Born in Ohio and raised largely in an orphanage and with various
relatives, saxophonist and band leader Freddy Martin first gained
national attention in 1940 and continued on through the 1970s leading
one of the most popular "sweet" (non-swing) bands of the Big Band Era.
Best known for his hit songs adapted from classical themes, his many
hits on RCA Victor and Capitol records included "Cumana," "The Hut-Sut
Song," "Bumble Boogie," adapted from Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the
Bumblebee," and his theme song, "Tonight We Love," adapted from the
first movement of Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto.
