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[[File:Bozo's Circus 1968.JPG|thumb|300px|The cast of ''Bozo's Circus'' in 1967. From left: [[Ned Locke]], Bob Trendler, [[Bob Bell (actor)|Bob Bell]], [[Ray Rayner]] and [[Don Sandburg]]]] |
[[File:Bozo's Circus 1968.JPG|thumb|300px|The cast of ''Bozo's Circus'' in 1967. From left: [[Ned Locke]], Bob Trendler, [[Bob Bell (actor)|Bob Bell]], [[Ray Rayner]] and [[Don Sandburg]]]] |
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'''Robert Trendler''' (May 11, 1912 – July 18, 2011) was an American bandleader, songwriter, and musical director of the WGN Orchestra from 1956 till 1975. Trendler was known in Chicago as Mr. Bob the bandleader of Bozo's Big Top Band, on [[The Bozo Show|''Bozo's Circus'']], a television program for children home from school for lunch.<ref name=obit>{{cite news|url= |
'''Robert Trendler''' (May 11, 1912 – July 18, 2011) was an American bandleader, songwriter, and musical director of the WGN Orchestra from 1956 till 1975. Trendler was known in Chicago as Mr. Bob the bandleader of Bozo's Big Top Band, on [[The Bozo Show|''Bozo's Circus'']], a television program for children home from school for lunch.<ref name=obit>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/07/21/bob-trendler-1912-2011/|title=Bob Trendler, 1912-2011|author=Myer, Erin|date=July 21, 2011|publisher=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> |
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Robert Trendler Sr. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 11, 1912, the only child of John & Kathryn Trendler, both European immigrants. Trendler's early life was centered on music and broadcasting. He began playing the piano at age 6, and spent many childhood hours in radio stations, as his mother was the music director of Cincinnati's [[WLW]].<ref name=Trendler>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1950/03/12/page/164/article/trendler-keeps-busy-in-tv-air-and-corn-field|title=Trendler Keeps Busy In TV, Air, and Corn Field|author=Remenih, Anton|date=March 12, 1950|page=8|publisher=Chicago TRibune|accessdate=May 27, 2015}}.</ref> When his mother, an opera soprano, toured Europe, the young boy was accomplished enough to accompany her on the piano.<ref name=obit/> At age 21, Trendler went to work for the station as an accompanist and music arranger. Trendler's music arranging took him to New York City, where he worked with [[George Gershwin]], [[Cab Calloway]] and [[Duke Ellington]]. Working with people like [[Eddie Duchin]] taught him about jazz. A job playing the piano at the [[Century of Progress]] exposition brought him to Chicago; a short time after arriving in the city, Trendler went to work for [[WGN Radio]].<ref name=Trendler/> |
Robert Trendler Sr. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 11, 1912, the only child of John & Kathryn Trendler, both European immigrants. Trendler's early life was centered on music and broadcasting. He began playing the piano at age 6, and spent many childhood hours in radio stations, as his mother was the music director of Cincinnati's [[WLW]].<ref name=Trendler>{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1950/03/12/page/164/article/trendler-keeps-busy-in-tv-air-and-corn-field|title=Trendler Keeps Busy In TV, Air, and Corn Field|author=Remenih, Anton|date=March 12, 1950|page=8|publisher=Chicago TRibune|accessdate=May 27, 2015}}.</ref> When his mother, an opera soprano, toured Europe, the young boy was accomplished enough to accompany her on the piano.<ref name=obit/> At age 21, Trendler went to work for the station as an accompanist and music arranger. Trendler's music arranging took him to New York City, where he worked with [[George Gershwin]], [[Cab Calloway]] and [[Duke Ellington]]. Working with people like [[Eddie Duchin]] taught him about jazz. A job playing the piano at the [[Century of Progress]] exposition brought him to Chicago; a short time after arriving in the city, Trendler went to work for [[WGN Radio]].<ref name=Trendler/> |
