Artist:Sammy Kaye and his Orchestra f/Tony Alamo & The Kaydets
Song:Harbor Lights
Album:Yearning
Sammy Kaye topped the charts with the 1950 single Harbor Lights. It was his biggest hit and signature song. Kaye led one of the "sweet" big bands of the 40s. He was born Samuel Zarnocay Jr. Mar. 13, 1910 in Lakewood, OH. He got into music while attending Ohio University. Kaye played saxophone and clarinet but he was known mostly as a bandleader. He signed with Vocalion Records and the first single Swing and Sway reached #15 on the charts in 1937. He made that his catchphrase, Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye. When his third single Rosalie topped the charts, Kaye moved to RCA Victor and spent most of his career there. Among Kaye's #1 hits were Love Walked In (1938), Dream Valley (1940), Daddy (1941), Chickery Chick (1945), I'm a Big Girl Now (1946) and The Old Lamplighter (1946). Kaye's music has always been easy listening. He's not trying to be jazz. His main arranger for most of the 40s was Ralph Flanagan who arranged for other bands. He also had a vocal group The Kaydets. Singers included Don Cornell, Billy Williams, Tommy Ryan, Gary Willner, Barry Frank, Tony Russo and Nancy Norman. Kaye moved to Columbia in 1950 and Harbor Lights was the first single. It topped the charts. Tony Alamo is the singer. Frances Langford scored a hit with Harbor Lights in 1935. Kaye's version was the biggest hit. The timing was good because TV was just getting going. Kaye hosted his own TV show in the 50s. Sony owns Kaye's recordings but they license them to nostalgia labels like Jasmine who released this budget comp. Kaye continued to tour and record. He died on June 2, 1987 at age 77. Before his death, Kaye turned his band over to SUNY music professor Roger Thorpe and they continued to tour. Their website is kaput so I don't think they are active. Here's a video of Harbor Lights by Sammy Kaye and his Orchestra featuring Tony Alamo and The Kaydets.
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