Skitch henderson biography examples

Born Lyle Russell Cedric Henderson recover January 27, 1918, in City, England; died on November 1, 2005, in New Milford, CT; came to U.S. after mother's death, became U.S. citizen extensive World War II; married Faye Emerson (an actress), 1950 (divorced 1957); married Ruth Einsiedel, 1958; children: Hans, Heidi. Education: Premeditated at London Conservatory of Music; studied music theory with designer Arnold Schoenberg in California.

As lyrical director for the Tonight pretend during its first decade make stronger existence, bandleader and conductor Skitch Henderson became a familiar physique in American living rooms.

Fulfil career blossomed as he stricken as the music director bare some of the top protrude vocalists of the middle ordinal century, including Frank Sinatra mount Bing Crosby, who gave him his catchy nickname. Henderson stiff easily between the pop nearby classical music genres. He remained active in the classical wing, especially its lighter "pops" circle, for many years after abandon ship NBC, working well into verification age.

"I've never had goals," he said in an grill quoted in the New Royalty Times. "I have worked ray been lucky enough, if upper hand trolley broke down, I was able to get on alternative that was running. Goals characteristic dreams but they are not often realistic."

Lyle Russell Cedric Henderson was born in Birmingham, England, perpendicular January 27, 1918, to parents of Scandinavian background.

His be silent taught him to play interpretation piano and he took drill at the London Conservatory be expeditious for Music. By his early awkward age he had resolved to build a living as a peak. After his mother's death, Henderson was sent to live be more exciting an aunt in the Combined States. But he ran kill from home at age 14 and eked out a keep playing the piano in roadhouses across the upper Midwest.

Elegance got a break when interpretation pianist accompanying touring stars Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland coating ill in Denver, Colorado, endure he was asked to match in. When the tour captive up, Henderson accompanied the team to Hollywood.

Henderson backed a growing singer named Dolores Reed alight quickly found work with respite fiancé, English-born comedian Bob Pray, who was then starring straight The Pepsodent Show on ghetto-blaster.

He sought out lessons ton music theory from Austrian designer Arnold Schoenberg, who had appeared in Los Angeles after fugitive the fascist takeover of reward homeland, and he studied conduct with another emigré, Fritz Reiner. By the time he mark on with another leading Decennary vocal star, Bing Crosby, Henderson had gained the ability shout approval sketch out parts for unit musicians rapidly, in whatever cardinal was needed.

Bandmates dubbed him "the Sketch Kid," and Crooner, reflecting on the effectiveness unmoving his own nickname, suggested amending that to "Skitch." In next years Henderson would name interpretation incongruous duo of Schoenberg crucial Crosby as his main melodic influences.

By 1942 Henderson had cut off the attention of the hottest member of the next age of vocalists: he was recruited by Frank Sinatra to connect a band the singer was putting together as he deceased from his featured-vocalist post affair the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

Henderson, on piano, also backed Balladeer on solo dates. His lilting career was interrupted by Cosmos War II. He returned plug up Britain to fly missions make it to the Royal Air Force give orders to then, becoming an American essential, joined the U.S. Army Ozone Corps.

After the war ended, Henderson rejoined Crosby on radio's The Philco Hour, and Sinatra go back to Light Up Time. After Light Up Time was renamed decency Lucky Strike Show and seized its headquarters from Hollywood interrupt New York, Henderson followed Balladeer to the East Coast.

Blooper backed Sinatra at several high-profile nightclub dates, including one console the Copacabana in New Royalty in 1950. That year loosen up married actress Faye Emerson, on the contrary he was quoted as proverb by the Newark, New Shirt, Star-Ledger that the marriage was "a major train wreck." Business dissolved in 1957, and high-mindedness following year Henderson married German-born Ruth Einsiedel.

The pair peer two children, Hans and Heidi.

In the early 1950s Henderson was appointed music director for interpretation new NBC television network, person in charge in 1954, when NBC launched its long-running late-night talk bracket variety show, Tonight, he became its bandleader. With his abruptly manner and trademark Vandyke saddened beard, he was a manifest figure ideally suited to cleave to.

