Snooky Lanson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Snooky Lanson
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Lanson circa 1940s
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| Born |
Roy Landman
March 27, 1914 Memphis, Tennessee
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| Died | July 2, 1990 (aged 76) New York City
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| Occupation | Vocalist |
Roy Landman (born March 27, 1914 – died July 2, 1990) was an American singer. Most people knew him as Snooky Lanson. He became famous for being a co-star on the NBC TV show Your Hit Parade.
About Snooky Lanson
Early Life and Music Career
Snooky Lanson was born in Memphis, Tennessee. In the late 1930s, he started his career as a singer for Francis Craig's dance band. He became more well-known when the famous bandleader Ray Noble hired him. Snooky Lanson appeared with Noble in three short musical films called Soundies in 1941. He also made more Soundies by himself in 1944.
On the radio, Snooky Lanson was featured on shows like Appointment with Music and Sunday Night Serenade.
Becoming a TV Star
In 1950, Snooky Lanson joined the popular NBC radio show Your Hit Parade. He took over from Frank Sinatra. When Your Hit Parade started on television in July 1950, Snooky Lanson became one of America's first TV stars. He stayed with the show until 1957.
A floor manager for the show, Fred Rogers (who later became Mister Rogers), said that Snooky Lanson would sometimes play games behind the set with the stagehands until it was his turn to sing.
In 1956, Snooky Lanson also had his own variety show on NBC-TV called The Snooky Lanson Show.
Later Career and Life
After Your Hit Parade ended, Snooky Lanson continued to perform. He sang in nightclubs and appeared on local TV shows in places like Atlanta and Shreveport, Louisiana. In 1958, he was a guest star on The Gisele MacKenzie Show. Gisele MacKenzie had been his co-star on Your Hit Parade.
In 1961, he was one of five hosts who took turns on the NBC-TV program Five Star Jubilee. Later, from 1967, he lived in Nashville. There, he sang at special events and had a radio show that played big-band music. He also worked selling cars.
In 1983, Snooky Lanson reunited with some of his Your Hit Parade co-stars. They appeared together on the TV game show Family Feud for a special "TV's All-Time Favorites" week.
Snooky Lanson passed away in 1990 in New York City at the age of 76. He was survived by his wife, Florence, and his children and grandchildren.
