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Before earning the title "The Poet of the Piano," classically trained Cavallaro had a moderately successful early career as a soloist in society dance bands led by Al Kavelin, Abe Lyman, and Enric Madriguera, performing simply as 'Carmen.' In 1939, he led his own orchestra, debuting at the Statler Hotel in St. Louis. This ensemble eventually grew into a 14-piece group featuring future musical comedy and nightclub entertainer Larry Douglas on vocals, centered around Carmen's dazzling piano solos, especially noted for his rapid octave playing. Unusually, the band included no trombones, typically comprising three trumpets, four saxophones, a four- to five-piece string section with viola and/or cello, and a rhythm section of drums, bass, and guitar. Carmen's theme song was "My Sentimental Heart." With its rich sound and Cavallaro's unique showmanship, the band peaked in popularity during the mid-1940s, appealing especially to fans of sweet 'society-style' dance music. They performed at hotels and clubs, headlining prestigious venues such as New York's Paramount Theatre, the Waldorf-Astoria, Los Angeles' Coconut Grove, San Francisco's Mark Hopkins, and Frank Dailey's Meadowbrook. Cavallaro recorded extensively for Decca and broadcast live on the nationally aired Sheaffer Parade every Sunday afternoon. He also appeared as himself in films like Hollywood Canteen (1944) and Diamond Horseshoe (1945). A major commercial success was his piano soundtrack recording for The Eddy Duchin Story (1956), made a year before joining ASCAP. In the 1950s, Cavallaro disbanded the orchestra and began leading smaller groups. He continued producing numerous best-selling records—including "Cavallaro Plays Ellington," "For Latin Lovers," and "Stairway to the Stars"—while pursuing a solo career in nightclubs and on radio. His own compositions include "While the Nightwind Sings," "Wanda," and "Masquerade Waltz." Other popular hits featured his renditions of Chopin's "Polonaise," "Warsaw Concerto," "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12," "Fascination," "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart," "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," and "Just One of Those Things.
