ABSTRACT
American violinist, born in Chicago. He studied as a child in Florence and Paris, and made his debut in Paris on 6 June 1905, playing the Saint Saëns Third Concerto to great critical acclaim. He played the same concerto in his first “official” U.S. appearance, with the New York Symphony Orchestra on 8 Nov 1908 (he had performed earlier, as a guest soloist at the Metropolitan Opera House, 29 Nov 1908). He toured Europe; served in the U.S. Army during World War I, then concertized extensively and in 1941 he had his own CBS radio program. During World War II Spalding was again in the service, and was for a time head of Radio Rome (for the Allied forces). He was decorated by three governments for his military accomplishments. After five more years of concerts, he retired in 1950, and died in New York.
