Duchin was not just a pianist

I was always led to believe that he was, that is until I started collecting 78 rpm records in the 1970s & 80s. Besides his piano work, he was a bandleader and did straight pop, tangos, and even novelty (ever hear "Parade Of the Little White Mice" ?) He was on Victor much of the time and switch to Columbia in the years just before World War II. He sure accomplished a lot in his short 41 year lifespan. Some of his stuff were covers of songs done by someone else but his often were the better.