Keith Textor

• Born 21 July 1929, Coon Rapids, Iowa

Textor attended St. Olaf College in Minnesota and studied with music theorist Tibor Serly after graduation. In 1946, he formed his own singing group, the Honey Dreamers, and toured and recorded with moderate success. Textor and his wife Sylvia then joined Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians in 1951 and came to national attention as featured singers on his early 1950s television show. After leaving Waring, he formed his own vocal group, ala the Ray Charles Singers, and recorded several albums for RCA, including one entry in the Stereo Action series. He also became partners with Marilyn Scott in Scott-Textor Productions. The firm specialized in providing radio and television commercial music for Madison Avenue, and Textor's songwriting skills were exercised on such unforgettable tunes as "Air Force Blue" for the U.S. Air Force. Textor also wrote for television shows and contributed the theme song for Allen Funt's long-running comic show, "Candid Camera."