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By 1941, Trendler had become the director of the WGN Dance Band and was also the WGN Choral Director. Trendler also did occasional work with the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]]; he was named director of the WGN Orchestra in 1956. While Trendler worked on seven WGN radio programs at one time, he became well-known to many in the Chicago area when, as "Mr. Bob", he led a 13 piece band on the weekday ''Bozo's Circus'' children's television program at WGN-TV.<ref name=obit/><ref name=Trendler/> He was remembered as a willing participant in the show's jokes and clowning skits; Trendler never minded a pie in the face any more than those doing the clowning.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/offbeat/offbeat-always-smiling-bandleader-bob-for-wgn-s-bozo-circus/article_eb7b32e1-7604-5d15-a5a5-514f581bba7f.html|title=Always Smiling "Bandleader Bob" for WGN's "Bozo's Circus" Dead at 99|author=Potempa, Phil|date=July 22, 2011|publisher=Northwest Indiana Times|accessdate=May 27, 2015}}</ref> |
By 1941, Trendler had become the director of the WGN Dance Band and was also the WGN Choral Director. Trendler also did occasional work with the [[Chicago Symphony Orchestra]]; he was named director of the WGN Orchestra in 1956. While Trendler worked on seven WGN radio programs at one time, he became well-known to many in the Chicago area when, as "Mr. Bob", he led a 13 piece band on the weekday ''Bozo's Circus'' children's television program at WGN-TV.<ref name=obit/><ref name=Trendler/> He was remembered as a willing participant in the show's jokes and clowning skits; Trendler never minded a pie in the face any more than those doing the clowning.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/offbeat/offbeat-always-smiling-bandleader-bob-for-wgn-s-bozo-circus/article_eb7b32e1-7604-5d15-a5a5-514f581bba7f.html|title=Always Smiling "Bandleader Bob" for WGN's "Bozo's Circus" Dead at 99|author=Potempa, Phil|date=July 22, 2011|publisher=Northwest Indiana Times|accessdate=May 27, 2015}}</ref> |
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He met his wife, Annette, at Chicago's [[La Salle Hotel]]; she was a member of a vocal trio, The Three Graces.<ref>{{cite news|url= |
He met his wife, Annette, at Chicago's [[La Salle Hotel]]; she was a member of a vocal trio, The Three Graces.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/02/11/annette-trendler-83/|title=Annette Trendler, 83|date=February 11, 2003|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 27, 2015}}</ref> The group was performing with [[Rudy Vallée]] at the time.<ref name=obit/><ref name=Trendler/> Trendler and his wife raised their two sons in [[Lake Forest, Illinois]] in a home surrounded by flowers and Trendler's 1.5 acre vegetable garden.<ref name=Trendler/> His interests away from the job included photography, a large model railroad outfit and cycling. He gave up his speedboat racing hobby after his sons were born.<ref name=Trendler/> Trendler retired from WGN in 1975; upon Trendler's retirement, the 13 piece band he had led was reduced to a band with only three members.<ref name=Timeline70>{{cite web|url=http://www.wgntv.com/station/bozotime/tln1970s.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001218093000/http://www.wgntv.com/station/bozotime/tln1970s.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 December 2000|title=Bozo Timeline-1970s|publisher=WGN-TV|accessdate=16 February 2011}}</ref> He and his wife Annette retired to Florida.<ref name=obit/> Upon relocating to Florida, Trendler was an active member of the [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]] Broadcasting Club. In 2010, Trendler had a perfect attendance record for the club's meetings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20101006/article/10061012|title=Broadcasters looking to share knowledge|date=October 6, 2010|author=Walukonis, Jodi|publisher=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|accessdate=May 27, 2015}}</ref> |
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Robert Trendler died of natural causes on July 18, 2011 in Ellenton, Florida at the age of 99. His wife Annette died in 2002.{{ |
Robert Trendler died of natural causes on July 18, 2011 in Ellenton, Florida at the age of 99. His wife Annette died in 2002.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} |
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==Songs== |
==Songs== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{Chicago Children's Television}} |
{{Chicago Children's Television}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Trendler, Bob}} |
