Pianist and bandleader Eddy Duchin was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 1, 1909. In 1929, following in his father's footsteps, he graduated from college with his degree as a pharmacist; however, the lure of a career in music resulted in his association with Leo Reisman's orchestra. In 1931 Duchin organized his own orchestra and subsequently had significant engagements at The Central Park Casino in New York and The Congress Hotel in Chicago. He recorded for the Columbia and RCA labels, was a popular radio entertainer, and appeared in several motion pictures.

On radio Duchin's Central Park Casino Orchestra broadcast over the NBC Blue network during the 1933-34 season under the sponsorship of Pepsodent's Junis Facial Cream. In 1936-37 his orchestra was sponsored by Cadillac, makers of the LaSalle automobile, on a series titled The LaSalle Style Show which was aired over the NBC Red network. Eliza beth Arden Cosmetics introduced their Hour of Romance program over the NBC Blue network beginning on September 29, 1937. The show featured Eddy Duchin's orchestra, with vocalist Stuart Allen, and announcers Preston Humphrey and Lyle Van. Also during the 1937-38 season, Duchin appeared on a show with vocalist Patricia Norman which aired over the NBC Red network sponsored by Kopper's Coke (the fuel, not the soft drink).

On September 5, 1938 The Eddy Duchin Show made its debut over the NBC Red network sponsored by Pall Mall Cigarettes; joining Eddy were vocalists Durelle Alexander, Morton Downey, The Mullen Sisters, Tony Russell, Jimmy Shields, The Tune Twisters, Nan Wynn, and announcers Harry Von Zell and Dwight Weist. The series left the air on May 29, 1939.

In 1940 The Washburn Candy Company sponsored Duchin on a musical show titled Crackpot College which was heard over the CBS network. At this point in his career, Eddy Duchin took time out from the show business spotlight to serve in combat with the Navy during World War II.

Starting on July 14, 1947 a new Eddy Duchin Show made its bow over the ABC network under the sponsorship of Kreml hair care products. The fifteen minute afternoon series aired three times weekly with guest vocalists and announcer Frank Waldecker. Duchin's other radio credits included work on Burns and Allen, The Kraft Music Hall, Spotlight Bands, and Ed Wynn's Fire Chief Show.

He was married twice; in 1935 to Marjorie Oelrichs, who died two years later shortly after the birth of their son Peter; and in 1947 he married Maria Paske-Smith Winn.

Eddy Duchin succumbed to leukemia at the age of forty-one on February 9, 1951. The Eddy Duchin Story, a motion picture chronicling Duchin's life, was released in 1956.