Donald Voorhees (conductor)

Donald Voorhees
Voorhees performing on The Bell Telephone Hour on NBC Radio Network in the 1940s
Born	(1903-07-26)July 26, 1903 Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 10, 1989(1989-01-10) (aged 85) Cape May Court House, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Musical conductor and composer
Years active	1926 to 1983

Donald Voorhees (July 26, 1903– January 10, 1989)^[1] was an American composer and conductor who received an Emmy Award nomination for "Individual Achievements in Music" for his work on the television series, The Bell Telephone Hour.

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Early life

Voorhees was born on July 26, 1903, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he attended and graduated from William Allen High School.

Career

Voorhees formed an orchestra in 1926, which recorded prolifically for Columbia, Edison, Pathé, Perfect, Cameo, and Hit of the Week. He played the piano in orchestra's early recordings. The orchestra folded when Voorhees left to begin his radio career in 1931. His first radio broadcast work was NBC Radio Network's The Texaco Fire Chief Show, which starred comedian Ed Wynn. Other programs he worked for included Maxwell House Show Boat and, in 1933, Captain Henry's Show Boat.

From 1935 to 1941, and from 1949 to 1953 with Ardon Cornwell, Voorhees was the musical director and conductor for the radio and television show, Cavalcade of America.^[2]

Voorhees also served as conductor of The Bell Telephone Hour orchestra for 26 years, from its first broadcasts on radio in 1942 until its final television episode in 1968. He was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1966 for "Individual Achievements in Music" for his work on the series.

He was the first conductor of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra in his native Allentown, Pennsylvania, serving as conductor and musical director of the orchestra from its inception in 1951 until 1983.^[3]

Personal life

Voorhees was a resident of Stone Harbor, New Jersey.

Death

Voorhees died of pneumonia on January 10, 1989, in Cape May Court House, New Jersey, at age 85.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Flint, Peter B. "Donald Voorhees, 85, Conductor Who Led Bell Telephone Hour", The New York Times, January 11, 1989. Accessed September 18, 2017. "Donald Voorhees, for 28 years the conductor and musical director of the Bell Telephone Hour, one of the most popular musical programs in broadcasting history, died of pneumonia yesterday at Tomlin Memorial Hospital in Cape May Court House, N.J. He was 85 years old and lived in Stone Harbor, N.J."
^ "Cavalcade of America Log". Retrieved 2007-05-29.
^ "About the ASO". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-05-27.