He started a band while serving in the Navy during World War II and
later toured the Midwest with bands before landing in New York.
It was when he joined the Honey Dreamers, a singing group that appeared
on radio and early television shows, that he met Buffalo Bob Smith and
became a clown. As a musician and band leader, in recent years, his
All-American Big Band appeared on Friday nights at New York's Birdland
jazz club.