Jack Fina
Encyclopedia
Jack Fina was a bandleader
, songwriter
, and pianist
.
Known as "The Ten Most Talented Fingers On Radio", Fina was born in Passaic, New Jersey
, and educated at the New York College of Music and was a student of August Fraemcke and Elsa Nicilini. He started out playing piano in Clyde McCoy
's band sometime in the 1930s, but it wasn't until he joined Freddie 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
and Gil 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 the Waldorf-Astoria the Aragon Ballroom
and the famous illegal gambling casino/night club in Galveston, the Balinese Room
. He also appeared in several films, including Melody Time
(sequence Bumble Boogie, 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 a talent agency called the Concerto Music & Entertainment Agency with his manager Al King. In the early 1960s, Fina led a small band at the Beverly Hills Hotel
, where he remained for a successful eight years. It was also around the same time that he appeared, as a single, on Dick 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
.
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Known as "The Ten Most Talented Fingers On Radio", Fina was born in Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781, maintaining its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey with an increase of 1,920 residents from the 2000 Census population of 67,861...
, and educated at the New York College of Music and was a student of August Fraemcke and Elsa Nicilini. He started out playing piano in Clyde McCoy
Clyde McCoy
Clyde McCoy , was a jazz trumpet player whose popularity spanned seven decades. He is best remembered for his theme song, "Sugar Blues", written by Clarence Williams and Lucy Fletcher...
's band sometime in the 1930s, but it wasn't until he joined Freddie 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
Harry Prime
Harry Prime is a Big Band vocalist who performed from the late forties through the mid-fifties.Prime was a featured vocalist with the orchestras of Randy Brooks, Tommy Dorsey, Jack Fina and Ralph Flanagan.-External links:*...
and Gil 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 the Waldorf-Astoria the Aragon Ballroom
Aragon Ballroom (Chicago)
The Aragon Ballroom is the name of a ballroom in Chicago, Illinois.Located on West Lawrence Avenue approximately five miles north of downtown in the Uptown neighborhood, it was built in 1926 and designed in the Moorish architectural style with the interior resembling a Spanish village and named...
and the famous illegal gambling casino/night club in Galveston, the Balinese Room
Balinese Room
The Balinese Room was a well-known nightclub in Galveston, Texas, United States built on a pier stretching 600 feet from the Galveston Seawall over the waters of the Gulf of Mexico...
. He also appeared in several films, including Melody Time
Melody Time
Melody Time is a 1948 animated feature produced by Walt Disney and released to theatres by RKO Radio Pictures on May 27, 1948. Made up of several sequences set to popular music and folk music, the film is, like Make Mine Music before it, the popular music version of Fantasia Melody Time is a 1948...
(sequence Bumble Boogie, 1948) and Disc Jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
(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 a talent agency called the Concerto Music & Entertainment Agency with his manager Al King. In the early 1960s, Fina led a small band at the Beverly Hills Hotel
Beverly Hills Hotel
The Beverly Hills Hotel is a hotel on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. It was opened on May 12, 1912 by Margaret J. Anderson and her son, Stanley S. Anderson, who had been managing the Hollywood Hotel. The original main building of The Beverly Hills Hotel was designed by Pasadena...
, where he remained for a successful eight years. It was also around the same time that he appeared, as a single, on Dick Sinclair’s television show.
Fina died aged 56, from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
during an engagement at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Sherman Oaks, California. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Hollywood Hills
Hollywood Hills
The Hollywood Hills is an affluent and exclusive neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, in the southeastern Santa Monica Mountains. It is bound by Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west, Vermont Avenue to the east, Mulholland Drive to the north, and Sunset Boulevard to the south.-Hollywood Hills...
.