George DeWitt

George DeWitt (December 30, 1922 in Atlantic City, New Jersey – July 14, 1979 in Miami, Florida) was an American singer and comedian, best known was the host of the 1950s musical quiz television program, Name That Tune, which featured contestants guessing the name of popular tunes from a limited amount of notes, using his singing ability and good looks to make the show a hit. He later utilized his popularity on TV to become a recording artist for RKO Records.

DeWitt was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey. His given name was George Florentine, the second of four children (in order; Evelyn, George, Jackie, and Rudy Florentine). DeWitt's father Joseph was a police sergeant with the Atlantic City Police Department. As a boy during the Great Depression, DeWitt would sing on the street corners in Atlantic City for tips. Later, as a young man during high school, he would work as a singing waiter in clubs around Atlantic City. DeWitt always knew that show business was his calling. In fact, he had two great passions; entertainment and learning to be a pilot (he became accomplished at both). DeWitt would later serve his country as a pilot with the US Army Air Corps. Eventually, he entertained in USO tours during WWII. His nightclub and theater stints afterward led to becoming one of the first comedians to open for Frank Sinatra.

One evening during the 1950s at the legendary 500 Club in Atlantic City (where George’s brother Rudy worked) DeWitt entertained with the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.). While Davis was on stage doing a great job impersonating Jack Benny, DeWitt walked out from the wings, and ad-libbed an outstanding impersonation of Jack Benny's radio-TV valet Eddie "Rochester" Anderson. This might have been the first time that an African-American entertainer impersonated a white character, while a white entertainer impersonated an African-American character.

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