Rudy Render

By Marv Goldberg

© 2025 by Marv Goldberg

Rudy Render, pianist and singer, had a big 1949 hit with "Sneakin' Around". No other releases seemed to work out for him, but he had a more enduring musical career than most.

Let's start our story, naturally enough, with Buncom Render, who married Myrtle Hines, in Owensboro, Kentucky, in November 1903. On June 16, 1904, they had a daughter, Helena May Render. In the 1910 census, all three are there.

On October 28, 1911, Buncom Render made the Owensboro Twice-A-Week Messenger:

On Tuesday night of last week [October 17], in a fit of rage and jealousy, Buncom Render, a well known man of Hayti, Hartford's negro settlement, shot and instantly killed Tom Castle, another negro. Castle, however, was not the man Render intended to kill, but another negro, whom he thought had been disrupting the felicity of his home by paying too much attention to his (Render's) wife. Render thought he was slipping up on a meeting of the two. Render came to Hartford, surrendered to the authorities and was placed in jail.

So, he surrenders and admits to killing a man. But, only a couple of weeks later, the Hartford, Kentucky Ohio County News of November 1 had this:

Com'th [Commonwealth Of Kentucky] vs. Buncom Render, charged with murder - verdict of jury, not guilty.

Seems to me that the next time I want to kill someone, I'm going to make sure I do it in Kentucky.

Buncom died in 1917, years before Rudy Render was born. Why then, you may ask, do I bring him up? Good question. Hang on a bit (and remember Buncom's daughter, Helena May Render).

Let's forge ahead to July 1, 1926, when Rudolph Adolphus Render was born in Terre Haute, Indiana. His parents, per his birth certificate, were Bernard Render and Ethel Howell. Bernard was usually known as "Bernard Lascellas Render" and Ethel as "Ethel Lester Render", but more often as just "Lester Render" (as she was in the 1930, 1940, and 1950 censuses).

Around seven weeks after Rudolph was born, actor Rudolph Valentino died. I imagine that his parents then renamed him "Rudolph Valentino Render", a name he used for the rest of his life. (It was on every official document, even his tombstone. "Adolphus" was never used again.)

Rudy had a brother, Bernard Ezra Lascellas Render, some two years older. He became a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, but doesn't have much else to do with our story.

Now comes the fun. When Bernard, Sr registered with the World War 1 draft, in September 1918 (in Marion, Indiana), he and Ethel Lester Howell hadn't yet married. He answered the question "Nearest Relative" with: "Helena May Render (daughter)" of Hartford, Kentucky. Huh?

Remember, she was Buncom's daughter in 1910 and now (since Buncom had died the year before), she somehow became Bernard's daughter. Did Bernard adopt her? If so, why? Helena, in 1920, was living in Court House, Kentucky with Myrtle Hines' sister, Ruth. Myrtle herself, now a widow, was living with her father, in Hartford.

Rudy's eventual obituary would say that he had a sister, Helena [Render] Pritchett, who preceded him in death. When his father, Bernard, died in 1934, his obituary said Helena was his daughter. Helena herself was confused. Her death certificate said her father was Bernard, but her Social Security record said it was Buncom.

So how do I reconcile all this? I can't. Some online trees give the same names for Buncom's parents and for Bernard's, but no tree has Buncom and Bernard as brothers (or even relatives). Bernard's 1934 death certificate doesn't name his parents.

[I have to wonder: was the guy Buncom meant to kill back in 1911 actually Bernard? Was Helena actually Bernard's daughter? Listen closely and you can hear the organ music swelling as we pause for a soap commercial.]

Why did I bring all this up? Don't you get tired of reading "the singer recorded this" and "the singer appeared here"? This is far more interesting (and, we'll get to the boring stuff soon enough).

In the 1930 census (Terre Haute), we find Bernard, Sr, his wife Lester (never Ethel in censuses), Bernard, Jr, and Rudolph. Bernard, Sr is a "molder" in a machine shop.

But when he died, in November 1934, his obituary was for the Reverend Bernard Render. It said he was survived by his wife "Ester" (obviously a combination of "Ethel" and "Lester") and three children: Ezra Bernard, Rudolph, and Mrs. Helena May Pritchett.

The 1940 census, still in Terre Haute, had Lester (a widow), Bernard, Jr and Rudolph.

When Rudy registered for the draft (July 1, 1944), it was as "Rudolph Valentino Render", still living with his mother and unemployed (he'd just graduated Wiley High School).

