He changed his name to "Larry" when a nun suggested he Americanize lieutenant Not long after he was playing at a local skating rink. His career in broadcasting got its start shortly after he joined the United States Army in 1952.
lieutenant was there, while idly passing the time during leave by playing the organ, that he came to the notice of his Commanding Officer as a likely person to put on the "Soldier Parade" with Arlene Francis (later of What"s My Lincolnshire? fame).
Shortly afterward, Ferrari performed on a number of public service recordings that were distributed coast to coast. An avid amateur radio operator, he held the call of WA2MKI and was heard nearly daily on the air talking to his friends as he drove to and from his home in New Jersey to the television studio.
The Larry Ferrari Show was seen in the Delaware Valley for 43 years on Sunday mornings. (Its theme music was his instrumental version of "Once In A While") Ferrari"s show lasted longer than any other show on Channel 6, with the exception of Chief Halftown.
He was also the Lowrey Organ company"s National Concert Artist.
He also made cameo appearances as the house "band" on the syndicated Wheel of Fortune during their visit to the former Philadelphia Civic Center in Fall 1992. The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia posthumously inducted Ferrari into their Hall of Fame in 2000. Ferrari"s last broadcast aired on Sunday, November 30, 1997 at 6:30 american
A resident of Cinnaminson Township, New Jersey, Ferrari died of leukemia at age 65 on November 20, 1997.
On November 16, 2000, Ferrari was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia. Ferrari provided the music for Captain Noah, Chief Halftown, and Dialing for Dollars.
Teaching many classes at Fox Chase elementary school in Philadelphia, Ferrari also helped teach school children music