Cassella, Danny

Danny Cassella was a Las Vegas, Nevada big band performer and orchestra leader from the 1940s to the 1960s. Cassella grew up in Newcastle, Pennsylvania, where he studied violin and drums. It was shortly after he graduated from Newcastle High School that a traveling musical show gave him the opportunity to fulfill his dreams. After gaining experience with the traveling production, Cassella's musical ability was noticed by a number of orchestras. He decided to go to Hollywood. He appeared in the 1933 movie Flying Down to Rio with Fred Astaire. While doing the film he aquired a new found talent for the rumba rhythm and a number of well-known bands asked Cassella to join them. In the course of a few years, Cassella appeared with a host of great orchestras. World War Two paused Cassella's career for several years, although he kept active with his drumming while serving in the U.S. Army. After being discharged, he put together a group of musicians called Danny Cassella and His Orchestra and resumed his music career. The band made several recordings and appeared in hotels, theater-restaurants, night clubs, theaters, and on radio programs.