Paul Lavalle was born as Joseph Usifer on September 6, 1908 in Beacon, New York and died in Harrisonburg, Virginia on June 24th, 1997. He studied music at the Juilliard School of Music and was a student of Joseph Schillinger. He is remembered as a composer, conductor, arranger, production director, and instrumentalist performer on clarinet and saxophone but his ambitions were mainly geared towards conducting. 

He became a member of the NBC Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini in 1933, which performed his first composition for symphony (Symphonic Rhumba) under the direction of Leopold Stokowski in 1942. Lavalle worked on several NBC radio programs, such as the Dinah Shore Show between 1939-1940, the Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street between 1941-1944, and the Highways of Melody Orchestra (later the Cities Service Band of America) between 1944-1956. The Band of America radio program was the first musical organization of its kind to appear on coast-to-coast television. In 1964 the Band of America began touring extensively and was even made the official band of the New York’s World Fair between 1964 and 1965, where they played full performances daily. Paul Lavalle also served as a guest conductor for many orchestras including the New York Philharmonic Symphony, the NBC Symphony, the CBS Symphony, the ABC Symphony, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 1968, after making two guest appearances at the Radio City Music Hall, Paul Lavalle was appointed Director of the Music and Principal Conductor of the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra where he remained until 1975. He attended regional music festivals and clinics where he conducted massed bands of high school students in concerts and parades and gave lectures for both students and Band Directors. His interest in combining youth with music made him essential to the formation of the All-American High School Band (later the McDonald’s All-American High School Band), of which he was the conductor between 1967 and 1979. The band was composed of two high school students from each state and the District of Columbia, plus one student from the US Virgin Islands and one student from Puerto Rico. These students were handpicked by Paul Lavalle and a panel of music directors, who would coordinate with schools throughout the United States each year to find the best musicians. The band performed at events throughout the nation, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Tournament of Roses. 

By honorary invitation of the Dutch Government, Paul Lavalle was the annual Grand Festivalmeister of the Tulip Time International Music Festival held at Katwijk aan Zee, Holland. For his work with the youth he was presented with the “Christopher Award”, the “Man and Boy Award”, and the “Rollie Statue” for participation in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.