And then, off to college. Rudy worked his way through Indiana State Teachers College by playing piano at local clubs, such as the Flamingo Room, although there was only a single March 17, 1948 ad that mentioned him ("Piano Magic").

Rudy played at a concert at Wiley High School, his alma mater, on April 30, 1948. He sang "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" as part of the Indiana State Teachers College Men's Choir, on May 6, at the College's Student Union Auditorium.

Enter Bill Hays, Jr. His father, Will Hays, was an Indiana politician who got Warren G. Harding elected president (and became Postmaster General for his efforts). More important, he was the guy who headed the movie censorship movement [boo!].

Hays saw Rudy at a Terre Haute club and convinced him to move to California once he got his Bachelor Of Arts degree, which he did in June 1948 (as Rudolph V. Render). In December, Rudy not only moved to Los Angeles, but into Hays' Beverly Hills home.

The July 2, 1949 Los Angeles Tribune mentioned a June 27 television show, which was a benefit for Westview Hospital. Those appearing included Kitty White, the Ebonaires, Ella Fitzgerald, Joyce Bryant, Bobby Short, the Benny Carter Orchestra, and, of course, Rudy Render.

Lillian Cumber's column in the August 13 Los Angeles Tribune had this:

Most promising singer to be discovered since Arthur Lee Simpkins is young Rudy Render of Indiana. Rudy was singing in one of the small clubs of his hometown when discovered by the Bill Hays family, former Motion Picture Producers Ass'n president, who prevailed upon him to come to Hollywood. They felt that the young man had the voice that should be heard in the film capital. Rudy has been signed by London Record Co. and several exclusive hotels are bidding for his services. [That last clause is typical press agent garbage; Rudy didn't appear at any hotels, exclusive or not.]

The August 20 Los Angeles Tribune said: "Rudy Render, a new song discovery, opened at Leon & Freddie's on the strip Friday night. He's well worth watching."

But Lillian Cumber was right about Rudy having been signed by London Records. The August 27, 1949 Billboard said:

Rudy Render was inked by London Records as the first artist in the diskery's rhythm and blues department. Render, an Indiana lad who sounds like a cross between Charley Brown and Billy Eckstine, unsuccessfully knocked on doors here in search of recognition.

Either in late July or early August, Rudy had recorded four songs for London: "A Stranger", "The Gal I Love", "Sneakin' Around" (written by Jessie Mae Robinson), and "Don't Rub Your Blues On Me".

All four seemed to have been released in August: "Sneakin' Around", backed with "The Gal I Love" and "Don't Rub Your Blues On Me", coupled with "A Stranger". Although it was never reviewed, "Sneakin' Around" rose to #2 on the Billboard R&B charts (on November 12 and November 19) in a 15-week run (but no one was going to beat Louis Jordan's "Saturday Night Fish Fry", at #1). The song would also be done by Joe Morris (as "Sneaking Around", Decca, 1949), B.B. King (RPM, 1955), and the Lapels (Melker, 1960).

An October 22, 1949 Pittsburgh Courier article about Rudy Render talked about his hit record of "Sneakin' Around" on London. Its flip, "A Stranger", was written by Madeline Greene and Wini Brown (and copyright on September 6, 1949). However, they got it wrong. The flip of "Sneakin' Around" was "The Gal I Love". "A Stranger", also on London, was the flip of "Don't Rub Your Blues On Me". The incorrect pairing also appeared in a September record store ad.

"A Stranger" was reviewed in the September 17 issues of both Billboard and Cash Box; but the magazines begged to differ with each other:

A Stranger (BB; 72): London's first blues-rhythm artist has a style somewhere between Billy Eckstine and Billy Kenny. This doesn't look like the side that'll put him over.

Don't Rub Your Blues On Me (BB; 71): Material tries hard, but merits the same comment as flip.

(CB; Award O' The Week): New star on the wax horizon comes up here with a hot one in his first release [sic] to set the stage for some torrid coin play via this coupling. The platter, titled "A Stranger" and "Don't Rub Your Blues On Me", is loaded with coin culling potential, and should prove to be a big one for music operators. It's the top deck that we go for in a big way. Rudy's clear, sincere vocal of this melancholy ditty is top notch listening fare. It's the type of blues tune you want to hear time and again. Excellent musical backdrop more than adds to the winning incentive found here. On the other end, with "Don't Rub Your Blues On Me", Rudy wails the sad yet comely wax story found on this side. It's good blues, and is a side that should sit well with music fans. Music ops should keep their eyes peeled for Rudy, and climb aboard this winner!