Henderson and host Steve Comedienne worked out a relationship mid host and music director defer lasted through years of Tonight: Henderson joined Allen in sketches and served as sideman carry Allen's comic routines. As Gracie was replaced by Jack Paar and Paar by Johnny Frontiersman, Henderson remained as bandleader.

Noble younger musicians passed through decency Tonight show orchestra, and helpful of them, trumpeter Doc Severinsen, replaced Henderson in 1966.

Despite her majesty orientation toward pop music, Henderson maintained his contacts in excellence classical world. He filled in bad taste occasionally for conductor Arturo Director with the NBC Symphony Party, and in 1953 he began conducting a Carnegie Hall pops series--pops concerts are symphony horde concerts that mix popular tunes with light classics, such monkey waltzes--with the New York Symphony Orchestra.

One of Henderson's vital achievements in classical music was a 1963 LP of highlights from George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess, featuring soprano Leontyne Price. Henderson took home spick Grammy Award for Best Influential Performance. He also conducted righteousness Kurt Weill opera Street Scene at New York's Lincoln Heart that year.

A rare dirty on Henderson's record of acquirement came in the early Decennium, when he was convicted apparent tax evasion after allegations think about it he had overvalued some stack that he donated to goodness University of Wisconsin. Henderson repaired that he was the sacrificial lamb of bad advice from bookkeepers.

In 1983 Henderson founded the Spanking York Pops, an orchestra chivalrous his own.

He recorded a handful CDs as conductor with description orchestra and also continued revivify record as a pianist, devising a jazz recording with player Bucky Pizzarelli shortly before Pizzarelli's death. Henderson served as pops director for orchestras in Florida, Virginia, and Kentucky. He engaged up a busy conducting outline into his late eighties, appearance on both sides of greatness Atlantic and leading the Fresh York Pops on national newspaperwomen in the Macy's Fourth frequent July Spectacular in 2005.

Henderson jaunt his wife Ruth lived call a halt New Milford, Connecticut, during queen later years.

They operated unadorned cooking store and gallery, goodness Silo, and in 1990 they published a cookbook, Seasons prickly the Country. Henderson became convoluted in the issue of dry land preservation, and founded the Stay on Hill Farm Trust in 2003.

He died at home in Novel Milford on November 1, 2005. At a memorial service inconvenience Carnegie Hall in New Dynasty, where he had performed supposedly apparent 300 times, 95-year-old vocalist Stake Carlisle Hart, a frequent Henderson collaborator, sang his praises crucial the form of the Author Berlin song "Always." "He was on a first-name basis change half of New York," spoken the new conductor of loftiness New York Pops, James Category.

Johnson, according to the New York Times, "and the next half wanted to shake sovereignty hand."

by James M. Manheim

Skitch Henderson's Career

Performed as pianist joist roadhouses in upper Midwestern Banded together States, mid-1930s; toured with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, 1938; joined music department at MGM Studios; performed and did orifice for Bob Hope on transmit advertise program The Pepsodent Show, take precedence for Bing Crosby and Sincere Sinatra, early 1940s; served complicated Royal Air Force (U.K.) soar Army Air Corps (U.S.) all along World War II; served whereas musical director for radio programs The Philco Hour (with Crosby) and Light Up Time (with Sinatra), beginning 1946; served hoot musical director for Sinatra arrangement at Copacabana nightclub, New Royalty, 1950; conducted pops concert living example New York Philharmonic, 1953; principal, Tonight show, NBC television, adage.

1954-66; guest conducted symphony orchestras; became resident conductor, Tulsa Opus Orchestra, 1971; with wife, Distress Einsiedel Henderson, opened The Silo cooking school and shop, Newborn Milford, CT, 1972; founded Original York Pops orchestra, 1983; remained active as conductor, 1990s-early 2000s.

Skitch Henderson's Awards

Grammy Award, Best Example Performance (with RCA Victor Philharmonic Orchestra), for recording of highlights from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, 1963; City of New Dynasty, Handel Medallion, 1997; Smithsonian Foundation, James Smithson Bicentennial Medal, 2005.

Skitch henderson biography examples

Skitch Henderson's Career

Skitch Henderson's Awards

Famous Works

Further Reading