Guy Lombardo, the band leader known for a half century of New Year's Eve celebrations with “the sweetest music this side of heaven, ”Constantly scoffed at by jazz critics 25“the King of Corn,” Guy Lombardo unabashedly played and played and played his “sweetest music” and, thus, became one of the most popular orchestra leaders in the history of American dance music. His New Year's Eve broadcasts, first on radio and then on television, made him a national institution, and it is thought that some 55 million people may have tuned in to his last New Year's Eve celebration, which was carried by the three major television networks.