So, as I've asked before: what do you, as an operator (owner of one or more juke boxes) do now? One trade publication says it's great, the other one says "blah".

On November 12, Rudy and Kitty White appeared at the second birthday party for the Western IPP [Independent Progressive Party] Club, held at Salamander Hall in Los Angeles.

The December 3, 1949 Oklahoma City Black Dispatch had this:

"He couldn't see the trees for the forest" might aptly be applied to talent hunter extraordinary Horace Heidt insofar as Rudy Render is concerned. Because Bandleader Heidt, although he had this gifted young piano and vocal stylist on his [radio talent] show last August, failed utterly to note his talents.

It was not until Berle Adams, another outstanding genius for "finding" talent, heard the youth that his future was born. Adams' attention was first called to the youth's talents by Will Hays Jr., who has evidenced an interest in his career.

A short while later, Adams, who supervises the careers of such noted artists as Louis Jordan ..., signed young Rudy Render to make a waxing for London Records. The platter, labeled "Sneaking [sic] Around", is rated No. 6 on Billboard's record poll. Currently, Adams is prepping the youngster for a nation-wide tour with bookings in leading night clubs.

But fame is a slippery thing. The December 8 Los Angeles Daily News, in Ray Hewitt's Spotlighter column said: "Next Tuesday [December 13], Rudy Render, whose recording of "Slippin' Around [so close]" is such a hit, and Joyce Bryant will be added to the show [at the Oasis]."

This one I don't understand. The December 8, 1949 Los Angeles Evening Citizen News said: "Rudy Render, the new pianist at the Gourmet Beverly, is Will Hays Jr.'s Negro houseboy." You'll see my confusion when we get to the 1950 census.

The venue seemed to be called the Beverly Hills Gourmet, since the January 7, 1950 Pittsburgh Courier said:

Rudy Render, popular London recording artist, opened at the Beverly Hills Gourmet, swank restaurant, for a limited engagement. He recently closed at Eddie DeSure's Oasis Club.

Render's "Sneakin' Around" rates high as a juke box hit. He is set to wax several brand new tunes this month.

Rudy's January 1950 London recordings were "Will Power", "So Many Beautiful Women (And So Little Time)", "Rock Me To Sleep", and "Just Thinkin'". The first two were released in February. The March 4 Pittsburgh Courier had this to say:

Rudy Render, whose rendition of "Sneakin' Around" on the London label made juke box history [it did?], has another hit coming up in "So Many Beautiful Women". Flip side of the platter is "Will Power".

Render puts the same feeling in his latest waxing as he did in "Sneakin' Around". The latter number was Rudy's very first recording.

Sometime in early 1950, London re-released "Sneakin' Around" and "The Gal I Love", this time on a 45 RPM disc.

Rudy was one of those at a Record Preview Party, on Feb 23, 1950, at the Coral Room of the Roger Young Auditorium. Also there, spotlighting their new releases, were Russ Morgan, the Sons Of The Pioneers, Buz Butler (originator of "Mule Train"), Harry Babbit, Mr. Goon Bones, and Polly Bergen.

The March 25 Billboard reviewed his new record:

Will Power (79): Render does a convincing job with a blues of some substance.

So Many Beautiful Women (70): He sells strong, but falls short with a not too novel novelty.

"Will Power" never made the national charts, but was #8 in Cleveland on April 22, 1950.

Remember I said I didn't understand that blurb that called him "Will Hays Jr's Negro houseboy"? In the 1950 census, he was living with Hays's family in elite Beverly Hills. Their next door neighbor was actor Mark Stevens, and, in the immediate neighborhood were actor Randolph Scott, director Billy Wilder, and producer Joseph Pasternak. Almost all of the houses in the neighborhood listed butlers, cooks, and maids. In Hays' household, Rudy was enumerated as a "guest".

The April 15 Michigan Chronicle seemed to think that "Will Power" was a big hit:

London Records appeared to have three more record hits on the markets this week as Rudy Render's new discing of "Will Power" continued to climb in sales....

Record reviewers predicted "Will Power" would also be successful in sales [as was "Sneakin' Around].

The June 11, 1950 Terre Haute Tribune reported Rudy returning home for a visit:

Terre Haute's versatile piano-playing singer, Rudy Render, is home for a brief visit with his mother, Mrs. Bernard Render, 1557 South Thirteenth street, and brother, Bernard, who will graduate from Indiana State today.

