Neil hefti biography

Neal Paul Hefti (October 29, 1922 – October 11, 2008)

 Neal Paul Hefti (October 29, 1922, Hastings, Nebraska – October 11, 2008, Toluca Lake, California), was a popular American jazz trumpeter composer and arranger, whose work played a crucial role in the success of Woody Herman and Count Basie. Hefti went on to write award-winning scores for Hollywood films and television shows. He wrote the theme for the 1960’s television show Batman, and for the movie and television versions of The Odd Couple. Hefti worked with Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Mel Tormé and Tony Bennett, among others. Movies he worked on included Boeing Boeing and How to Murder Your Wife (both 1965) and Barefoot in the Park (1967).

Contents



BIOGRAPHY

Family

Neal Paul Hefti was born October 29, 1922, to a poor family in Hastings, Nebraska. The Depression was biting hard on the family’s finances and the family often depended on charity groups to survive. His father was a travelling salesman and his mother was a music teacher. Together with his three brothers and two sisters, he receiv

Neal Hefti

The Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) mourns the loss of our dear friend and colleague, composer, conductor, arranger, trumpeter NEAL HEFTI. The Grammy-winning composer was born October 22, 1922 in Hastings, Nebraska, and died on October 11, 2008 in Los Angeles just short of his 86th birthday. The memorial service scheduled is private until further notice. His wife, Frances Wayne, preceded him in death in the 70’s. They met when they were both with the Woody Herman orchestra in the 1940s, he as a trumpeter, she as a singer.

SCL President DAN FOLIART shares his thoughts about NEAL HEFTI:

The SCL has lost a colleague and a man of immense talent. Neal Hefti, was one of those rare individuals who excelled in many different areas, and whose contribution to each was significant. I was fortunate to become a friend over the last few years and I can say that his modest demeanor belied his many accomplishments. His facile use of the orchestra was his trademark and his legacy includes many works that are classics in the repertoire of film, records and song

Neal Hefti

American musician (1922–2008)

Neal Hefti

Birth nameNeal Paul Hefti
Born(1922-10-29)October 29, 1922
Hastings, Nebraska, U.S.
DiedOctober 11, 2008(2008-10-11) (aged 85)
Toluca Lake, California, U.S.
GenresSwing
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, arranger
InstrumentTrumpet
Formerly ofCharlie Barnet, Count Basie

Musical artist

Neal Paul Hefti (October 29, 1922 – October 11, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger. He wrote music for The Odd Couple movie and TV series and for the Batman TV series.

He began arranging professionally in his teens, when he wrote charts for Nat Towles. He composed and arranged while working as a trumpeter for Woody Herman providing the bandleader with versions of "Woodchopper's Ball" and "Blowin' Up a Storm" and composing "The Good Earth" and "Wild Root". He left Herman's band in 1946. Now concentrating on writing music only, he began an association with Count Basie in 1950. Hefti occasionally led his own bands.

Beginnings

Neal Paul Hefti was born Oct

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