Nat Brusiloff

While his name might be more suited to a professional wrestler, Nat Brusiloff's occupation involved much gentler things, such as playing the violin and leading orchestras. He was the house conductor for the CBS network beginning in the early '30s, and enjoyed a lengthy stint as the musical director for Kate Smith, a hefty singer who looked like she could fend off a few attackers in the wrestling ring as well. The music Brusiloff created as the leader of his own orchestras, usually numbering around a dozen or so members, remains buried away on various rare transcription discs. ...