Rudy, a graduate of Wiley in 1944 and Indiana State Teachers College in the summer of '48, has been successful in the music record making business since leaving Terre Haute in December of 1948.

Arriving in Hollywood, Calif., Render became acquainted with numerous musical and stage stars and was signed to record for London Records in May of 1949.His first break in show work came after participating in the Horace Heidt amateur program early in 1949. His work with Heidt gave Rudy a spot on a television program which featured such well-known showmen and showmen as Bob Hope, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Charlie Ventura, Allen Young, Ethel Waters and many others.

He will return to Hollywood and new television shows either late Wednesday night or early Thursday.

Also in June, London released "Just Thinkin'" and "Rock Me To Sleep". They were reviewed in the July 1, 1950 Cash Box:

Long missing [?] from the phono spotlight, Rudy Render comes up with a pair that might blossom into the spotlight. Rudy's vocal on both sides makes for excellent listening pleasure, as the Maxwell Davis ork furnish an easy to listen to backdrop. We like the top deck ["Just Thinkin'"] a wee bit better than the flip.

On August 12, Rudy was a guest on "Buzz Adlam's Playroom", a television show broadcast on ABC affiliates (KECA in L.A.). He sang "Darling Nellie Gray", "Every Time I Meet You", and "S'Wonderful".

From around January 1951 to December 1952, Rudy was in the Army, stationed at Fort Ord (on Monterey Bay in northern California). Soldiers from the base would go to various northern California venues to entertain. Here are some of Rudy's appearances:

February 10, 1951: Del Monte Kennel Club in Carmel
April 1951: Del Courtney's TV show from San Francisco (exact date unknown)
June 18, 1951: Hollister Rotary Club (sang "Old Man River" and "Without A Song")
July 22, 1951: he and Sgt Donald Dimoney did a duet on Horace Heidt's TV show
July 24, 1951: at the B'nai Brith in Salinas
July 27, 1951; on a Cerebral Palsy telethon
Oct 4, 1951: at Hollister High School
February 14, 1952; at a Valentine's Dance at Redwood Gardens in Salinas
February 15, 1952: at the Salinas Optimist Club
March 10, 1952: at Hartnell College in Salinas. He's called "Ft. Ord's Mr. Personality"
March 18, 1952: at Naval Women's Club in Del Monte
March 22, 1952: at Pacific Grove High School Auditorium in "Tick Tock Varieties"
May 22, 1952: in the "Shellzapoppin" variety show at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
            (he sang "Blacksmith Blues" and "Old Man River")
That show continued, at various locations, through July

On January 17, 1953, ex-PFC Rudy Render began a month's stay at Cafe Gala in L.A.

Now, we have an example of Hollywood clout. This was in the August 15, 1953 Philadelphia Tribune:

JOAN CRAWFORD - Talent Scout - Favorably impressed by the voice of an unknown singer, RUDY RENDER, whom she happened to hear at a Hollywood shindig, Joan secured a spot for the singer in her forthcoming MGM flick, "Torch Song".

In that film, Joan sang "Follow Me" (although the voice you hear is that of India Adams). The tune was reprised by Rudy at the piano.

People were always taking Rudy under their wing. First Will Hays, then Joan Crawford, and finally Debbie Reynolds. In 1990, Debbie published an autobiography, "Debbie: My Life", which was reviewed in the New Straits Times (a Malaysian newspaper) of July 27, 1990. The relevant part explained how her brother, Billy, had been drafted and was at Fort Ord at the same time as Rudy. He was impressed with Rudy's singing and playing and invited him to the Reynolds house for dinner. He and Debbie became friends and had a 15-year relationship, with Rudy becoming Debbie's secretary and musical director, working with her on stage shows and films.

The September 11, 1953 Valley Times said:

Burbank's Debbie Reynolds has lined up four performers to accompany her on a Korean trip and is seeking four more. Peggy King, Larry Roberts, Roscoe Ates, and Rudy Render are set. Debbie is having special music and acts written for the show.

However, I can't find any evidence that the tour ever happened.

Sticking around Los Angeles, Rudy was advertised at Joe Graydon's Supper Club between September 26 and November 22, 1953.

Remember how I mentioned Joan Crawford's clout in Hollywood? Well, it wasn't as powerful as you might think. The December 3, 1953 California Eagle reported that Rudy was hopping mad that the studio had dubbed in Bill Lee's voice over his in "Torch Song". "He feels like a pantomime artist and talking of going back home to Indiana."

