Skinnay Ennis joined
Hal Kemp's band as a drummer while both attended
the University of North Carolina. They stayed together after college
when Kemp formed his own professional band. Ennis soon started singing
as well as drumming, and by the mid-30s, his spotlight singing solos
made him Kemp's biggest star.
Ennis formed his own orchestra in 1938 which soon became a regular
personality on
Bob Hope's radio show. This gave him enough fame so that
his band was in demand in the summer off seasons.
After WWII he returned to Hope's program, where he remained until 1948.
He next had a similar spot on the
Bud Abbott and
Lou Costello radio show. Ennis
finally worked with various bands until his death.