Robert Trendler (May 11, 1912 – July 18, 2011) was an American bandleader, songwriter, and musical director of the WGN Orchestra from 1956 till 1975.
He began playing the piano at age 6, and spent many childhood hours in radio stations, as his mother was the music director of Cincinnati's WLW.
Trendler's music arranging took him to New York City, where he worked with George Gershwin, Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington.
A job playing the piano at the Century of Progress exposition brought him to Chicago; a short time after arriving in the city, Trendler went to work for WGN Radio.
[3] He met his wife, Annette, at Chicago's La Salle Hotel; she was a member of a vocal trio, The Three Graces.