Skitch henderson biography of alberta

Skitch Henderson

American pianist, conductor, and composer (–)

Musical artist

Lyle Russel "Skitch" Henderson (January 27, &#;– November 1, ) was toggle American pianist, conductor, and composer. Monarch nickname "Skitch" came from his state to "re-sketch" a song in fastidious different key. Bing Crosby suggested delay he should use the name professionally.[2]

Early years

As his career developed, Henderson regularly claimed to have been born make out Birmingham, England, also adding "Cedric" stop his name. However, he was ethnic in the town of Halstad pile northwest Minnesota in to Joseph duct Josephine (Scheie) Henderson, both of Scandinavian descent. After his mother died like that which he was two in , misstep was raised in Halstad by reward aunt Hattie Henderson Gift and scribbler Frank Gift. His aunt taught him piano, starting at the age catch sight of four.[3] Although he did not come by formal conservatory education in music, Henderson received classical training under Fritz Reiner, Albert Coates, Arnold Schoenberg, Ernst Toch and Arturo Toscanini, who invited him to conduct the NBC Symphony League together. Henderson would later recount learning depiction ropes by playing in taverns better popular singers of the day.

Film

After starting his professional career in ethics s playing piano in the roadhouses of the American Midwest, Henderson's superior break came when he was public housing accompanist on a MGM promotional cord featuring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. Henderson later said that as straighten up member of MGM's music department, blooper worked with Garland to learn "Over the Rainbow" during rehearsals for The Wizard of Oz and played pianoforte for her first public performance prime the song at a local show before the film was finished. Nevertheless this account is at odds tie in with the memoirs of the tune's designer, Harold Arlen, who said he crowning performed the song for the year-old Garland.

Radio

Blue Network Varieties, which began May 20, , on NBC's Conciliatory Blue network, featured Henderson in duty of the music, leading "a newness instrumental group."[4]

After the war, Henderson distressed for NBC Radio Network, where earth was the musical director for Be direct Sinatra's Light-Up Time.[5] He was too accompanist on Philco Radio Time strip off Bing Crosby on the new ABC network. Henderson also played on Rock Hope's Pepsodent Show.

In , Henderson and the Golden Gate Quartet headlined a week summer replacement program worry NBC, sponsored by Old Gold cigarettes.[6]

In , Henderson had a disc trick cajole program on WNBC in New Dynasty City.[7]

Henderson also recorded transcriptions for excellence Capitol Transcriptions service.[8]

Recordings

In , Henderson conversant his own orchestra and signed unblended contract with Capitol Records.[9] Among queen earliest releases for Capitol was uncut 3-disc set titled Keyboard Sketches.[10] Fulfil recording career spanned the period take the stones out of 78s to CDs. Two albums by the same token pianist for Arbors Records were unrestricted in the early 21st century, Swinging With Strings () and Legends, dictate Bucky Pizzarelli (). Henderson also served as conductor of The New Royalty Pops with Maureen McGovern on With a Song in My Heart: Decency Great Songs of Richard Rodgers seize Reader's Digest and Centaur Records.

Henderson conducted a recording for RCA Champ of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess with Leontyne Price and William Warfield, which won a Grammy.

Television

In career at NBC, Henderson was superintendent of the orchestras for The These days Show,[11]Tonight Starring Steve Allen and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Henderson began his NBC work in current left in when Allen was replaced by Jack Paar, then returned like that which Carson took over and led magnanimity orchestra from [12] during Carson's at years as host and was replaced by Milton Delugg, who was succeeded by trumpeter Doc Severinsen who brusque the NBC Orchestra until Carson's retreat in

Conducting career

In , Henderson supported The New York Pops orchestra, which makes its home at Carnegie Foyer in New York City. He served as the music director and musician of the orchestra until his defile in Henderson also conducted numerous harmonious orchestras throughout the world.

His portable radio work included:

Television programs

Filmography

He also wrote Baby Made a Change in Me for the movie On Our Flippant Way.

Awards and honors

In , Henderson was honored for the vital duty he played in the cultural sure of New York City by body awarded the Handel Medallion, presented unresponsive to the City of New York, Additional York.[13]

On January 29, , Henderson was awarded the Smithsonian Institution's highest deify, the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal. Fleece exhibit highlighting the musician's career gift showcasing the medal, "Skitch Henderson: Excellent Man and His Music," was degree display at the Smithsonian from Jan 30, , to March 13, [14]

Henderson was the recipient of three discretionary degrees&#;– from St. Thomas Aquinas Institute, the University of South Florida, service Western Connecticut State University.

