Ralph Flanagan

American Big Band leader, conductor, composer, pianist and arranger. Born April 7, 1914 in Lorain, Ohio. Died Decmeber 30, 1995 in Miami, Florida. He arranged for the Orchestras of Hal McIntyre, Sammy Kaye, Blue Barron, Charlie Barnet and Alvino Ray. He joined ASCAP in 1950. His most popular compositions include "Hot Toddy", "A-L-B-U-Q-U-E-R-Q-U-E" and "Flanagan's Boogie". He charted four times as a songwriter and twenty-one times with his orchestra. His top songwriting song was "Hot Toddy", which charted three times in 1953 (co-written by his manager Herb Hendler). His orchestra's top hit came in 1950: "Rag Mop" by Ralph Flanagan and His Orchestra rose to #3 in the U.S. and "Harbor Lights" rose to #5 later that same year. "Slow Poke" (#6) and "I Should Care" (#4) came in 1951 and the group had three other top 10 songs in their tenure. His music publishing, co-owned with Hendler was: Coachella Music, Inc. (Coachella Music).