Tony Romano was born into a vibrant musical family, one of 14 children, with parents who had emigrated from a small town near Napoli, Italy, the same hometown as renowned composer Harry Warren, who would later become a lifelong friend.
The family settled in Madera, California, and later in Fresno, where Tony's father established himself as a skilled shoemaker. Music was an integral part of their daily lives, and Tony's father took it upon himself to teach all his children various instruments. Tony learned to play the violin and guitar, while his siblings also received musical instruction.
The evening's entertainment often consisted of musical performances, with Tony's brother Nick accompanying on piano, Tony and his brother John playing guitar, and Tony and his father playing the violin. The entire family would sing together, creating a lively and harmonious atmosphere.
When Tony was just 15 years old, his older brother John took him to San Francisco to introduce him to comedian Al Pearce, who had a popular radio show called The Al Pearce Happy Go Lucky Hour, also known as Al Pearce and his Gang. Despite having won a scholarship to study the violin in Milan, Tony decided to join Pearce's show, which would enable him to support his entire family.
Tony Romano's remarkable career is perhaps most notable for his extensive travels during World War II, where he entertained millions of G.I.s as one of the original four members of Bob Hope's USO show, alongside Hope, Jerry Colonna, and Frances Langford. During this time, he performed for three U.S. Presidents: Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower, amassing an impressive 6 million miles of travel.
