Guy Lombardo

Guy Lombardo was born in London, Ontario in 1902 and grew up playing violin in his family's music store. His family moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1914, and a decade later he formed the Royal Canadians dance band there. The group developed a style that leaned toward sweet melodies rather than the hotter jazz sounds of the era, which earned them both popularity and some criticism for being overly sentimental.

In the 1930s, the Royal Canadians became radio regulars with a weekly broadcast that reached millions of listeners. They recorded extensively, with songs like "Auld Lang Syne" and "Boo Hoo" becoming signature numbers. The band, which included Guy's brothers Carmen and Lebert Lombardo, maintained a consistent lineup and sound through the big band era and into television appearances in the 1950s.

Lombardo led the Royal Canadians for over five decades until his death in 1977. Their recordings of standards and holiday music, particularly their annual New Year's Eve broadcast of "Auld Lang Syne," created a lasting association with celebration and nostalgia that outlived changing musical trends.