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Vincent Lopez
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vincent Lopez (30 December 1895 – 20 September 1975) was a United States bandleader and pianist.
Vincent Lopez was born of Portuguese immigrant parents in Brooklyn, New York[1] and was leading his own dance band in New York City by 1917. In 1921 his band began broadcasting on the new medium of entertainment radio, which boosted the popularity of both himself and of radio. He became one of the USA's most popular band leaders, and would retain that status through the 1940s.
His theme song was "Nola", a novelty ragtime piece by Felix Arndt from the 1910s. He began his radio programs by announcing "Lopez speaking!".
In the early 1950s, Lopez hosted a radio program called Shake the Maracas in which audience members competed for small prizes by playing maracas with the orchestra.
Noted musicians who played in his band included Artie Shaw, Xavier Cugat, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Mike Mosiello and Glenn Miller. He also featured singers Keller Sisters and Lynch, Betty Hutton and Marion Hutton.
Lopez's flamboyant style of piano playing influenced such later musicians Eddy Duchin and Liberace.
In 1941 Lopez's Orchestra began a residency at the Taft Hotel in Manhattan that would last 20 years.
Vincent Lopez died in Miami Beach, Florida.
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