Frankie Carle

Frankie Carle (March 25, 1903–March 7, 2001) was an American pianist and bandleader. A very popular bandleader in the 1940s and 1950s, nicknamed "The Wizard of the Keyboard", Carle started out working with a number of mainstream dance bands. He received attention when he joined Horace Heidt's band, later becoming co-leader of the band. He left Heidt's band in 1944 to form his own. His daughter, Marjorie Hughes, was the lead female singer. Carle had several million-sellers in the 1940s and early 1950s, including his theme song, "Sunrise Serenade", and "Oh! What It Seemed To Be". He broke up his band after 1955 and he performed mainly as a soloist thereafter. Carle died in Mesa, Arizona in 2001.

Bibliography

Lagumina, Salvatore, et al (2000). The Italian American Experience. Westport: Greenwood Press.
Walker, Leo (1989). The Big Band Alamanac. Hollywood: Da Capo Press.