In January and February 1954, Rudy was at Club Pigalle (spelled incorrectly in their own ad). The February 18 California Eagle said:

Before Rudy Render closed at Club Pigalle, several of his celebrated chums dropped over to catch his act. Among them: Debbie Reynolds and [football player] Dick "Night Train" Lane.

Also in February 1954, Decca, which was allied with London Records, re-released "Sneakin' Around". This time the flip was "Everytime", which, I presume, was a formerly-unreleased London cut. They were reviewed in the February 27 Billboard and the March 6 Cash Box:

Sneakin' Around (BB; 69): Rudy Render pleads for romance of the open and above-board variety. Performance is on the pop side.

Everytime (BB; 65): Attractive blues is warbled with ingratiating simplicity. A listenable side.

Sneaking [sic] Around (CB; B+): Rudy Render sings a slow blues with polish. A sentimental romantic ditty ably performed.

Everytime (CB; B): Flip is a slow sorrowful item. Render recalls when "she" was his. He doesn't even know where she is today. A strong performance with a pop feel.

Neither reviewer seemed to know that "Sneakin' Around" had been a hit some five years previously.

Rudy wrote a song and went home. This from the April 1, 1954 California Eagle:

Mindy Carson, the thrush, waxed Rudy Render's composition of "This Above All". [Rudy would record it himself in 1959.] Rudy has returned home to Terra [sic] Haute, Indiana to TEACH SCHOOL!

True. In March 1954, he'd returned to Indiana to teach and get his Masters Degree, although he still did entertaining. In April 1955, he was reported to be a fourth grade student teacher in Terre Haute. The May 29 Terre Haute Tribune had Rudolph Valentino Render (still at the same family address as in the 1930 census) receiving his Masters (although it was, the paper said "To be conferred at the close of the summer term").

But early August found him back in L.A., performing at the Tiffany Club, along with Helen Humes, through the Labor Day weekend. This time, it was "Rudy Render and his trio", one of whom was bassist Wesley Prince. And, said the August 25, 1955 California Eagle:

Enjoyed chatting with crooner Eddie Fisher and his Debbie at Jack Tucker's Tiffany Club the night before quitting town. Miss Reynolds and Eddie dropped in to catch their boy Rudy Render, whose trio is billed at the jazz haven along with humid Helen Humes and folk-singer Stan Wilson.

Debbie would marry Eddie Fisher the following month. Spoiler alert: it wouldn't last.

Helen Humes wrote a song called "Woojamacooja" with Rudy. She released it, on Dootone, in October 1955.

On September 30, 1955, Rudy started at the Hollow Egg in San Francisco. Also on the bill was Maya Angelou (a calypso singer) and a new talent named John Mathis (I'll go out on a limb and predict big things for him).

On March 30, 1956, Rudy (sans trio) and the Red Norvo Trio opened at the Desert Inn, in Palm Springs, California. On May 19, it was the Versailles Room (soon to be renamed the Saddle And Sirloin) on Sunset Strip. On July 24, he opened at the Fallen Angel in San Francisco. Then, on October 12, it was back to the Desert Inn. Presumably that was a short engagement, since the Desert Inn's November 7 ad said that the "Rudy Render Duo" was playing a return engagement. (No idea who the other half of the duo was.) On November 21, he (but no duo) opened at Malcoff's Stein And Sirloin in Phoenix. By early December, he was back at the Desert Inn. Rudy was certainly keeping busy.

The January 10, 1957 California Eagle said that Rudy was to record "Foolish Boy", another Jessie Mae Robinson song. If he did, it was never released.

While Bobby Troup was filming the amazingly silly "Bop Girl Goes Calypso", Rudy filled in for him at the Keynoter, starting in early April. He was still there in September, although the film had been released in July.

Some more recording. In May 1957, Rudy waxed a bunch of songs at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. Fourteen of them ended up on an LP (If You Knew Rudy) from Page Records (Palm Desert, California) in June. Most of the tunes were standards (like "If You Knew Susie", "The Lady Is A Tramp", "Love For Sale", "Hard Hearted Hannah", "The Nearness Of You", and "Love Is A Simple Thing"); some he co-wrote ("This Above All", "Ooo-La-La", "From Where I Sit", and "Deep Down Inside"). The musicians on the session were Al Viola (guitar), Alec Kaeck (bass), Don Heath (drums), and Rudy (piano and vocals). See the discography for all the titles.

