Tony Romano

Tony Romano (26 September 1915 – 4 March 2005) was an American jazz guitarist and singer. He performed on radio programs and in Hollywood musicals in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. He became most noted as the sideman and musical accompanist to Bob Hope and Frances Langford during their USO tours in World War II, Korean, and Vietnam wars. Romano was born 26 September 1915 in Madera, California, one of nine children of an Italian immigrant shoemaker. According to Romano, his father played both violin and guitar and the entire family was musical. He said, "In our family, if you didn't sing, you didn't eat."[1] In his youth, he played violin but took up the guitar after being inspired by Eddie Lang. At 17, Romano moved to Hollywood where he studied guitar with Paramount Studio's guitarist George Smith.