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Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 - November 5, 1977) was a Canadian (born in London, Ontario) bandleader and violinist famous throughout the world, but particularly in Canada and the United States. With his three brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown of London, Ontario, he formed the big band The Royal Canadians in 1924, famous for the motto "The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven". His very first recording session took place where Bix Beiderbecke made his legendary recordings — in Richmond, Indiana, at the Gennett Studios — both during early 1924. The musical team played at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City from 1929 to 1959, and their New Year's Eve broadcasts (which continued with Lombardo until 1976 at the Waldorf Astoria) were a major part of New Year's celebrations across North America. Even after Lombardo's death, the band's New Year's specials continued for air two more years on CBS. In 1938, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. The Royal Canadians were noted for playing the traditional song "Auld Lang Syne" as part of the celebrations. Their recording of the song still plays as the first song of the new year in Times Square. The Lombardos are believed to have sold more than 300 million phonograph albums during their lifetimes. Although Lombardo's big band music was viewed by some in the jazz and swing community of the day as "corny," Louis Armstrong famously enjoyed Lombardo's music. When questioned about this, Armstrong quipped "The man gets the melody right." He was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
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