- Jack Fina
Jack Fina (
August 13 1913 –May 14 1970 ) was abandleader ,songwriter , andpianist .Known as "The Ten Most Talented Fingers On Radio"Fact|date=February 2007, Fina was born in
Passaic, New Jersey , and educated at theNew York College of Music and was a student of August Fraemcke and Elsa Nicilini. He started out playing piano inClyde McCoy 's band sometime in the 1930s, but it wasn't until he joinedFreddie Martin ’s band in 1936 that he gained real fame, when he was featured on Martin’s famous recording of "Tonight We Love ".After leaving Martin in 1946, Fina formed his own 16-piece band and his first appearance was at the Claremont Hotel. The vocals were handled by
Harry Prime andGil Lewis . With good air time and good recordings, Fina became a national figure. Because of this, Fina appeared at some of the top venues in the country, including theWaldorf-Astoria theAragon Ballroom and the famous illegal gambling casino/night club in Galveston, theBalinese Room . He also appeared in several films, including "Melody Time " (sequence "Bumble Boogie""Disney A to Z : The updated official Encyclopedia", Dave Smith p 81] , 1948) and "Disc Jockey " (1951). A noted songwriter, his credits included "Dream Sonata " (his theme song), "Chango " and "Piano Portraits ".In the 1950s, he reduced the size of his band and settled in
San Francisco . He also operated atalent agency called theConcerto Music & Entertainment Agency with his managerAl King . In the early 1960s, Fina led a small band at theBeverly Hills Hotel , where he remained for a successful eight years. It was also around the same time that he appeared, as a single, onDick Sinclair ’s television show.Fina died aged 56, from a heart attack during an engagement at the Beverly Hills Hotel,
Sherman Oaks, California . He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery,Hollywood Hills .External links
*
References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.