He spent World War II playing with altoist Paul Desmond in an Army band.

[3] While Rugolo continued to work occasionally with Kenton in the 1950s, he spent more time creating arrangements for pop and jazz vocalists, most extensively with former Kenton singer June Christy on such albums as Something Cool,[2] The Misty Miss Christy, Fair and Warmer!, Gone for the Day, and The Song Is June!

During this period, he worked on film musicals at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and in the late 1950s he served as an A&R director for Mercury Records.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Rugolo did a great deal of work in television, contributing music to a number of series including Leave It to Beaver, Thriller, The Investigators, The Thin Man, Checkmate, The Fugitive, Run for Your Life, Felony Squad, The Bold Ones: The Lawyers, Alias Smith and Jones, and Family.

[1] With Nat King Cole With June Christy With Robert Clary With Buddy Collette With The Diamonds With Vernon Duke With Billy Eckstein With The Four Freshmen With Paul Horn With Stan Kenton With Ruth Olay With Patti Page