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[[Category:Musicians from Cincinnati]] |
[[Category:Musicians from Cincinnati]] |
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[[Category:Songwriters from Ohio]] |
[[Category:Songwriters from Ohio]] |
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[[Category:American bandleaders]] |
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Latest revision as of 23:18, 10 September 2024
Robert Trendler (May 11, 1912 – July 18, 2011) was an American bandleader, songwriter, and musical director of the WGN Orchestra from 1956 till 1975. Trendler was known in Chicago as Mr. Bob the bandleader of Bozo's Big Top Band, on Bozo's Circus, a television program for children home from school for lunch.[1]
Robert Trendler Sr. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 11, 1912, the only child of John & Kathryn Trendler, both European immigrants. Trendler's early life was centered on music and broadcasting. He began playing the piano at age 6, and spent many childhood hours in radio stations, as his mother was the music director of Cincinnati's WLW.[2] When his mother, an opera soprano, toured Europe, the young boy was accomplished enough to accompany her on the piano.[1] At age 21, Trendler went to work for the station as an accompanist and music arranger. Trendler's music arranging took him to New York City, where he worked with George Gershwin, Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington. Working with people like Eddie Duchin taught him about jazz. A job playing the piano at the Century of Progress exposition brought him to Chicago; a short time after arriving in the city, Trendler went to work for WGN Radio.[2]
By 1941, Trendler had become the director of the WGN Dance Band and was also the WGN Choral Director. Trendler also did occasional work with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; he was named director of the WGN Orchestra in 1956. While Trendler worked on seven WGN radio programs at one time, he became well-known to many in the Chicago area when, as "Mr. Bob", he led a 13 piece band on the weekday Bozo's Circus children's television program at WGN-TV.[1][2] He was remembered as a willing participant in the show's jokes and clowning skits; Trendler never minded a pie in the face any more than those doing the clowning.[3]
He met his wife, Annette, at Chicago's La Salle Hotel; she was a member of a vocal trio, The Three Graces.[4] The group was performing with Rudy Vallée at the time.[1][2] Trendler and his wife raised their two sons in Lake Forest, Illinois in a home surrounded by flowers and Trendler's 1.5 acre vegetable garden.[2] His interests away from the job included photography, a large model railroad outfit and cycling. He gave up his speedboat racing hobby after his sons were born.[2] Trendler retired from WGN in 1975; upon Trendler's retirement, the 13 piece band he had led was reduced to a band with only three members.[5] He and his wife Annette retired to Florida.[1] Upon relocating to Florida, Trendler was an active member of the Sarasota Broadcasting Club. In 2010, Trendler had a perfect attendance record for the club's meetings.[6]
Robert Trendler died of natural causes on July 18, 2011 in Ellenton, Florida at the age of 99. His wife Annette died in 2002.[citation needed]
Songs
[edit]- "Kiss Me", a song recorded by Lisa Kirk, written by Trendler and Redd Evans 1949, covered by Claire Hogan 1959, Billie Laine 1961[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Myer, Erin (July 21, 2011). "Bob Trendler, 1912-2011". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ a b c d e f g Remenih, Anton (March 12, 1950). "Trendler Keeps Busy In TV, Air, and Corn Field". Chicago TRibune. p. 8. Retrieved May 27, 2015..
- ^ Potempa, Phil (July 22, 2011). "Always Smiling "Bandleader Bob" for WGN's "Bozo's Circus" Dead at 99". Northwest Indiana Times. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
- ^ "Annette Trendler, 83". Chicago Tribune. February 11, 2003. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
- ^ "Bozo Timeline-1970s". WGN-TV. Archived from the original on 18 December 2000. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ Walukonis, Jodi (October 6, 2010). "Broadcasters looking to share knowledge". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
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