Lennie Hayton

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Lena Horne and Lennie Hayton, New York City, circa 1947. Photograph by William P. Gottlieb

Leonard George "Lennie" Hayton (born February 13, 1908 in New York City , † April 24, 1971 in Palm Springs , California ) was an American pianist and arranger of swing as well as film composer .

Live and act

Lennie Hayton began his career in 1926 with the Little Ramblers and was second pianist in the Paul Whiteman Orchestra from 1928 to 1930 . He also recorded with Frankie Trumbauer , Bix Beiderbecke , Red Nichols , Joe Venuti and others in the late 1920s . In the early 1930s he worked as an arranger for the Bing Crosby radio shows , in which Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey's orchestras were also presented. With his own orchestra, which included twelve to twenty musicians (including Fulton McGrath ), Hayton went on national tours from 1937 to 1940.

In 1940 he became musical director at the MGM record company and was responsible for the film music in particular. In 1947 he married the singer Lena Horne , for whom he wrote arrangements and with whom he toured in the 1950s. Before leaving in 1953, he had received four Academy Award nominations: for the Judy Garland musicals The Harvey Girls (1946) and The Pirate (1948), and two for the film adaptation of the musical classic Today we go for a stroll (1949) - for which he won the Academy Award - and you should be my lucky star (1952).

His last film compositions were in 1968 for the Robert Wise film star! - for which he was also nominated for an Oscar - and for the Barbra Streisand musical Hello, Dolly! (1969), for which he received a second Oscar.

In 1970 he arranged the George Harrison song Something for Frank Sinatra .

Filmography (selection)

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personal data
SURNAME Hayton, Lennie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hayton, Leonard George
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American pianist and arranger of swing and film composer
DATE OF BIRTH February 13, 1908
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City
DATE OF DEATH April 24, 1971
Place of death Palm Springs , California