Ted Fio Rito

Theodore Salvatore Fiorito (December 20, 1900 – July 22, 1971),[1] known professionally as Ted Fio Rito, was an American composer, orchestra leader, and keyboardist, on both the piano and the Hammond organ, who was popular on national radio broadcasts in the 1920s and 1930s.

[4] He composed more than 100 songs, collaborating with such lyricists as Ernie Erdman, Gus Kahn, Sam Lewis, Cecil Mack, Albert Von Tilzer, and Joe Young.

[7] Dan Russo left the band in 1928, and Fio Rito took over as leader, touring the midwest with engagements in St. Louis, Kansas City and Cincinnati.

In Chicago, the band was heard on the Brunswick Brevities program, and they were the featured orchestra on NBC's Skelly Gasoline Show in New York.

They broadcast on many 1930s radio programs, including The Old Gold Hour, Hollywood Hotel, The Al Jolson Show, Frigidaire Frolics and Clara, Lu, and Em.

The Fio Rito Orchestra's vocalists included Jimmy Baxter, Candy Candido, the Debutantes, Betty Grable, June Haver, the Mahoney Sisters, Muzzy Marcellino, Joy Lane (1947–1951), Billy Murray ("the Denver Nightingale"), Maureen O’Connor, Patti Palmer (born Esther Calonico), Kay and Ward Swingle.

Reminiscing about bands from their youth, Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) and Ed Norton (Art Carney) recall, in addition to Fio Rito, Isham Jones, Basil Fomeen, Jack Little, and "Johnny Messner and his toy piano".

His Cocoanut Grove Ambassadors radio broadcast rendition of "This Is Romance" is sampled throughout the Post-Awareness stages of Everywhere At The End Of Time, most prominently in the track "Q1 - Long decline is over", with various sections from the second half of the song being used throughout the album.

Fio Rito on the air with Clara, Lu, and Em , 1936. He led his band while playing the piano.