Archie Bleyer

About

Born 12 June 1909, Corona, New York

Died 20 March 1989, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
He was an American song arranger, bandleader, and record company executive (President, Cadence (2)).

He was born in the Corona section of the New York City borough of Queens. He began playing the piano when he was only seven years old. In 1927 he went to Columbia College, intending to become an electrical engineer, but as a sophomore switched to a music major. Without graduating, he left to become an arranger. In the early 1930s, he wrote a number of songs that got recorded; all 'hot' novelty numbers, including "Mouthful O'Jam" and "Business In F".

In 1934 he started leading a band of his own at Earl Carroll's club in Hollywood, California. Bleyer's orchestra recorded for Brunswick Records, and one of the vocalists who worked with this orchestra was Johnny Mercer, who became better known as a songwriter and co-founder of Capitol Records.

He became musical director for Arthur Godfrey in 1946, serving in this role until 1953.

In 1952 he founded Cadence (2). Married Janet Ertel in 1954, a member of the The Chordettes.

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