Guy Lombardo was a Canadian-American bandleader and violinist, renowned for his distinctive "sweet" style of dance band music. He and his band, The Royal Canadians, achieved significant fame in the 20th century, becoming synonymous with New Year's Eve celebrations due to their regular performances of "Auld Lang Syne" at the midnight hour. Lombardo's style was shaped by his desire to create a smooth, harmonic sound that appealed to the general public, avoiding the jazzier, improvisational trends of his contemporaries. His influence can be seen in the tradition of 'easy listening' music, marking him as a significant figure in American popular music.