Bandleader Ruby Newman At 13 years old, Lawrence Berk often played with Ruby Newman, one of the most popular bandleaders in the Northeast. Also born in Boston, Newman would later become music director and vice president of CBS radio and serve as a conductor for CBS for many years. His band performed several times at the White House for Franklin and Eleanor Roo- sevelt, as well as for other presidents. During his career, Newman had recording contracts with RCA Victor and Decca records and performed throughout the world. The 1920’s was a romantic era in music, Newman’s band would enter- tain at gala debutante parties, Harvard class reunions, wedding recep- tions, bar miꜩvahs, society balls and walꜩ parties. It was the era of big bands nostalgically remembered as a time of high fashion and dancing in ballrooms across America. Newman, a violinist, played events primarily for the rich and famous at the Somerset and Copley Plaza Hotels and enjoyed a long run at the Riꜩ-Carlton where Lawrence Berk would accompany him on piano. His band utilized a violin section but no trumpet section and Ruby fre- quently played violin solos with the band. He married Cela Gomberg in 1938 a gifted concert violinist from Boston. Ruby Newman died in 1973.

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Bandleader Ruby Newman

At 13 years old, Lawrence Berk often played with Ruby Newman, one of the most popular bandleaders in the Northeast. Also born in Boston, Newman would later become music director and vice president of CBS radio and serve as a conductor for CBS for many years. His band per-formed several times at the White House for Franklin and Eleanor Roo-sevelt, as well as for other presidents. During his career, Newman had recording contracts with RCA Victor and Decca records and performed throughout the world.

The 1920’s was a romantic era in music, Newman’s band would enter-tain at gala debutante parties, Harvard class reunions, wedding recep-tions, bar mitzvahs, society balls and waltz parties. It was the era of big bands nostalgically remembered as a time of high fashion and dancing in ballrooms across America.

Newman, a violinist, played events primarily for the rich and famous at the Somerset and Copley Plaza Hotels and enjoyed a long run at the Ritz-Carlton where Lawrence Berk would accompany him on piano. His band utilized a violin section but no trumpet section and Ruby fre-quently played violin solos with the band. He married Cela Gomberg in 1938 a gifted concert violinist from Boston. Ruby Newman died in 1973.