Waring, Fredrick Malcolm (1900-1984) | University of Illinois Archives

Fredrick Malcolm Waring (1900-1984) was born in Tyrone, Pennsylvania on June 9, 1900. As a high school student, Waring formed the Waring-Mclintock Snap Orchestra, a banjo ensemble that performed at parties and dances. He attended Penn State University, studying architectural engineering, but abandoned his education to pursue a full-time career as a band leader. His ensemble, known as Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians, became one of Victor Records' most successful recording ensembles in the 1920s.

From 1933 to 1957, Waring led a radio program called The Fred Waring Show. The program began on CBS, but was later syndicated on NBC and ABC. In 1938, Waring hired Robert Shaw to train the vocalists within the Pennsylvanian's ensemble. During World War II, Waring's Pennsylvanian's performed at several USO rallies. Following the War, he organized a series of choral worksophs at the Shawnee Press, a publishing house that Waring founded in Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania. The Fred Waring Music Workshop was held annually from 1947 until 1984. In 1948, The Fred Waring Show transitioned from radio to televsion, appearing on the CBS network. Waring died on July 29, 1984 in State College, Pennsylvania.