Robert J. Sherwood Jr. (May 30, 1914 – January 23, 1981) was an American guitarist, trumpeter, bandleader, actor and radio host.

Early years

Sherwood's parents were Bob and Gail Sherwood. When they lived in Kokomo, Indiana, Bob operated a movie theater, and Gail "organized an orchestra which was among the first to play popular syncopated music." Bobby Sherwood began playing banjo with that group when he was 12 years old.

Career

When he was twenty-two, he replaced Eddie Lang as the guitarist for

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, comedian, entertainer and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwi ...

in 1933 and remained with Crosby until the early 1940s. He worked as a studio musician in Hollywood for

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

. Beginning on October 2, 1940, he was the bandleader for

Eddie Cantor Eddie Cantor (born Isidore Itzkowitz; January 31, 1892 – October 10, 1964) was an American comedian, actor, dancer, singer, songwriter, film producer, screenwriter and author. Cantor was one of the prominent entertainers of his era. Some of h ...

's radio program on NBC. During the same year, he was a regular on the ''Hillman Hour'' program on KFWB in Los Angeles, California. Sherwood married Dorothy Virginia Gumm, the sister of

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. Possessing a strong contralto voice, she was celebrated for her emotional depth and versatility across film, stage, and concert performance. ...

, and worked as a bandleader for Garland during sessions at

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis after his acquisition of a gramophone manufacturer, The Decca Gramophone Company. It set up an American subsidiary under the Decca name, which bec ...

. He started a big band that included Dave Pell and Kitty Kallen and signed with

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007), and simply known as Capitol, is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-base ...

. The band's first single, "The Elk's Parade", was a million seller. He dabbled in acting but led his big band through the 1940s. In the mid-1940s, he hosted the radio program ''Bobby Sherwood Orchestra'' on the

Mutual Broadcasting System The Mutual Broadcasting System (commonly referred to simply as Mutual; sometimes referred to as MBS, Mutual Radio or the Mutual Radio Network) was an American commercial radio network in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the Golden Age of Radio, ...

. In 1953, he had a daily early morning program on WJZ in New York City. For the latter part of his career, he worked as a disc jockey. In 1950, Sherwood was master of ceremonies on ''Variety Quiz'' (later titled ''Midnight Snack''), a late-night variety program on

WCBS-TV WCBS-TV (channel 2), branded CBS New York, is a television station in New York City, serving as the flagship of the CBS network. It is owned and operated by the network's CBS News and Stations division alongside Riverhead, New York–lic ...

in New York City. He was a regular performer on '' The Red Buttons Show'' on TV in the 1950s. He hosted the

DuMont Television Network The DuMont Television Network (also the DuMont Network, DuMont Television, DuMont/Du Mont, or (incorrectly) Dumont ) was one of America's pioneer commercial television networks, rivaling NBC and CBS for the distinction of being first overall in ...

variety show '' Stars on Parade'' (1953–54), was the announcer for DuMont's '' The Morey Amsterdam Show'', and the host for the game show '' Quick as a Flash'' from March to May 1953. In the mid-1950s, he was host of ''Step This Way'', a dance-oriented program broadcast on Saturday evenings on

WABC-TV WABC-TV (channel 7) is a television station in New York City, serving as the flagship of the ABC network. Owned and operated by the network's ABC Owned Television Stations division, WABC-TV maintains studios in the Hudson Square neighborhood ...

in New York City. Sherwood died of cancer January 23, 1981, at his home in Auburn, Massachusetts. His sons Billy and

Michael Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * he He ..., a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name * Michael (bishop elect)">Michael (surname)">he He ..., a given nam ...

are both musicians, and his nephew is trumpeter Carl Saunders.

Awards and honors

Sherwood has a star at 1825 Vine Street, in the Television section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Filmography

References

External links

* *
Hoosiers in Hollywood
at WhenMoviesWereMovies.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Sherwood, Bobby Sherwood Sherwood Male actors from Indiana Musicians from Indianapolis American big band bandleaders American jazz bandleaders Jubilee Records artists Savoy Records artists 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American musicians