Lennie Hayton

Jewish American composer, conductor, arranger, pianist and occasional drummer.

b. February 13, 1908 (New York, NY, USA).
d. April 24, 1971 (Palm Springs, CA, USA).

Starting out as a jazz pianist, he played with [a=Spencer Clark (2)] in the Little Ramblers ('26), Cass Hagen ('27), and [a=Paul Whiteman And His Orchestra] ('28-30). He also appeared on a number of recordings during this time with musicians such as [a=Frankie Trumbauer], [a=Bix Beiderbecke], [a=Red Nichols], and [a=Joe Venuti].

During the '30s he was musical director of [a=Bing Crosby]'s radio show and led his own orchestra. He went on to be musical director at MGM Studios, Hollywood ('40-53) and for [a=Lena Horne] ('50s & '60s), whom he married in 1947.