Real name: George O. Sontag

Effective period / Period of releases: 1961

George Sontag was born in Aurora, Illinois, on July 6, 1912. Piano lessons began at age 11 as a birthday gift from his mother. His professional career started at age 19 in a prohibition-era speakeasy in Detroit. In order to appear older for the gig, he grew a faint mustache which he colored in with a mascara pencil.

He studied music with Harry Detweiler at Columbia University and with Mona Redman at the American Conservatory in Chicago.

Sontag toured for 12 years with Orrin Tucker (with whom he appeared in the Paramount film “You’re the One”) as a pianist/arranger. He may be best known for his arrangement of Orrin Tucker And His Orchestra - Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh! / How Many Times. He was also known to have performed with Stan Kenton.

Following employment as an investigator for ASCAP after leaving Tucker’s band, Sontag was hired as musical director for WOC radio and television in Davenport, Iowa, a position he held for 28 years (from 1943 to 1971).

George Sontag died Sunday, November 21, 1971, in Rochester, Minnesota, at the Mayo Clinic following an extended illness.