) were a major part of New Year's celebrations across North America. In 1938, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. They were noted for playing the traditional song "Auld Lang Syne" as part of the celebrations. Their recording of the song still plays as the first song of the new year in Times Square.

The Lombardos are believed to have sold more than 300 million phonograph albums during their lifetimes, a considerable feat given that many homes had no record players in the 1920s and 1930s.

Although Lombardo is not considered by most to have been a top tier musician, Louis Armstrong famously enjoyed Lombardo's music. When questioned about this, Armstrong quipped "The man gets the melody right."

Other pursuits

Guy Lombardo was also an important figure in hydroplane racing, winning the Gold Cup in 1946 and the Ford Memorial competition in 1948. A museum in London is dedicated to his musical and hydroplane racing achievements.

In his later years, Lombardo lived in Freeport, Long Island, New York, where he kept his boat, Tempo IV. He also invested in a nearby seafood restaurant (or clam shack) originally called Liota's East Point House. It was soon Guy Lombardo's East Point House. Lombardo later became an earlier promoter and musical director of Jones Beach Marine Theater, which is a still-popular concert venue south of Freeport sponsored by Nikon.

Tributes

The Guy Lombardo Museum is located near Wonderland Gardens, a venue closely associated with Lombardo and the Royal Canadians. (Wonderland Gardens was destroyed by a fire in August 2005.) Nearby there is also a bridge named after him, as well as Lombardo Avenue in north London near the University of Western Ontario.

The portion of Grove Street in Freeport south of Sunrise Highway is known as Guy Lombardo Avenue. The birth home of Guy Lombardo stands in London, Ontario, at 202 Simcoe Street.

External links

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