Editing Archie Bleyer (section)

==Early life==
Bleyer was born in the [[Corona, Queens|Corona]] section of the [[New York, New York|New York City]] borough of [[Queens]].<ref name="LarkinGE"/> His father was a well-known trumpet player who had played with the [[Metropolitan Opera]].<ref>"Musician Archie Bleyer, Fired By Godfrey.", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', March 22, 1989, p. 20</ref>  The younger Bleyer began playing the piano when he was only seven years old.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> In 1927, he attended [[Columbia College of Columbia University|Columbia College]], intending to become an [[electrical engineer]], but as a sophomore switched to a music major.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Without graduating, he left to become an arranger.<ref>Andy Rooney, "Bleyer Was Musician's Musician."  Marietta (GA) Journal, March 29, 1989, p. 6</ref> In the early 1930s, Bleyer wrote a number of songs that were recorded, all 'hot' novelty numbers, including "Mouthful O'Jam", "Business In F" and "Business In Q".<ref name="LarkinGE"/>

In 1934, he began to lead his own band at [[Earl Carroll Theatre|Earl Carroll]]'s club in [[Hollywood, California]]. Bleyer's orchestra recorded for [[Vocalion Records]] in 1934 and in 1935 moved to the [[American Record Corporation|ARC]] group of labels (Melotone, Perfect, Romeo, Oriole).  One of the vocalists who worked with this orchestra was [[Johnny Mercer]], who later became known as a songwriter and co-founder of [[Capitol Records]].

In 1945, Bleyer began a collaboration on the CBS radio network as the orchestra conductor for the popular ''[[Gordon MacRae]] Show''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://otrrpedia.net/getprogram1.php?item=2485 |title=Gordon MacRae Show, the |access-date=2017-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309071138/http://otrrpedia.net/getprogram1.php?item=2485 |archive-date=2017-03-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Included among the instrumentalist who appeared with his orchestra was [[John Serry Sr.]], who emerged in later years as a leading orchestral accordionist.<ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection Series 4 Recordings: Item 8 audio disc "John Serry guest on the Gordon Macrea Show as "outstanding accordionist of the year" p. 18 in The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester Eastman School of Music]</ref><ref>[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/specialcollections/ Eastman School of Music: Sibley Music Library: Ruth T. Watanabe Special Collections Dept.- "The John Serry Sr. Collection" - Items donated to the library include an audio recording of John Serry who is named in the recording of the August 22, 1946 show as the featured accordionist by Gordon MacRae on his live broadcast and performs with Archie Bleyer's Orchestra on the show,  www.esm.rochester.edu]</ref><ref>[https://www.rochester.edu/pr/Review/V70N6/cn-u-80.html "Rochester Review" July-August 2008, Vol 70, No. 6 University of Rochester Alumnus magazine: River Campus (See Class of 1980) - Son of John Serry notes that his father's compositions and recordings have been submitted into the Sibley Library for archive]</ref>