Garth Zsadanyi

A Portrait Of Musician Garth Zsadanyi

Although he was one of the 1930s most celebrated big band leaders (whose credits included leading the renowned NBC Orchestra), Don Ricardo was also known for his award-winning collection of antique cars (which he collected, restored, and raced himself). Ricardo's love of music began at the age of seven when he began playing drums and the violin, and by 1927, he formed his first real band -- Don Ricardo and the Californians. Known for their Latin rhythms and big band dance tunes, the Californians played regularly at Los Angeles' Biltmore Hotel and in Lake Tahoe showrooms.
With all the humor and sadness that comes from years of hard traveling, he covers topics as diverse as politics, the vagaries of human behavior, and the ever-changing state of the music industry. Taken as a whole, the book shows us a portrait of ourselves as we were-and how we've changed-filtered through Dobson's adventures and friendships.