Henderson, Luther, 1919-2003

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Luther Henderson (b. March 14, 1919, in Kansas City, Mo.; d. July 29, 2003, in New York City) was an arranger, orchestrator, conductor, music director, and composer.

From the description of Luther Henderson papers, circa 1930-2003 (bulk 1960-1995). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 767826594

Biographical Note

  • 1919, Mar. 14: Born, Kansas City, Mo.
  • 1936 - 1938 : Attended College of the City of New York
  • 1939, June 17: Married Tealene Nee Berry
  • 1940, Dec. 24: Son Denson born
  • 1942: B.S., in music, Juilliard School of Music, New York, N.Y.
  • 1944 - 1946 : Staff orchestrator, U.S. Navy School of Music, Washington, D.C.
  • 1946 - 1947 : M.A., in music, New York University
  • 1950, Mar. 19: Son Luther born
  • 1956, Sept. 14: Married Stevie (Muriel) Melzer
  • 1957, Sept. 20: Daughter Melanie born
  • 1958: Composed arrangements for Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song
  • 1960: Composed arrangements for Do Re Mi
  • 1971, Jan. 30: Married Margo Semos
  • 1978: Arranger and orchestrator for Ain't Misbehavin'
  • 1981, Feb. 8: Married actress Billie Allen
  • 1988 - 1989 : Conducted and played piano for Broadway revival of Ain't Misbehavin'
  • 1992: Jelly's Last Jam nominated for Tony Award for best score
  • 1992: Jelly's Last Jam wins Drama Desk Award for outstanding orchestration
  • 1997: Play On! nominated for Tony Award for best orchestration
  • 1999 - 2000 : Collaborated with Sir Simon Rattle, Lena Horne, and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra on performances and recordings of Classic Ellington
  • 2002: Henderson and Billie Allen honored with a Pioneer Award at the AUDELCO "VIV" Awards
  • 2003: Little Ham nominated for Drama Desk Award for outstanding orchestration
  • 2003, July 29: Died, New York City
  • 2004: Posthumously honored with a Jazz Masters Award by the National Endowment for the Arts

From the guide to the Luther Henderson Papers, circa 1930-2003, (bulk 1960-1995), (Music Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Hall, Juanita, 1901-1968. Lonesome valley / Juanita Hall ; Luther L. Henderson, arranger. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center
creatorOf Henderson, Luther, 1919-2003. Luther Henderson papers, circa 1930-2003 (bulk 1960-1995). Library of Congress
creatorOf Grand Theatre Collection (University of Guelph). Ain't Misbehavin' / Based on an idea by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, Jr. ; orchestrations & arrangements by Luther Henderson ; vocal & musical concepts by Jeffrey Gutcheon ; vocal arrangements by Jeffrey Gutcheon & William Elliott ; conceived and originally directed by Richard Maltby, Jr. ; originally produced by The Manhattan Theatre Club ; originally produced on Broadway by Emanuel Azenberg, Dasha Epstein, The Shubert Organization, Jane Gaynor & Ron Dante, designer Robert Doyle, 2001 - technical drawings. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Duke Ellington recordings collection Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Harvard College Library
referencedIn Milnes, Harriett. Duke Ellington oral history, 1939-1987 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Morton, Jelly Roll, d. 1941. Jelly's last jam: typescript, 1992. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Luther Henderson Papers, circa 1930-2003, (bulk 1960-1995) Library of Congress. Music Division
creatorOf Canadian Stage Theatre Archives (University of Guelph). Ain't Misbehavin' / Based on an idea by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, Jr. ; conceived and originally directed by Richard Maltby, Jr. ; orchestrations and arrangements by Luther Henderson ; vocal music and concepts by Jeffrey Gutcheon ; musical arrangements by Jeffrey Gutcheon and William Elliott ; conceived and originally directed by Richard Maltby, Jr. , 2005 - performance file. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf Luther Henderson papers Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
creatorOf Canadian Stage Theatre Archives (University of Guelph). Ain't Misbehavin' / Based on an idea by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, Jr. ; conceived and originally directed by Richard Maltby, Jr. ; orchestrations and arrangements by Luther Henderson ; vocal music and concepts by Jeffrey Gutcheon ; musical arrangements by Jeffrey Gutcheon and William Elliott ; conceived and originally directed by Richard Maltby, Jr. , 2005 - house program. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Billy Taylor Papers, 1942-2004 Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Cyma Rubin papers, 1969-1992, 1970-1975 The New York Public Library. Music Division.
creatorOf Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974. Les trois noirs : (concerto grosso arr.) / Duke Ellington & Mercer Ellington ; arranger & orchestrator, Luther Henderson. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Henderson, Luther, 1919-2003. Dream of life / music, Luther Henderson ; words, Carmen McRae. Library of Congress
creatorOf Taylor, Billy, 1921-2010. Billy Taylor papers, 1942-2004. Library of Congress
creatorOf Grand Theatre Collection (University of Guelph). Ain't Misbehavin' / Based on an idea by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, Jr. ; orchestrations & arrangements by Luther Henderson ; vocal & musical concepts by Jeffrey Gutcheon ; vocal arrangements by Jeffrey Gutcheon & William Elliott ; conceived and originally directed by Richard Maltby, Jr. ; originally produced by The Manhattan Theatre Club ; originally produced on Broadway by Emanuel Azenberg, Dasha Epstein, The Shubert Organization, Jane Gaynor & Ron Dante, 2001- performance file. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Burr, Charles. person
associatedWith Burr, Charles. person
associatedWith Canadian Brass. corporateBody
associatedWith Canadian Stage Theatre Archives (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Canadian Stage Theatre Archives (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Citron, Stephen. person
associatedWith Dodge, Joseph Jeffers person
associatedWith Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974. person
associatedWith Fleagle, Brick. person
associatedWith Grand Theatre Collection (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Grand Theatre Collection (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Hall, Juanita, 1901-1968. person
associatedWith McRae, Carmen. person
associatedWith Morton, Jelly Roll, d. 1941. person
associatedWith Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. corporateBody
associatedWith Rubin, Cyma person
associatedWith Taylor, Billy, 1921-2010. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
African American composers
Arrangers (Musicians)
Arrangers (Musicians)
Jazz
Jazz
Jazz vocals
Music
Music
Musicals
Musicals
Popular music
Popular music
Orchestrators
Orchestrators
Revues
Revues
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1919-03-14

Death 2003-07-29

Americans

English

Information

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