Before starting the Waring Corporation, what was Fred Waring best known for?

Frederick Malcolm Waring (6/6/00 – 7/29/84) was called “America’s Singing Master” and “The Man Who Taught America How to Sing”. He formed his first band as a teen. It morphed into Fred Waring’s Banjo Orchestra, which was a success in his hometown, Tyrone, Pennsylvania.

He studied architectural engineering at Pennsylvania State University and unsuccessfully auditioned multiple times for the Penn State Glee Club. He left school to go on the road. His group became "Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians”.

The group was a commercial success. In 1932, while still performing on radio, “Waring’s Pennsylvanians” stopped making records. It added a male singing group, which was trained by Robert Shaw, who later directed the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

A $25,000 investment bought Waring the “Miracle Mixer” and the Miracle Mixer Company. These became the Waring Blendor and Waring Corporation. Waring spelled it "Blendor" on purpose, as a marketing ploy. Jonas Salk used one to develop his polio vaccine. The millionth blending unit was sold in 1954.

Waring returned to recording and sold millions of records during the 1940’s and 1950’s. He started the music publishing company Shawnee Press and successfully taught choral singing around the nation. Mr. Waring had his own television show (6/20/48 – 5/30/54) on CBS.

He held choral workshops at Penn State and his archives and memorabilia are at the university. He became a trustee and was designated a distinguished alumnus.