Phil Spitalny

Russian Empire-born American musician, composer, bandleader, and music critic. Rose to fame after he led an all-female orchestra, a novelty at the time. Born: November 7, 1890, Tetiiv, Russian Empire Died: October 11, 1970 (aged 79) Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. He led orchestras under the name Phil Spitalny and His All-Girl Orchestra, beginning with Hour of Charm Orchestra on his radio program The Hour of Charm in 1934. Spitalny and Evelyn Kaye Klein auditioned over one thousand women to fill the twenty-two piece orchestra. Klein was the featured performer, a virtuoso violinist introduced as Evelyn and her Magic Violin. The program lasted for over ten years on radio. He and Klein married in 1946. He charted twice as a songwriter, first with "Tell Me, Dreamy Eyes" by Isham Jones & His Orchestra in 1925 which made #8 in the U.S. (co-written by Gus Kahn & "Stubby" Gordon) and then with "Angels with Dirty Faces" by Cab Calloway, in 1938 reaching #3 (co-written by Fred Fisher). He also charted 4 times with his orchestra, with "Just a Little Longer" and "Someone is Losin' Susan" both coming in at the #14 in the U.S. in 1927. His all-girl orchestras charted twice: "We Must Be Vigilant" by The Hour of Charm All Girl Orchestra, which rose to #21 in 1942 and "Our Lady of Fatima" by Hour of Charm Choir landing at #23 in 1950. After retiring from performing, Spitalny was a music critic for a Miami newspaper in Miami Beach.