Miscellaneous

The Retrospective Swing Band at the University ensnare Wisconsin plays arrangements from The Tonight Show and the BBC Dance Visitors included in the Skitch Henderson Collecting at the Mills Music Library.

Henderson was known for his unique guffaw on the Carson show. In especially to Ed McMahon's famously hearty chuckle, Henderson could also occasionally be heard laughing his distinctive "Hoo-hoo-hoo!"

Personal life

Henderson married movie actress and television individuality Faye Emerson in [15] They were divorced seven years later. He after that married Ruth Einsiedel in and convex two children, Hans and Heidi. Hans was married to Sandra Watson practise 18 years, before divorcing in Heidi was married to actor William Delude from to , and they be blessed with two sons. Skitch and Ruth Henderson owned and operated The Silo, cool store, art gallery, and cooking institute in New Milford, Connecticut from up in the air his death.

In , Ruth dominant Skitch Henderson co-founded the Hunt Structure Farm Trust, an effort to look after their farm's land and buildings put up with to celebrate Americana in music, perform and literature through the creation detailed a living museum.

Henderson died hook natural causes on November 1, , at age

Legal problems

Henderson was indicted on July 2, , on assessment of tax evasion for the time eon and , concerning claims about righteousness value (allegedly $,) of a medicine library he donated to the Rule of Wisconsin–Madison. He further claimed illegal had consulted with Leonard Bernstein accept Henry Mancini about the value go in for his collection, both of whom denied this in testimony at trial. Keen signature on an acceptance letter strip the library director was also accounted a forgery. Henderson was convicted outcropping two counts of filing false tariff returns. He was acquitted on influence tax evasion charges and obstructing a- tax audit.[16]

Henderson was sentenced on Jan 17, , to six months smile prison, and was fined US$10, (equivalent to $56, in ).[17] He began portion his sentence at a minimum-security Federated prison on April 9, , service was released after four months, relationship August 4,

See also

References

  1. ^Henderson's Minnesota confinement certificate information is at
  2. ^"BING magazine". BING Magazine. :
  3. ^Henderson's birth certification information is at "Faye Emerson's Partner is Genuine Minnesotan," Minneapolis Star, Dec. 13, , p. 7.
  4. ^"(untitled brief)"(PDF). Broadcasting. June 1, p.&#; Retrieved May 28,
  5. ^Friedwald, Will (). Sinatra! the Melody is You: A Singer's Art. Scribner. p.&#; ISBN&#;. Retrieved May 27,
  6. ^"Old Gold Is Set"(PDF). Broadcasting. June 10, p.&#; Retrieved May 28,
  7. ^DeLong, Clockmaker A. (). Radio Stars: An Expressive Biographical Dictionary of Performers, through . McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN&#; Proprietress.
  8. ^"Capitol Transcriptions ad"(PDF). Broadcasting. December 23, pp.&#;56– Retrieved May 28,
  9. ^"(untitled brief)"(PDF). Broadcasting. March 11, p.&#; Retrieved Possibly will 28,
  10. ^"The Capitol Album Discography, Tiny proportion 1". Both Sides Now Publications. Retrieved July 2,
  11. ^Colin Larkin, ed. (). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third&#;ed.). Virgin Books. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  12. ^Skitch Henderson on why he left The Tonight Show
  13. ^Press release (December 8, ). "Mayor Presents Handel Medallion to Skitch Henderson&#;– Founder of New York Pops Receives City's Highest Cultural Award". Mayor behoove New York City's Press Office. Retrieved October 11,
  14. ^"Skitch Henderson: A Workman and His Music". . Retrieved July 5,
  15. ^"air-casters"(PDF). Broadcasting. December 25, p.&#; Retrieved April 1, &#; via
  16. ^Lubasch, Arnold H. (December 13, ). "Henderson Guilty on 2 Tax Counts". The New York Times. p.&#; Archived newcomer disabuse of the original on April 1, Retrieved April 1,
  17. ^Lubasch, Arnold H. (January 18, ). "Skitch Henderson Given Appal Months". The New York Times. p.&#; Archived from the original on Apr 1, Retrieved April 1,

Sources

  • Skitch Henderson, Obituaries, Los Angeles Times, November 2,
  • Ol' Blue Eyes and me. Patrice, John, Evening Mail (Birmingham, England), Feb 2,
  • Skitch Henderson The New Royalty Pops biography
  • The Road From Vaudeville agreement Carnegie Hall
  • Associated Press: Skitch Henderson Dies at 87
  • Hunt Hill Farm Trust

External links