When he was hired to be the musical director for the television series, Your Hit Parade, for its 1957–58 season,[1] he replaced most of the existing studio orchestra members with his own choices including Dick Hyman, Don Lamond, Al Caiola and Jerome Richardson.
In 1953, he produced a number of acts, including the McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer, and by 1958 had a hit single, the theme tune from the movie Kathy-O.
[2] According to The Ultimate Book of Songs and Artists, by Joel Whitburn, Jacobs's biggest hits were "Main Title" and "Molly-O" (1956), "Petticoats of Portugal" (1956), and "Fascination" (1957).
Jacobs brought a lush instrumental orchestral sound to a number of rock and roll songs in the late 1950s, notably those for Buddy Holly and Cirino Colacrai and his vocal quartet, the Bowties.
[1] Jacobs did arrangements for jazz and popular singers and musicians, ranging from Cab Calloway, Teresa Brewer and Xavier Cugat to Buddy Holly and Jackie Wilson.