William Malcolm Fitch

1926 - 2022

William Malcolm Fitch obituary, 1926-2022, Dallas, TX

FUNERAL HOME

Donnelly's Colonial - Irving

606 West Airport Freeway

Irving, Texas

William Fitch Obituary

FITCH, William Malcolm "Mal" Mal Fitch passed away peacefully at home on February 16, 2022, surrounded by family. He was 95. Well-known as Dallas' premier society orchestra leader from the 1960s through the 1980s, he and his Mal Fitch Orchestra became the standard for musical entertainment, playing for debutante parties, conventions, charity balls, weddings, four governors' inaugural balls, and three presidents. His success culminated in his being named as the house orchestra at the elegant Venetian Room supper club at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas in 1983, where they worked with the greatest performers in show business. Music was Mal's passion throughout life. He was born on December 9, 1926, in Dennison, Ohio, to Harold and Ethel Fitch. Learning piano at 5, he soon became proficient on violin and trombone. At 13, he fell in love with the swing bands of the era and decided to start his first 11-piece band called "The Barons of Rhythm," which played for school dances. Mal graduated from Lakewood High School in Cleveland and attended Bethany College in West Virginia. He excelled in school and was encouraged to pursue ministerial studies. Always an overachiever with strong work and moral ethics, he found time to pledge Sigma Nu fraternity, act in school plays, and preach on Sundays. Following his true passion, he again put together a five-piece dance band with a vocalist that played on Friday nights. In 1944, Mal was inducted into the Army Air Corps. When the war ended, he re-enlisted in the Army and was sent to Ft. Meade, Maryland, where he played in the 51st Signal Corps Band. Mal also started his own dance band that played at the local service club, where he met his future wife of 51 years, Betty Baker. She sang with his band the night they met, and they were married only months later at the Ft. Meade Chapel. After Mal's discharge from the Army, he graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College in history and music. He and Betty soon welcomed daughters Kathy and Debra. Mal and Betty began working as a musical duo and traveled around the Midwest, regularly appearing on a TV show in Dayton. He soon came to the Burgundy Room at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas in 1954 and was the first performer of the newly opened Tabu Room. Later he became the musical director of the popular singing quartet, The Crew Cuts. They worked in clubs and theaters and appeared on the Arthur Godfrey, Steve Allen, Ed Sullivan, and Jackie Gleason TV Shows. While in New York, Emarcy Records recorded Mal's first jazz album entitled "Mal Fitch." He was the pianist and vocalist and was joined by bassist Al Hall, drummer Cliff Leeman, and tenor sax player Sam Taylor. In the fall of 1955, Mal and the Crew Cuts went on tour, appearing at the Empire theaters across Great Britain. They worked with Petula Clarke on the TV show "Hit Parade" and shared the stage with Lena Horne on the popular British TV show "Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium." After Mal returned home, he and Betty celebrated the birth of their son Douglas. He soon took a position teaching World History at W.W. Samuell High School in Dallas while working nights at venues like the Skyrider's Club, the Bachelor's Club, Brookhaven Country Club, the Empire Room, and the Cipango Club. He recorded his second album, entitled "Mal Content," in 1956. Playing piano and singing the vocals, he was joined by bassist Claude Guinn and drummer Banks Dimon. The album featured the first recorded version of "Nice' n' Easy," made famous four years later by Frank Sinatra. As bookings increased, Mal decided to start Mal Fitch Orchestra, Inc. and BMF Booking Agency. His success grew and continued over the next 30 years, booking and backing stars including Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Rosemary Clooney, Mel Torme, and Ella Fitzgerald. He later recorded his third album entitled "Mal Fitch Orchestra Live." After Betty's passing in 2000, Mal served as President of the Hawkins-Hollylake Rotary Club. He began to donate his piano playing for churches, charities, and Rotary, which awarded him the Paul Harris Award for his outstanding contribution to his community. Mal was a 32nd degree Mason, a 50-year member of Texas Scottish Rite, and served as Worshipful Master of the Claud L. Austin Masonic Lodge. In 2003, Mal and Dorothy Roe Fitch were married and settled in Euless. Together they have traveled extensively, shared their love of music, remained active in their church and community, and have enjoyed life with their growing extended family. Mal is survived by his wife of 19 years Dorothy Roe Fitch, daughter Kathy Huth and her husband Steve, daughter Debra Yenne and her husband Tom, and son Douglas Fitch, grandsons Jordan Yenne, Andrew Yenne and his wife Lauren, Jonathan Huth and his wife Lindsey, Jacob Fitch and his wife Adrianna, and Caleb Fitch, and six great-grandchildren. Other survivors include stepdaughter Cindy Reddoor and her husband Robert, stepdaughter Deana Eiland and her husband David, and four step-grandchildren. Mal is preceded in death by wife Betty, great granddaughter Kate, granddaughter-in-law Amy, sister Miriam, and parents Harold and Ethel. A Celebration of Life service is planned for Saturday, March 12 at 2:00 at the Richardson Woman's Club, 2005 N. Cliffe Dr., Richardson, TX. Memorials may be made to Community Healthcare of Texas at chot.org

Published by Dallas Morning News on Feb. 27, 2022.
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Celebration of Life

2:00 p.m.

Richardson Woman's Club

2005 N. Cliffe Dr., Richardson, TX

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