Freddy Martin

Freddy Martin, born Frederick Alfred Martin on December 9, 1906 in Cleveland, Ohio, emerged from a childhood spent in an orphanage and with various relatives to become one of the most recognizable tenor‑saxophonists of the American big‑band era. He first learned drums before switching to the C‑melody saxophone and ultimately the tenor sax, the instrument that defined his sound, and even as a teenager he demonstrated entrepreneurial flair by leading his own high‑school band and selling musical instruments to fund his ambitions. After brief stints with ship bands and regional groups, a pivotal moment arrived when Guy Lombardo invited Martin’s ensemble to fill in for a canceled engagement, launching a career that would span more than six decades. At the Bossert Hotel’s Marine Roof in Brooklyn, Martin pioneered the “Tenor Band” format—featuring a dominant tenor sax lead, a minimal brass section, and a violin trio—creating a sweet‑styled yet remarkably melodic repertoire that inspired imitators nationwide. His recordings began with Columbia in 1932, moved to Brunswick/ARC until 1938, and later to RCA Victor’s Bluebird label, where the 1941 instrumental adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto became the smash hit "Tonight We Love", selling over one million copies and earning a gold disc. Martin’s willingness to arrange classical works by Rachmaninoff, Grieg, and Prokofiev gave his band a distinctive crossover appeal, while his radio presence, film appearances such as Stage Door Canteen (1943), and television work kept him in the public eye long after the swing era waned. Notably, he served as musical director for Elvis Presley’s first Las Vegas engagement and led Guy Lombardo’s orchestra in 1977 when Lombardo was incapacitated. Even into the early 1980s he conducted his band, remaining a steadfast figure in hotel‑room entertainment until his death on September 30, 1983 in Newport Beach, California.