Education
He was educated at Lorain High School, where he was a member of the National Honors Society, the student senate, the school newspaper staff (Hi-Y) and the chorus.
He was educated at Lorain High School, where he was a member of the National Honors Society, the student senate, the school newspaper staff (Hi-Y) and the chorus.
During World World War II he served in the Merchant Marine from October 1942 to 1946. By 1949 he formed a very successful orchestra which is credited with re-popularizing the Glenn Miller "sound," and which made many records, among them "Singing Winds", "Rag Mop" and "." The band was managed by Herb Hendler, an Radio Corporation of America A&R man who had signed Glenn Miller to his final record contract before Miller"s fatal plane crash in the English Channel during World World War World War II lieutenant was Hendler who had encouraged Flanagan to adopt the Miller sound that led to his success. Hendler also co-wrote "," which was recorded by many artists, including Chet Atkins, Rosemary Clooney, Red Foley and Julie London.
Flanagan"s recording of "Slow Poke", a #6 hit in early 1952, was the very first song played on the initial edition of the Today Show on January 14, 1952.
The Flanagan orchestra"s theme songs were "Giannina Mia" and "Singing Winds", the latter title also applying to the orchestra"s singing group. He joined the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers in 1950, and his popular-song compositions include "" and "Flanagan"s Boogie." During the peak of his career, he also lived in the suburban village of Malverne, New New York
As of August 19, 2010, and his Orchestra were listed by Electric and Music Industries Music as a missing royaltor, which means that Electric and Music Industries have lost contact with the estate of Flanagan and his heirs and band members, and that royalty checks are being returned to the record company by the Post Office.