Richard D. “Dick” Stabile (1909-1980) was a musician, big-band leader, composer, and orchestral arranger. Born in Newark, New Jersey, he was the eldest son of a professional musician. He began playing the saxophone at fifteen and joined the Ben Bernie Band in 1928 at the age of nineteen. By 1936, he was leading his own orchestra and recording for the Decca, Bluebird, and Vocalion labels.