Buddy Moreno
American musician and television personality
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carlos Jesus "Buddy" Moreno (July 14, 1912 – November 29, 2015) was an American musician during the swing era and radio and television personality.
July 14, 1912
Buddy Moreno | |
|---|---|
| Born | Carlos Jesus Moreno July 14, 1912 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 29, 2015 (aged 103) Florissant, Missouri, U.S. |
| Occupations | Singer, bandleader, radio and television personality |
| Years active | 1929–69; 1996–? |
In his book, The Big Bands, jazz writer George T. Simon described Moreno as "a grinning, seemingly ever-joyous guitarist ... who on novelty and uptempoed [sic] tunes projected a pleasant personality and voice to match."[1]
Biography
Early life
Moreno was born in Los Angeles, California, as the only child to a Spanish father and an Irish mother.[2] He was reported to be a cousin of actress Rita Moreno.[3] He attended the University of California before leaving to join the orchestra of Anson Weeks.[4]
Career
Moreno's career began in 1929 when he sang in a vocal group. His big breakthrough came in 1933 when he joined Griff Williams's band in San Francisco as a singer and guitar player. Later he became a part of popular bandleader Dick Jurgens' orchestra. Moreno and Jurgens recorded many songs through the label Okeh Records, charting the number one hit "One Dozen Roses" in 1942.[citation needed] Moreno changed band once more, in 1943, when he joined Harry James' band.
Moreno appeared in the films Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)[4] and Bathing Beauty (1944) along with the rest of the band.[5] He formed his own band in 1947 with his wife, singer Perri Mitchell and others.[6] Beginning June 30, 1958, he had a local television program, The Buddy Moreno Show, on KMOX-TV in St. Louis, Missouri.[7]
Moreno relocated to St. Louis in the 1950s,[8] when his band was selected to be the house band in The Chase Park Plaza Hotel's Chase Club, which led to a national radio program, Saturdays at the Chase.[9] As he approached his 60s, he switched to radio and worked for the local stations WIL-FM, WEW and WSIE.[10] In the 1960s, he traveled with Bob Hope to entertain American military personnel around the world.[3]
Personal life and death
In 1950, Moreno wed Perri Mitchell, whom he had hired as a singer for his band in 1947. They were married until her death in 1998.[9]
Moreno died at a Florissant, Missouri, assisted-living facility on November 29, 2015, at the age of 103.[11] He was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.[9]
