Kaye, Sammy, 1910-1987

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Band leader Sammy Kaye (SK) was born as Sam William Zarnocay on March 13, 1910 in Rocky River, Ohio. He attended Ohio University (OU) on a track scholarship and played basketball and baseball. Originally a civil engineering major, he soon forgot a career in his field of study when he fell in love with music instead.

SK changed his name to Kaye around the time of his sophomore year because he found it difficult to get gigs with his given last name. SK began performing at dances on OU campus, and soon rented the basement of Logan's Book Store (Follett's Books as of 2010) to use as a dance hall. Already a favorite among his classmates at OU, he went on to play his first radio performance in 1936. "Swing and Sway" became a household term used in reference to the increasingly popular SK. A popular gimmick SK used at his shows was his "So You Want To Lead A Band," where contestants from his audience could step up on the stage and lead the band, which would try to follow the contestant's baton motions.

On December 7, 1941, his radio broadcast was interrupted by news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Saddened and angered by the attack, he went straight home and wrote "Remember Pearl Harbor," which became an instant hit. SK played throughout the fifties, sixties, and seventies; his Swing and Sway sound never losing its fan base. In the early 1980s SK was asked if he planned to retire soon. His reply was "Hell no, this is my life." SK died of cancer in 1987.

From the guide to the Sammy Kaye Collection, 1930-1980, (Ohio University)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn John Eldon Thayer collection of motion picture memorabilia, 1916-1979. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Green, Bill, 1907-1988. Bill Green audio tapes 1972-1973 [sound recording] Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, Heinz History Center Detre Library and Archives
creatorOf Kaye, Sammy, 1910-1987. Sammy Kaye collection 1930-1980. Ohio University, Alden Library
referencedIn Phyllis Merrill papers, 1933-1956 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Green, Bill, 1907-1988. Bill Green photographs 1930-1989 [photographs] Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, Heinz History Center Detre Library and Archives
creatorOf Sammy Kaye Collection, 1930-1980 Ohio University
referencedIn Green, Bill, 1907-1988. Bill Green papers 1930-1989 [manuscript] Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, Heinz History Center Detre Library and Archives
referencedIn Irving Berlin collection of non-commercial sound recordings [sound recording] The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989 person
associatedWith Green, Bill, 1907-1988. person
associatedWith Merrill, Phyllis, 1908- person
associatedWith Ohio University corporateBody
associatedWith Sammy Kaye Orchestra corporateBody
associatedWith Thayer, John Eldon, 1899-1980 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
Bandmasters
Band musicians
Big band music
Big band music
Dance orchestra music
Popular music
Sammy Kaye Orchestra
Swing (Music)
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1910-03-13

Death 1987-06-02

Americans

Information

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