Also in June, Rudy copyrighted three songs that he'd co-written: "Deep Down Inside" (with John Considine), "From Where I Sit" (with Norman Goldblatt), and "Sugarboat" (with Claude Baum). Presumably "Sugarboat" was also recorded for Page, but not released.

The October 3, 1957 California Eagle reported:

The old ear-bender [a stupid way of saying "singer"], Rudy Render, pens from the Big Apple (New Yawk) to say he is there making some test records for the Coral label and will have a business luncheon with singer Johnny Mathis in the next couple of days.

While Coral never released anything by Rudy, it's possible that he was just recording demos of songs he'd written that other singers would end up recording.

The March 27, 1958 California Eagle had a little blurb. In light of subsequent events, you don't know whether to laugh or cry:

Piano vocalist Rudy Render TWA'd [flew] in at his pal Debbie Reynolds Fisher's insistence. The star has hired the lad to do the arrangement for her first album. However, Render has not been able to begin his chore, as Debbie and her famous singer hubby Eddie have been so broken up over the death of their pal Mike Todd.

[For future generations: producer Mike Todd, who was married to actress Elizabeth Taylor, had been killed in a plane crash on March 22. His "pal", Eddie Fisher, spent a lot of time consoling the widow. So much so, that he divorced Debbie Reynolds and married Elizabeth Taylor in May 1959. Eddie and Debbie had a daughter, Carrie Fisher, who went on to portray "Princess Leia" in the "Star Wars" movies (a fact that will be brought up again later).]

On September 30, 1958, the Washington Daily News reported:

The Eddie Fishers not only have a broken marriage [they'd separated by September 10], they have a battered station wagon.

Just before the rift was announced, Debbie Reynolds' song arranger, Rudy Render, doing an errand in the Fisher wagon, was in a collision. Did $1,000 damage to the car. Render has retained attorney Ed Hookstratten and will sue the other driver for $40,000.

Probably in September, while avoiding auto accidents, Rudy recorded a couple of tunes for Edison International: "Please Accept My Love" and "It Isn't Fair". They were released in October, but not reviewed.

Another session for Edison International followed in early 1959, resulting in "These Foolish Things", backed with "This Above All", released in March. "This Above All" had found its way onto the Page LP and had been recorded by Mindy Carson back in 1954.

The April 16, 1959 California Eagle had an ad showing Big Jim Randolph's top 10 songs for the week (he was a DJ on KGFJ). The "Challenger Of The Week", right behind the Medallions' "Magic Mountain", was "These Foolish Things". This is what Randolph had to say:

There is a talent in this big town who is so great that he has been completely ignored. His name is Rudy Render. He has just recorded an old standard that is so sensational that this young man may be this country's next great talent. His rendition of "These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You" is being compared to Coleman Hawkins' immortal "Body And Soul". For those that are sentimental, for those who dig great music, and for those who want to enjoy the greatest singer of the year, we heartily recommend Rudy Render.

The tunes were reviewed in the April 20 Billboard and the April 25 Cash Box:

These Foolish Things (BB; 3 stars): This side features the great standard in a slow, rocking fashion with a big fiddle back-up. Render sings it with ease and appeal. A classy side.

This Above All (BB; 3 stars): Render, who once had a big hit on London, comes up with another nicely-paced ballad side, done to gently rocking tempo. Pleasant programming on both sides.

Cash Box: Chances are Edison International's gonna have its first national chart outing in this release that spotlights the wonderful vocal talents of newcomer [?] Rudy Render. It's an oldie-newie combination with Gary Russell's ork supplying the thrilling rock-a-ballad musical backdrops. "These Foolish Things" is the magnificently-revived durable and "This Above All" is the beautiful new entry. Rudy's soft, rich interpretations (a la Brook Benton) of these two tunes are a listening treat.

At least someone read the Cash Box review calling him a "newcomer". The May 7 California Eagle said:

Singer Rudy Render is getting a real charge reading the record reviews of his "These Foolish Things" platter. The scribes refer to him as a new singing discovery. The fellow had his first record hit over a decade ago. It was titled "Sneakin' Around".

Keeping busy, Rudy also wrote the music to the title tune from the 1959 Debbie Reynolds film "It Started With A Kiss" (lyrics by Charles Lederer).

