Peter van Steeden
Peter van Steeden (April 4, 1904, Amsterdam – January 3, 1990, New Canaan, Connecticut) was a composer. His best-known composition, "Home (When Shadows Fall)", has been performed by many musicians, including Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Paul McCartney, Jackie Gleason, Cab Calloway, Eddie Cantor, Milton Burle, Theresa Brewer, Ella Fitgerald, the Fontain Sisters, Mary Martin, Gertrude Lawrence, Kate Smith, Maxine Sullivan, Giovanni Martinelli, Ethel Merman, Dinah Shore, and Sam Cooke. Starting on April 17, 1935, van Steeden replaced Lennie Hayton as the orchestra leader for Fred Allen's radio show Town Hall Tonight. He was often given comedy lines by Allen, and the show of April 17, 1940 featured a comedy skit called "From Nipper to Nobody", all about Van Steeden. In 1937, Joseph Henabery directed a 10 minutes documentary Peter van Steeden and His Orchestra in Special Arrangements.
On radio, Van Steeden led the orchestra on The Alan Young Show and The Harry Savoy Show.[1] Mr. van Steeden played at many locations throughout the New York metropolitan area, including Whyte's Restaurant, the Parody Club, and the Hotel New Yorker. In addition to playing on the Fred Allen Show, Peter's music accompanied Lucky Strike Hit Parade, the George Jessel Show, Mr. District Attorney, and the Bob Hawk Show.
He was bandleader on the 1955 version of "Break The Bank" starring Bert Parks.
Added Reference: Page 13, The Advocate, February 14, 1977, Stamford, CT
References
- ↑ Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920–1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. Pp. 16, 294.