Ralph Flanagan

• Name — Ralph Flanagan • Birth Name — Ralph Elias Flenniken • Born — 7 April 1914 • Birthplace — Lorain, Ohio, U.S. • Died — 30 December 1995 • Place of death — Miami, Florida, U.S. • Genre — Jazz, big band • Occupation — Musician, bandleader, composer, arranger • Instrument — Piano

He was educated at Lorain High School in Lorain, Ohio, United States, where he was a member of the National Honors Society, the student senate, the school newspaper staff (Hi-Y) and the chorus. During World War II he served in the Merchant Marine from October 1942 to 1946. In August 1949 Flanagan was an arranger on The Chesterfield Supper Club radio program when RCA Victor signed him to arrange songs for a recording session. He had no band of his own, so a studio band was used, with Flanagan's name on the records' labels. The records' popularity resulted in requests for bookings of the "Ralph Flanagan Band", and he formed his own orchestra. That group is credited with re-popularizing the Glenn Miller "sound," and which made many records, among them "Singing Winds", "Rag Mop" and "Hot Toddy". The Ralph Flanagan band was managed by Herb Hendler, an RCA A&R man who had signed Glenn Miller to his final record contract before Miller's fatal plane crash in the English Channel during World War II. It was Hendler who had encouraged Flanagan to adopt the Miller sound that led to his success. Hendler also co-wrote "Hot Toddy," which was recorded by many artists, including Chet Atkins, Rosemary Clooney, Red Foley and Julie London. Flanagan's recording of "Slow Poke", a number 6 hit in early 1952, was the first song played on the initial edition of the Today Show on January 14, 1952. The Flanagan orchestra's theme songs were "Giannina Mia" and "Singing Winds", the latter title also applying to the orchestra's singing group. During the peak of his career, he also lived in the suburban village of Malverne, New York.

As of August 19, 2010, Ralph Flanagan and his Orchestra were listed by EMI Music as a missing royaltor, which means that EMI have lost contact with the estate of Flanagan and his heirs and band members, and that royalty checks are being returned to the record company by the Post Office.