Another tune he wrote was "Ask Me To Go Steady" (along with Johnny Baron), which Debbie Reynolds recorded for Dot in 1959. The October 29, 1959 California Eagle said:

Tune parent [song writer] Rudy Render, who is quite an entertainer in his own right, phoned to say that he is now a member of ASCAP after penning the Debbie Reynolds tune, "Ask Me To Go Steady", that is getting the big push from the nation's disc jockeys.

In spite of his questionable driving record, the March 3, 1960 California Eagle said:

Singer-arranger Rudy Render says that new Falcon he's piloting was a gift. If his anonymous benefactor is who we think it is, he is more than deserving!

There was one more Edison International release, this time around July 1960: "To You, My Love", backed by "What'll I Do" (an oldie that was almost unrecognizable because of the odd arrangement).

The same month, there was a release on Dot: "Too Much To Lose", paired with "The Heart You Break May Be Your Own". Unreleased from that session was "Please Send Me Someone To Love". The July 21 California Eagle said:

The ol' ear bender Rudy Render sweated it out during a recording session for Dot Records and prexy Randy Woods the other P.M. Kitty White and Debbie Reynolds, two of "the best friends he has in this world", sat in the sound booth and gave him moral support. Rudy recorded one of his own tunes, "The Heart You Break May Be Your Own" (crazy title) and Percy Mayfield's oldie but goodie, "Please Send Me Someone To Love'. He may have a thing going for him here!

The Dot release was reviewed in the August 8, 1960 Billboard and the August 13 Cash Box:

Too Much To Lose (BB; 3 stars): The singer shows off his warm piping on another attractive ballad. Lad could grab some coins with this.

The Heart You Break May Be Your Own (BB; 3 stars): Rudy Render bows on the label with a meaningful reading of a tearful ballad. Render has a warm style that is worth watching.

Too Much To Lose (CB; B+): Current Carl Belew country click receives an appealing pop pose from the singer and easy combo-femme chorus. Enough plays could get deck off the ground.

The Heart You Break May Be Your Own (CB; B): Straight pop ballad is warmly rendered.

On October 27, Debbie Reynolds had a TV special appropriately named "Debbie"; Rudy wrote the title tune for her. The October 14 Evening Sun called him: "long time accompanist for the actress-singer. He also serves as her secretary."

Some time after 1960, Rudy's mother, Lester Render, moved to Los Angeles and the two of them lived together until her October 1990 death.

On April 24, 1961, Rudy started at Ye Little Club in Beverly Hills. In early May, said the May 9 Morristown Gazette-Mail: "Debbie Reynolds and Harry Karl [her current husband] took 20 people to hear singer Rudy Render at Ye Little Club. Rudy does arrangements for Debbie."

No idea what to make of this. The May 11, 1961 California Eagle had this:

Rudy Render, the singer and one of Terre Haute, Indiana's favorite sons is producing and directing 16 millimeter films on weekends and it's a real swinging scene. Actors are mostly Terre Haute natives and it's a labor of love for them. Actor-writer Carl Reiner is said to have helped on the material. Newest production is called "Until Lisa" and Rudy tells us nothing much ever happened until Lisa. It figures, we guess!

Rudy's last record release was "Not One Tear" (my favorite), backed with "Walkin' Thru The Ruins", on Dot, from June 1961. They were reviewed in the July 22 Cash Box:

Not One Tear (B+): Vocalist Render nicely gets to the heart of the blues-styled plaintive. Attractive easy-beat combo-chorus backing is directed by Billy Vaughn. Appealing teen-slanted programming

Walkin' Thru The Ruins (B): Brighter, Latinish beat backs the performer's portrayal of another wistful tune.

Sometime in 1961, Rudy wrote a song called "Look Away" that was recorded by Al Hibbler on Reprise.

On September 26, Rudy was at Ye Little Club again, this time for at least a month.

While Rudy would occasionally be mentioned as appearing somewhere for the next five years, most of that time he'd be with Debbie Reynolds, not only as a writer-arranger, but also as her orchestra conductor.

For example, on December 19, 1962, she started a month at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas and the December 14 Van Nuys News & Valley Green Sheet said "Musical conductor will be Rudy Render."

When Debbie wasn't appearing anywhere, Rudy would take a job, such as at Ye Little Club in June 1963. He was still there at the end of November, when the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported:

Debbie Reynolds raised the roof (and the receipts) at the Beverly Hills Little Club, where her male secretary, Rudy Render, has been augmenting his daytime salary by playing the piano nights. Debbie's press agent "accidentally" tipped off the press, but only a few of us arrived for the Big Event. She brought in Harve Presnell and Ed Begley, her co-stars in Metro's "Unsinkable Molly Brown", and they took over the stage with a swingin' version of "Belly Up To The Bar, Boys". Debbie told me she may remain at Metro after "Molly" to do a pas de deux et trios et quatre et cetera for producers Bill Perlberg et George Seaton in "Merrily We Roll Along".

