Hometown
Los Angeles, California
Honored By
Pearl Thomas
He did his first war effort concert on October 19, 1939 for Polish war relief. In 1942, he became an air warden and also put in long hours at the Hollywood Canteen. He also broadcast for the armed forces throughout the war. In late 1943, he went on a two-month, 35,000 mile tour, giving concerts for military personnel in Belem and Natal, Brazil; Accra, Gold Coast; Aden; Asmara, Eritrea, Cairo; Tehran; Casablanca; and the Azores. Because he spoke fluent German, he worked as an Allied spy.