Reuben Greenberg

American violinist and band leader, born Reuben Greenberg on October 2, 1896 in New York, NY, died Carl Fenton in January 26, 1942 in New York, NY. Reuben "Ruby" Greenberg worked for Brunswick as a studio musician and leader of Brunswick studio bands like the Park Lane Orchestra from 1919-1927. When Brunswick's house orchestra, Carl Fenton's Orchestra, performed publicly, Greenberg usually acted as the pseudonymous orchestra leader, Carl Fenton; in the recording studio, Brunswick's Musical Director Walter Haenschen conducted the orchestra. When Haenschen left Brunswick in 1927, Greenberg bought the right to use the name Carl Fenton from Brunswick and adopted it as his legal name in 1932. Greenberg started out in the late 1910s playing the violin in Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra. After his stint with Brunswick, he served as musical director for the Gennett label from 1928-1930. In 1931-1932, he led Carl Fenton And His Orchestra featuring the young Bing Crosby on CBS broadcasts sponsored by Cremo Cigars; later his ensemble accompanied the singer on his first national tour under the name Cremo Orchestra. Afterwards, Fenton served as musical director for various radio stations and networks, first for the Stanley Broadcast Service (1932-1934), then for WMCA radio in New York (1934-41). He also directed the orchestra for numerous theatrical productions.