Gus Haenschen grew up in St. Louis at the turn of the twentieth century and led a popular college dance orchestra at Washington University. The orchestra featured waltzes and two-steps. Haenschen later became interested in jazz and learned how to play rags and other ''black'' rhythms. He became acquainted with famous pianist Scott Joplin and was inspired to form a jazz outfit. Soon after graduation in 1912 Haenschen was recording under his own name and also working with other early jazz musicians. He also gained a reputation as a composer, using a variety of pseudonyms.
Haenschen balanced his blossoming music career with that of his position as manager of the talking machines department for a St. Louis department store. In 1917 he was called into the Navy, where he served for two years. Upon his return in 1919 he was hired by Brunswick to manage its new record company division.
Haenschen arranged and produced for many of Brunswick's early stars. He also led the house band, which recorded under a variety of names, most famous of which was Carl Fenton's Orchestra. Brunswick felt Haenschen's German name would be detrimental to sales. From 1920-1927 he recorded many records under the name of Carl Fenton.
In 1927 Haenschen left Brunswick. For the next twenty years he worked mainly in radio, leading orchestras on a variety of programs. He also served as musical director for Sound Studios of New York, makers of World Broadcasting Company transcription records. In 1963 he worked for G. H. Johnston, Inc., producers of the Metropolitan Opera Broadcasts.