<P> Tomlin followed the success of "The Object of My Affection" with a string of other hits, including "What's the Reason (I'm Not Pleasin' You?)" and "The Love Bug Will Bite You ." Hollywood beckoned, and Tomlin was featured in films for various studios . In 1935 Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer offered to groom the young singer and build him up as an actor . Tomlin, however, preferred to concentrate on his musical career, although he did appear in three MGM films released that year: Times Square Lady, Smart Girl, and King Solomon of Broadway . He soon, however, returned to the "big screen," appearing or starring in seven more feature films between 1936 and 1938: Paddy O'Day, Don't Get Personal, With Love and Kisses, Sing While You're Able, Swing It Professor, Thanks for Listening, and Down in' Arkansaw' . A guest appearance on Eddie Cantor's Texaco Town radio show in June 1937 subsequently led to a regular spot on the program, which Cantor rescinded when his sponsor's publicity man tried to recruit Tomlin as Cantor's replacement . Tomlin met this professional setback by organizing his own swing band in 1938 . For more than two years "Pinky Tomlin and His Orchestra" played in theaters, nightclubs, and school proms across most of America, on a whirlwind schedule prepared by the agency . The band was successful, but the constant travel became difficult for Tomlin, as he was devoted to his family . After the tour, apart from a wartime stint with the USO, he confined his appearances to occasional motion pictures and television shows . </P> <P> After his decision to begin limiting his musical performances, Tomlin pursued his longtime interests in geology . He also took time to found a company in Beverly Hills, "Pinky Tomlin Oil Properties," where he enjoyed working until he retired from that enterprise in 1984 . During this time, he had a television show as well in Los Angeles called Music Is My Beat . He continued too to perform periodically at charity events in Los Angeles, being especially active in the Beverly Hills Rotary Club . </P> <P> On February 27, 1958, Tomlin appeared as a contestant on an episode of the television quiz program You Bet Your Life, hosted by Groucho Marx . He performed "The Object of My Affection" on that occasion . Fifteen years later, the song was used in the soundtrack of the hit movie Paper Moon and was featured in the film's accompanying soundtrack album (Paramount PAS 1012 (LP)) The song's title was also used for Tomlin's autobiography, The Object of My Affection, which was published in 1981 . </P> <P> Tomlin died in North Hollywood, California, on December 12, 1987; he was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills . His wife Joanne had died the previous year . Married for 48 years, the couple had two children: Sylvia Tomlin Burns of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Truman Virgil Tomlin Jr., (Tom) of Valley Village, California . </P>

The object of my affection is to change your complexion