Ken Griffin

Kenneth W. "Ken" Griffin, born on December 28, 1909, in Columbia, Missouri, was an American organist. In the 1940s, Griffin began his career by performing at nightclubs such as the Rivoli Cafe in Aurora, Illinois, where his performances were broadcast on local radio station WMRO, helping him gain initial popularity. His breakthrough came with the release of "You Can't Be True, Dear" in 1948, which initially was an instrumental hit and later featured vocals by Jerry Wayne. The song sold over 3.5 million copies. Griffin's career included numerous album releases, such as Christmas Carols By Ken Griffin (1950), Ken Griffin At The Organ (1950), and Skating Time (1953). He also starred in the television program 67 Melody Lane from 1954 to 1955. Throughout his career, Griffin recorded for various labels including Columbia Records and Rondo. Following his death on March 11, 1956, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 46 due to a heart attack, Columbia Records continued to release his previously unissued recordings.