Musician. A prolific performer, conductor, and composer, he shall probably be best remembered for writing several hit songs of the 1950s. Raised in Southern California, he attended UCLA, got his first show business job playing accordion and trombone in the Paramount Studios house orchestra, and relocated to New York City in 1938 where he was the accordionist for the Marty Malnek Orchestra. Following his World War II service in the US Army Air Corps, he returned home to work as the bandleader at Slapsy Maxie's; forming his own ensemble, he again moved to New York where he was the bandleader and arranger for the early-1950s television series "Broadway Open House", considered the forerunner of "The Tonight Show". Mr. DeLugg wrote a number of songs and television themes including "Orange Colored Sky" for Nat King Cole, the Perry Como chart topper "Hoop-Dee-Doo Polka", and "Roller Coaster", the closing theme for CBS' Sunday night classic "What's My Line?". He composed "Hooray for Santa Claus" for the 1964 schlock film "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians", in 1965 and 1966 had a brief gig as conductor on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show", released a 1967 album entitled "Accordion My Way-Ole!", and had a long association with Chuck Barris that yielded the theme for "The Newlywed Game" and a long stint as bandleader on Barris' forgettable "The Gong Show". Mr. DeLugg gradually retired, though he kept his position as music director of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade thru 2013; he lived out his days in his hometown and died of the effects of advanced age.
Musician. A prolific performer, conductor, and composer, he shall probably be best remembered for writing several hit songs of the 1950s. Raised in Southern California, he attended UCLA, got his first show business job playing accordion and trombone in the Paramount Studios house orchestra, and relocated to New York City in 1938 where he was the accordionist for the Marty Malnek Orchestra. Following his World War II service in the US Army Air Corps, he returned home to work as the bandleader at Slapsy Maxie's; forming his own ensemble, he again moved to New York where he was the bandleader and arranger for the early-1950s television series "Broadway Open House", considered the forerunner of "The Tonight Show". Mr. DeLugg wrote a number of songs and television themes including "Orange Colored Sky" for Nat King Cole, the Perry Como chart topper "Hoop-Dee-Doo Polka", and "Roller Coaster", the closing theme for CBS' Sunday night classic "What's My Line?". He composed "Hooray for Santa Claus" for the 1964 schlock film "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians", in 1965 and 1966 had a brief gig as conductor on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show", released a 1967 album entitled "Accordion My Way-Ole!", and had a long association with Chuck Barris that yielded the theme for "The Newlywed Game" and a long stint as bandleader on Barris' forgettable "The Gong Show". Mr. DeLugg gradually retired, though he kept his position as music director of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade thru 2013; he lived out his days in his hometown and died of the effects of advanced age.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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