14 Facts About Wayne King

Harold Wayne King was an American musician, songwriter, and bandleader with a long association with both NBC and CBS.

Wayne King was referred to as "the Waltz King" because much of his most popular music involved waltzes; "The Waltz You Saved for Me" was his standard set-closing song in live performance and on numerous radio broadcasts at the height of his career.

Harold Wayne King was born in Savanna, Illinois, the son of Harvey and Ida King.

Wayne King's father worked for the railroad and traveled frequently, so when King's mother died in 1908, he and his brothers lived in the Annie Whittenmeyer orphanage in Davenport, Iowa, for a brief period of time.

Wayne King returned to Savanna in 1911 to live with his aunt and uncle, where he was the quarterback and captain of the football team at Savanna Township High School, where he graduated in 1920.

Wayne King briefly played professional football with the Canton Bulldogs.

Wayne King attended Valparaiso University in Indiana for two years, but left to begin a career in music.

The orchestra disbanded during World War II, and Wayne King joined the army, advancing to the rank of major.

In 1948, the half-hour Wayne King Show was syndicated on radio via transcription discs.

Wayne King's orchestra had a television show in Chicago from 1949 to 1952.

Wayne King was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Radio category in1960.

Wayne King's orchestra played its last engagement in March 1983 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, Florida.

Wayne King died on March 10,2010, at the age of 98.

In 2004, Wayne King was honored in his hometown of Savanna, with a sign acknowledging that he was a resident of the town.