Songwriters Hall of Fame

“The Waltz King”, Wayne King was born on February 16, 1901 in Savannah, Illinois.

After attending Valparaiso University, King had a brief career as a professional football player and then insurance salesman. He joined the Del Lamp orchestra as featured clarinetist in the mid 1920’s before forming his own orchestra. The King orchestra was the featured act at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago for nearly a decade while recording and touring throughout the United States.

With vocalists Ernie Burchill, Bill Enger, Andy Hansen, Gordon Graham and King himself, the Orchestra had nearly 40 Billboard hits are the top ten recordings of “The Waltz You Saved for Me” (#4, 1930), ‘Dream a Little Dream of Me’ (#1, 1931), ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’ (#1, 1931), “Sweethearts Forever” (#3, 1932), “The Moon Song” (#3, 1933), “Emaline” (#3, 1937), “My Man” (#9, 1939), “The Man with the Mandolin” (#6, 1939), “Maria Elena” (#2, 1941) and “Intermezzo (Souvenir De Vienne)” (#5, 1941).

Wayne King died on July 16, 1985.