Russian conductor and musical director whose only radio show "Andre Kostelanetz Presents" was broadcast in the 1930s. He specialized in light classical music pieces and orchestral arrangements of Broadway show tunes that were designed to attract the mainstream.
He fled from Russia to the U.S. in 1922 to escape the Russian Revolution.
He sold over 50 million recordings during his career and also conducted the New York Philharmonic.
He had a 20-year marriage to his second wife Lily Pons that ended in 1958. He was previously married to singer Sary Joy. His cousin was physicist Lew Kowarski.
He collaborated with pianist Dick Hyman during the 1970s.
