Songwriters Hall of Fame

Bandleader Sammy Kaye was perhaps the most successful of the ‘sweet’ dance bands in the 1930’s and 40’s with the slogan ‘Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye.’

Born in Rocky River, Ohio on March 13, 1910, Kaye organized his first dance band while attending college at Ohio University. The band began touring throughout the US and appeared on radio in the first broadcast of So You Want to Lead a Band.

As conductor, clarinetist and saxman, the James featured many of the top musicians and vocalists in his orchestra including the Three Barons, Charlie Wilson, Tommy Ryan, Jimmy Brown, Clyde Burke, Arthur Wright, Allan Foster, Elaine Beatty, Don Cornell, Nancy Norman, Tony Alamo and Laura Leslie.

Among the over 100 top twenty recordings are the #1 hits ‘Rosalie’ (1937), ‘Love Walked In’ (1938), ‘Dream Valley’ (1940), ‘Daddy’ (1941), ‘Chickery Chick’ (1945), ‘I’m a Big Girl Now’ (1946), ‘The Old Lamp-Lighter’ (1946) and ‘Harbor Lights’ (1950).