JACK BENNY'S DENNIS DAY DIES AT 71 -

LOS ANGELES -- Dennis Day, 71, a golden-voiced Irish tenor whose career as a foil

for comedian Jack Benny spanned decades of radio, television and films,

died June 22 at his home here. He had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,

also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Mr. Day had undergone brain surgery in March after suffering a fall.

He got his start in show business when Jack Benny was hunting for a

singer to replace Kenny Baker in 1939. A recording Mr. Day had made

earned him an audition, and an off-the-cuff wisecrack helped him land

the job, according to a studio biography.

With all the applicants gathered in an audition room, Benny called

out, "Oh Dennis!" Mr. Day replied, "Yes, please."

"That's it!" Benny whooped.

Born Eugene Denis McNulty in New York City, he was graduated from St.

Patrick's Cathedral High School and attended Manhattan College.

He assumed the name Dennis Day when he joined Benny's radio show as a

singer in 1939, and quickly matured into a comic target for the host.

One of Mr. Day's trademark lines was a sprightly, "Gee, Mr. Benny!"

With a nationwide audience on radio, Mr. Day gained popularity with

his renditions of "Danny Boy," "Clancy Lowered the Boom," and other

ballads. Another Day favorite, "Peg of My Heart" was a ballad he sang

for his wife.

Mr. Day moved to television with Benny's show in 1950, making

irregular appearances.

In the 1950s Mr. Day became a regular on such TV variety shows as

"All Star Revue," "Hour Glass," "The RCA Victor Show," "Max Liebman

Presents" and his own "Dennis Day Show."

He also appeared in several films, including "Buck Benny Rides

Again," "Music in Manhattan," "One Sunday Afternoon" and "The Girl Next

In their later years, the Days divided their time between their Bel

Air home and a second home in Hawaii. He enjoyed horseback riding and

During a vacation in Hawaii last year, Mr. Day became aware of a

muscle-control problem and returned to the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla,

Calif., where doctors diagnosed ALS.

While using a wheelchair in recent months, Mr. Day continued to make

appearances at Irish fairs and medical benefits.

Survivors include his wife, Peggy Margaret McNulty, their 10 children

and 13 grandchildren.

ALLAN C. FERGUSON

Piano Tuner and Musician

Allan C. Ferguson, 70, a retired piano tuner and a musician who

played with the Montgomery and Prince George's symphonies and other

groups in the Washington area, died of cancer June 21 at Holy Cross

Mr. Ferguson, a resident of Hyattsville, was born in Chicago. He

earned a law degree at the University of Chicago and he served in the

Army in World War II.

He moved to the Washington area after the war and worked briefly as a

lawyer for the Department of Agriculture. In the late 1940s he owned the

Ferguson Piano Co., an outlet for Yamaha pianos. He sold the business in

the 1960s but continued to work as a piano tuner until retiring about 10

years ago.

Mr. Ferguson's instruments were the piano and the viola. In addition

to the Prince George's and Montgomery symphonies, he played with the

Music Makers of Washington and various other groups, including chamber

ensembles.

Survivors include his wife, Esther Leenov Ferguson of Hyattsville.

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