Wayne King facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wayne King
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King in 1931.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Harold Wayne King |
| Born | February 16, 1901 Savanna, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | July 16, 1985 (aged 84) Paradise Valley, Arizona, U.S. |
| Genres | Big band |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader |
| Instruments | Alto saxophone |
| Years active | 1927–1983 |
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Harold Wayne King (born February 16, 1901 – died July 16, 1985) was an American musician. He was also a songwriter and a bandleader. King worked a lot with both NBC and CBS radio and TV networks.
People called him "the Waltz King." This was because many of his most popular songs were waltzes. A waltz is a type of dance music. His song "The Waltz You Saved for Me" was his special closing song. He played it at live concerts and on many radio shows. Wayne King even changed a song called "I Love You Truly" to a waltz rhythm.
Early Life
Harold Wayne King was born in Savanna, Illinois. His parents were Harvey and Ida King. His father worked for the railroad. This meant he traveled often.
In 1908, King's mother passed away. He and his brothers lived in an orphanage for a short time. This orphanage was in Davenport, Iowa. In 1911, he moved back to Savanna. He lived with his aunt and uncle.
At Savanna Township High School, he was a great athlete. He was the quarterback and captain of the football team. He finished high school in 1920. For a short time, he even played professional football. He played with the Canton Bulldogs. As a teenager, he also started learning to play the saxophone. King went to Valparaiso University in Indiana for two years. But he left college to start his music career.
Music Career
Wayne King played the alto saxophone for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. Then, in 1927, he started his own group. It was called "Wayne King and His Orchestra." His band opened the new Aragon Ballroom in Chicago in 1927. They played there for many years.
He began recording music for RCA and Victor Records in 1929. His orchestra became very famous later on. They were featured on "The Lady Esther Serenade." This was a national radio show. It was sponsored by Lady Esther cosmetics. The show ran from 1931 to 1937.
During World War II, King's orchestra stopped playing. Wayne King joined the army. He became a major. After the war, the orchestra started up again in 1946. In 1948, a half-hour radio show called Wayne King Show was created. It was sent to radio stations using special recordings.
King's orchestra also had a television show. It was in Chicago from 1949 to 1952. Many Midwest NBC Television stations showed it. In 1958, he appeared on a TV game show. It was called To Tell The Truth. In 1960, Wayne King received a star. It was on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his radio work.
King's orchestra played its very last show in March 1983. This was at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Florida.
Personal Life
Wayne King passed away in July 1985. He died in Paradise Valley, Arizona. His wife was Dorothy Jones King. She was a silent film actress. They were married for 53 years. After he died, she kept his ashes with her. Dorothy died on March 10, 2010. She was 98 years old. They had two children. Their names were Wayne King II and Penelope King Pape.
In 2004, King was honored in his hometown of Savanna. A sign was put up to show he lived there.
Famous Recordings
- "Goodnight, Sweetheart" (1931)
- "Dream a Little Dream of Me" (1931) – This was a number one hit song!
- "Maria Elena" (1941) – This was a number two hit song!
- "All Alone" (1946)
- "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" (orchestral, 1952)
- "Isle of Golden Dreams" (1957)
- "Golden Favorites" (1962)
- "Cecilia" (1965)
