Kenneth A. Gardner (March 20, 1913 – July 26, 2002) was an American singer for

Guy Lombardo Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 – November 5, 1977) was an Italian-Canadian-American bandleader, violinist, and hydroplane racer. Lombardo formed the Royal Canadians in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert and Victor, and othe ...

's band the Royal Canadians.

Early years

Kenneth A. Gardner was born on March 20, 1913 in

Lake View, Iowa Lake View is a city in Sac County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,113 in the 2020 census, a decline from the 1,278 population in 2000. History The area around what is today called Black Hawk Lake was settled by white settlers in 186 ...

, the eldest son of Norman and May Chambers Gardner. He had two younger brothers, Robert and Edward. During his teens, Kenny went to Neligh, Nebraska, to live with an aunt and uncle. He attended

Creighton University Creighton University is a private Jesuit research university in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In 2015 the university enrolled 8,393 graduate and undergra ...

and had part-time jobs at a movie theater and a mortuary. He later moved to California and attended

San Diego State College San Diego State University (SDSU) is a public research university in San Diego, California. Founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CSU) system ...

, where he studied engineering.

Career

Gardner was singing on radio as early as 1936, when he was among those appearing on an episode of ''California Hour''. In 1946-47, he was the male singer on ''Easy Does It'', a quarter-hour daily daytime variety program 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 Old-time radio, golden ...

.Terrace, Vincent (1999). ''Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows''. McFarland & Company, Inc. , pg. 106. In 1941, he voiced the role of "Dick" in the animated comedy film, ''

Mr. Bug Goes to Town ''Mr. Bug Goes to Town'' (also known as ''Hoppity Goes to Town'' and ''Bugville'') is a 1941 American animation, animated Technicolor feature film produced by Fleischer Studios, previewed by Paramount Pictures on December 5, 1941, and released in ...

''. He also sang "Where Do We Go From Here" in the film, which was written by

Percy Wenrich Percy Wenrich (January 23, 1880 – March 17, 1952) was an American composer of ragtime and popular music. Personal life and career Born in Joplin, Missouri to Daniel Wenrich and Mary Ray, he left for Chicago in 1901 where he attended classe ...

. Gardner joined the Royal Canadians in 1940 and would sing such signature Lombardo tunes as " Frankie and Johnny" and " Enjoy Yourself (It's Later than You Think)" in the smooth but lively and cheerful manner that Lombardo required. According to Gardner, Lombardo once stopped him from taking music lessons because it was "changing the style of the band". He took time out from the band to serve in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, where he was wounded and earned two

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, w ...

s. After retiring in 1978, a year after Guy Lombardo died, Gardner became more involved in local activities in the

Plandome, New York Plandome is a village in the Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Manhasset area, which is anchored by Manhasset. The population was 1,349 at ...

area.

Personal life

Gardner married Elaine Lombardo, Guy's sister, in 1942. Gardner died from a heart attack on July 26, 2002, at his residence in

Manhasset, New York Manhasset is a Hamlet (New York), hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Nassau County, New York, Nassau County, on the North Shore (Long Island), North Shore of Long Island, in New York (state), New York. It is considered the anchor communi ...

, following an

appendectomy An appendectomy, also termed appendicectomy, is a Surgery, surgical operation in which the vermiform appendix (a portion of the intestine) is removed. Appendectomy is normally performed as an urgent or emergency procedure to treat complicated acu ...

References

External links

*
Kenny Gardner Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (1995) {{DEFAULTSORT:Gardner, Kenny 1913 births 2002 deaths People from Sac County, Iowa People from Plandome, New York 20th-century American singers 20th-century American male singers

Early years

Career

Personal life

See also

References

External links