NU2CUQ 1928 New York City, NY
The operator was Willian C. K.
Irwin, 2CUQ, later W2CUQ.
The cartoon artist was George Grover Cleveland Freisinger, 2ABT,
later possibly W2GS.
William C. K. Irwin was an American pianist, conductor, and
songwriter.
Irwin was born in San Francisco, and raised in Louisville,
Kentucky. With Australian composer Percy Grainger, Irwin studied
composition before joining the Manhattan School of Music in New
York City.
The musical theatre composer Vernon Duke introduced Irwin to
composer and songwriter George Gershwin in the 1920's. Irwin
would subsequently join Gershwin and pianist Oscar Levant in
piano improvisations at Gershwin's apartment. Irwin began a
six-year professional relationship with songwriter and composer
Irving Berlin, after being introduced to him by Gershwin. As
Berlin could not read or write music Irwin would write down music
as Berlin composed, often writing music down for Berlin in the
middle of the night.
Irwin was professionally engaged as the musical director of
touring productions of the musicals Oklahoma!, South Pacific and
The King and I in the 1940's. In the 1960's Irwin became the
choral director for Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall and later
the halls staff composer and musical director.
Irwin retired in 1979, and his wife Helen, died in 1984. They had a son, Dean, who was a television producer for ABC News. Irwin had lived in Staten Island for many years before his death in 1998.
January 1907 23 October 1998
QSL F2VX Collection
Info courtesy of W5KNE