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Charles Ellsworth Russell, much better known by his nickname Pee Wee Russell, (27 March 1906 – 15 February 1969) was a jazz musician.[1] Early in his career he played clarinet and saxophones, but he eventually focused solely on clarinet.

With a highly individualistic and spontaneous clarinet style that "defied classification",[1] Russell began his career playing Dixieland jazz, but throughout his career incorporated elements of newer developments such as swing, bebop and free jazz. In the words of Philip Larkin, "No one familiar with the characteristic excitement of his solos, their lurid, snuffling, asthmatic voicelessness, notes leant on till they split, and sudden passionate intensities, could deny the uniqueness of his contribution to jazz

Risë Stevens (pron.: /ˈriːsə/; June 11, 1913 – March 20, 2013) was an American operatic mezzo-soprano.
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Above all, she was especially celebrated for her Carmen. She had an enormous personal triumph at the Metropolitan in the role in the famous Tyrone Guthrie production in 1951, becoming the Carmen of her generation. Her RCA recording of the opera, conducted by Fritz Reiner and co-starring Jan Peerce, Robert Merrill and Licia Albanese, became a best seller and has never been out of print in some format. She also appeared in Paris, London, and at Glyndebourne. At La Scala in Milan, she had a great success in Virgilio Mortari's La Figlia del Diavolo in a version of the Salome story where Herodias is the leading character. Stevens sang, acted and danced the role in a notable tour de force.

Her farewell performance at the Metropolitan was as Carmen, in 1961

Richard Hayman (born March 27, 1920) is an American arranger, harmonica player, and conductor.

From 1945-1950, he was musical director for the Vaughn Monroe Orchestra.

Hayman is most famous for being the principal arranger at the Boston Pops Orchestra for over 30 years where his award-winning arrangements are still used today. He occasionally guest-conducted there, and when Arthur Fiedler had a time conflict with his job as pops conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, he recommended Hayman for the post.

He currently works as the Principal Pops Conductor of the Grand Rapids, Michigan Symphony and Music Director of the Florida Space Coast Pops Orchestra in Cocoa, Florida.

His biggest hit was the 1953 single "Ruby".

Hayman took the theme for the motion picture "Ruby Gentry", and through his specially stylized arrangement, utilizing a harmonica as the solo instrument with a large, quasi-symphonic orchestra, the song zoomed to the top of the hit parade all over the world and brought about a renewed interest in the harmonica. It should also be mentioned that the flip side of the 45rpm and 78rpm single hit "Ruby" was the hit "Dansero" which also became an international favorite hit. Because of it this single sold thousands or perhaps millions of copies for several years in the early to mid-1950s worldwide.

Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 – November 5, 1977) was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist.

Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven." The Lombardos are believed to have sold between 100 and 300 million phonograph records during their lifetimes.