Al Kavelin

Who was Al Kavelin?

Al Kavelin was considered by many to be one of the best sweet bandleaders of the 1930s and is best remembered today for featuring Carmen Cavallaro in his band.

Al Kavelin was born in Minsk Russia and came to Denver, Colorado at the age of 7 with his family. He was a graduate of the Royal Verdi Conservatory in Milan,Italy. During the 1930s at the urging of Eddie Duchin, Al Kavelin organized a similar orchestra to replace Duchin at the Central Park Casino, including Carmen Cavallero on the piano. The orchestra played coast-to-coast over the years at such spots as the Waldorf-Astoria, the Essex House, and the Biltmore in New York, the Blackstone in Chicago, the Mark Hopkins in San Francisco. In 1935, George Simon rated the band an "A" and reviewed the orchestra stating "Unquestionably, this is the finest smart hotel orchestra this reviewer has ever heard." Kavelin penned his theme song, "I Give You My Word," which became No. 1 on the Lucky Strike Hit Parade in 1941.