Wilfred Theodore (Ted) Weems (originally Wemyes) was born in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania on September 26, 1901.
Weems learned to play the violin and trombone at an early age. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he and his brother Art organized a small dance band. They went professional in 1923, toured for the MCA Corporation, and began recording for Victor Records. \"Somebody Stole My Gal\" became the band's first hit in early 1924. Weems moved to Chicago with his band around 1928, and had more chart success in 1929 with the novelty song \"Piccolo Pete\", and \"The Man from the South\".
Weems was with Victor Records from 1923 through 1933, although the final 3 sessions were released on Victor's recently started-up Bluebird label. He then signed with Columbia for two sessions in 1934 and finally signed with Decca in 1936. The band continued to gain popularity in the 1930s, making regular radio broadcasts. These included Jack Benny's \"Canada Dry Program\" on NBC during the early 1930s, and \"Fibber McGee & Molly\". In 1936, the Ted Weems Orchestra gave singer Perry Como his first national exposure, and Como recorded with the band on Decca Records, beginning his long and successful career. Among Weems' other discoveries were whistler-singer Elmo Tanner, sax player and singer Red Ingle, Marilyn Maxwell, and arranger Joe Haymes, who created the band's unique jazz-novelty style.
During World War II, Ted Weems enlisted in the United States Merchant Marines, directing the Merchant Marine Band. After the war, he reorganized his big band in 1947, making records for Mercury, including the hits \"Peg O' My Heart\" and \"Mickey\". However, the biggest hit of Weems' career was a reissue of his 1933 recording of \"Heartaches\" which topped the national charts for 13 weeks. Decca Records also seized the moment, and its reissue of \"I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now\" with vocals by Perry Como became another major chart hit.
Despite this sudden upswing of popularity, the hits dried up after 1947, however he continued to tour until 1953. At that time he accepted a disc jockey position in Memphis, Tennessee, later moving on to a management position with the Holiday Inn Hotel Chain.
Ted Weems died of emphysema in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 6, 1963.
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