The December 23 Brooklyn Daily is probably talking about a different night:

Craziest climax to Debbie Reynolds' visit to Ye Little Club to pay tribute to singer Rudy Render, who also is her composer and arranger. Debbie got up and entertained. So did Elaine Stritch, who was with Grover Daly.

It finally got to the point where you needed a pratfall or something to get off. So Debbie walked up and poured two glasses of water down the front of Elaine's dress.

There was nothing at all about Rudy in 1964, but when Debbie opened at the Riviera in Las Vegas on January 21, 1965, he was mentioned as the conductor of the Jack Cathcart Orchestra. He was also in the ad when she opened at Miami's Eden Roc on March 18. He and Debbie were back at the Riviera, for six weeks, starting December 20, 1966, and again at the Eden Roc in February 1967 (when he was conducting the Val Olman Orchestra).

Debbie returned to the Riviera on March 7, 1967 for four weeks. Rudy was, once again, conducting the Jack Cathcart Orchestra. But this was the last time he was mentioned with her. At this point, she turned to TV and movie work, not live appearances.

Starting in 1968, Rudy worked as an elementary school teacher in the North Hollywood area, until retiring in 2001.

On October 17, 1975, Rudy attended a party for Debbie at the Thalian's Ball (at L.A.'s Century Plaza Hotel) that saw 1200 people attend. The October 21 Los Angeles Times said: "... more than three dozen of her Hollywood friends, ranging alphabetically from June Allyson to Jane Withers, got up from their tables to crowd on stage for the finale as an in-person tribute to the evening's heroine." It didn't say what Rudy did, if anything.

The June 18, 1983 Los Angeles Times had an article about Debbie Reynolds showing up at Rudy's third-grade class to show them dance moves for a school show. The best part was that none of the kids had ever heard of Debbie, but once they knew she was the mother of "Princess Leia" from "Star Wars", the ice was broken.

Rudy's brother, Bernard, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, died on May 12, 1999. Since Helena Render Pritchett had died in 1992 (with no obituary), she wasn't mentioned in Bernard's obituary, so I don't know if Bernard considered her a sister.

Rudolph Valentino Render died on September 11, 2014 in Los Angeles and was buried in Terre Haute. His obituary in the September 21 Terre Haute Tribune-Star said:

He was also preceded in death by his beloved brother, LTC (retired) Bernard L. Render, Jr, and sister, Helena Pritchard [sic; s/b "Pritchett"].

As far as I can tell, Rudy never married.

It took until December, but the International Musician (publication of the American Federation Of Musicians) noted his passing. He'd been a member of Local 47 in Los Angeles.

Rudy Render was a really good singer and, by all accounts a really good entertainer. Aside from that, his was a most interesting career.


Special thanks to Billy Vera and Victor Pearlin.


LONDON
17000 Sneakin' Around / The Gal I Love - ca. 8/49
            Also released as 30014 (45 RPM) - early 1950
17001 Don't Rub Your Blues On Me / A Stranger - 8/49
30079 Will Power / So Many Beautiful Women (And So Little Time) - 2/50
17014 Rock Me To Sleep / Just Thinkin' - 6/50

DECCA (These are London masters)
28999 Sneakin' Around / Everytime - 2/54

PAGE (from Palm Desert, California; recorded May, 1957 in Hollywood)
LP-101 If You Knew Rudy - 6/57
   If You Knew Susie
   Let Me Love You
   The Lady Is A Tramp
   It's You
   Polymon Bongo
   This Above All*
   Love For Sale
   Hard Hearted Hannah
   Ooo-La-La*
   Deep Down Inside*
   The Nearness Of You
   'Deed I Do
   Love Is A Simple Thing
   From Where I Sit*

* Co-written by Rudy

EDISON INTERNATIONAL
F-403 Please Accept My Love / It Isn't Fair - ca. 10/58
F-417 To You, My Love / What'll I Do - ca. 7/60

DOT
16120 Too Much To Lose / The Heart You Break May Be Your Own - 7/60
16241 Walkin' Thru The Ruins / Not One Tear - 6/61

   UNRELEASED DOT
      Please Send Me Someone To Love (recorded ca. 6/60)