Matty Malneck

Malneck's first professional gigs as a violinist began when he was age 16. He worked with Paul Whiteman from 1926 to 1937, and also recorded in the same period with Frank Signorelli, Frankie Trumbauer, Bix Beiderbecke, and Mildred Bailey. He led his own big band in 1938–39 and shot short films with vocalist Liz Tilton in the 1940s. He recorded as a leader for London Records in 1932 and Decca Records in 1938–39.

A newspaper article published September 19, 1938, noted that having only one brass instrument in Malneck's eight-instrument group was "unique for swing" — as were the $3,000 harp and a drummer who played on "an old piece of corrugated paper box ..." The group played in the film St. Louis Blues (1939) and You're in the Army Now (1941). Malneck subsequently announced that he was changing the group's name to Matty Malneck and His St. Louis Blues Orchestra.

Malneck's credits as a songwriter have overshadowed his contributions as a performer. He composed several songs which became pop standards, including "I'll Never Be The Same" (recorded by Frank Sinatra, Teddi King and Jeri Southern among others), "I'm Thru With Love" a hit for Bing Crosby, "Goody Goody" one for Helen Ward and Benny Goodman, "Eeny Meeny Miney Mo", and "If You Were Mine," with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and recorded by Billie Holiday.

His orchestra provided music for The Charlotte Greenwood Show on radio in the mid-1940s and for Campana Serenade in 1942-1943.