| Birth: | Jun. 9, 1900 | | Death: | Jul. 29, 1984 | 
Bandleader. Born in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, Waring showed an early affinity for music, making his first stage appearance at the age of five. As a teenager Waring, his brother Tom, friends Freddie Buck, and Poley McClintock formed the Waring-McClintock Snap Orchestra. In college the quartet became known as Waring's Banjo Orchestra. The band became so popular that Waring decided to abandon his studies and tour with the band full-time. Throughout the 1920's Waring and the growing band, now called The Pennsylvanians, toured from coast to coast. They also starred in several movies including ‘Syncopation' and ‘Varsity Show.' Their recording of the waltz paced tune ‘Sleep' for Thomas Edison became their first theme song. They would make one of the first commercial electronic sound recordings with the company that would be called RCA. By the 1930's Waring and the Pennsylvanians, were a 55-piece orchestra. It was also during the 1930's that Waring helped refine the design for an electric blender. Waring blenders became an essential kitchen appliance. During WWII, Waring's band appeared at war bond rallies and entertained the troops at training camps. Waring composed and performed dozens of patriotic songs, his most famous being ‘My America.' Throughout the 1940s and early 1950s Waring and The Pennsylvaninans produced a string of hits, selling millions of records, and remained among the best known musical groups in the country. Waring expanded into television in 1949 with ‘The Fred Waring Show.' The program ran until 1955. In 1983, the 83-year-old Waring was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal the nation's highest honor for a civilian by then President Ronald Reagan. Waring died suddenly in 1984 at Penn State University just after completing videotaping a concert with his band. (bio by: Iola)
Search Amazon for Fred Waring | | | Burial:
Shawnee Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Shawnee on Delaware
Monroe County
Pennsylvania, USA |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Oct 29, 1998
Find A Grave Memorial# 3748 |
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