Richard Hayman
Encyclopedia
Richard Hayman is an American
arranger
, harmonica
player, and conductor
.
Hayman started out as a player and arranger for the Borrah Minnevitch
Harmonica Rascals before becoming an arranger for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
studios during the early 1940s. He did arrangements (often uncredited) for the MGM films Girl Crazy
, Meet Me in St. Louis
, and Thousands Cheer
. From 1945-1950, he was musical director for the Vaughn Monroe
Orchestra.
In the 1950s and 60s, Hayman recorded a series of albums for Mercury Records. His 1957 outing "Havana In Hi-Fi" was first in the label's pop music stereo LP series (SR 60000).
Hayman is most famous for being the principal arranger at the Boston Pops Orchestra
for over 30 years where his award-winning arrangements are still used today. He occasionally guest-conducted there, and when Arthur Fiedler
had a time conflict with his job as pops conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
, he recommended Hayman for the post.
Hayman was also closely affiliated with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra for over 25 years. Known for his sequined jackets, harmonica solos, and corny jokes, he became its Principal Pops Conductor in 1976, leading both the Pops at Powell and Queeny Park concerts. Queeny Pops, with concertgoers seated at tables in the acoustically atrocious but centrally located (in the suburbs of west St. Louis County) Greenfelder Field House, was a hit for many years, and made it possible for the SLSO to offer its musicians a full 52-week annual contract.
That ended when a financial crunch in 2001, coinciding with a realization that the SLSO's pops concerts had not changed with the times, led to the cancellation of the Queeny Pops series and a marked reduction in overall pops concerts by the orchestra.
He currently works as the Principal Pops Conductor of the Grand Rapids, Michigan
Symphony and Music Director of the Florida Space Coast Pops Orchestra in Cocoa, Florida
.
His biggest hit was the 1953 single "Ruby". Hayman took the theme for the motion picture "Ruby Gentry", and through his specially stylized arrangement, utilizing a harmonica as the solo instrument with a large, quasi-symphonic orchestra, the song zoomed to the top of the hit parade all over the world and brought about a renewed interest in the harmonica. It should also be mentioned that the flip side of the 45rpm and 78rpm single hit "Ruby" was the hit "Dansero" which also became an international favorite hit. Because of it this single sold thousands or perhaps millions of copies for several years in the early to mid 1950s worldwide.
He continued to chart into the early 1960s with titles like "Night Train".
Richard Hayman's latest event with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (he holds the title of Pops Conductor Emeritus) was on June 27, 2010 for his 90th birthday. The St. Louis Metro Singers, who have performed with him at many Pops concerts, were also on stage at the event.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
player, and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Hayman started out as a player and arranger for the Borrah Minnevitch
Borrah Minnevitch
Borrah Minnevitch , born Bora Minjevic, was a notable harmonica player, actor, and leader of his group The Harmonica Rascals...
Harmonica Rascals before becoming an arranger for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
studios during the early 1940s. He did arrangements (often uncredited) for the MGM films Girl Crazy
Girl Crazy
Girl Crazy is a 1930 musical with music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and book by Guy Bolton and John McGowan. Ethel Merman made her stage debut in this musical production....
, Meet Me in St. Louis
Meet Me in St. Louis
Meet Me in St. Louis is a 1944 musical film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer which tells the story of an American family living in St. Louis at the time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World's Fair in 1904...
, and Thousands Cheer
Thousands Cheer
Thousands Cheer is a 1943 American comedy musical film released by MGM. Produced at the height of the Second World War, the film was intended as a morale booster for American troops and their families.-Plot:The film is essentially a two-part program...
. From 1945-1950, he was musical director for the Vaughn Monroe
Vaughn Monroe
Vaughn Wilton Monroe was an American baritone singer, trumpeter and big band leader and actor, most popular in the 1940s and 1950s. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recording and radio.-Biography:...
Orchestra.
In the 1950s and 60s, Hayman recorded a series of albums for Mercury Records. His 1957 outing "Havana In Hi-Fi" was first in the label's pop music stereo LP series (SR 60000).
Hayman is most famous for being the principal arranger at the Boston Pops Orchestra
Boston Pops Orchestra
The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music....
for over 30 years where his award-winning arrangements are still used today. He occasionally guest-conducted there, and when Arthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler was a long-time conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, a symphony orchestra that specializes in popular and light classical music. With a combination of musicianship and showmanship, he made the Boston Pops one of the best-known orchestras in the country...
had a time conflict with his job as pops conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Michigan. Its main performance center is Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood...
, he recommended Hayman for the post.
Hayman was also closely affiliated with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra for over 25 years. Known for his sequined jackets, harmonica solos, and corny jokes, he became its Principal Pops Conductor in 1976, leading both the Pops at Powell and Queeny Park concerts. Queeny Pops, with concertgoers seated at tables in the acoustically atrocious but centrally located (in the suburbs of west St. Louis County) Greenfelder Field House, was a hit for many years, and made it possible for the SLSO to offer its musicians a full 52-week annual contract.
That ended when a financial crunch in 2001, coinciding with a realization that the SLSO's pops concerts had not changed with the times, led to the cancellation of the Queeny Pops series and a marked reduction in overall pops concerts by the orchestra.
He currently works as the Principal Pops Conductor of the Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
Symphony and Music Director of the Florida Space Coast Pops Orchestra in Cocoa, Florida
Cocoa, Florida
Cocoa is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 16,412 at the 2000 census. As of 2008, the estimated population according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 16,478. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Cocoa was...
.
His biggest hit was the 1953 single "Ruby". Hayman took the theme for the motion picture "Ruby Gentry", and through his specially stylized arrangement, utilizing a harmonica as the solo instrument with a large, quasi-symphonic orchestra, the song zoomed to the top of the hit parade all over the world and brought about a renewed interest in the harmonica. It should also be mentioned that the flip side of the 45rpm and 78rpm single hit "Ruby" was the hit "Dansero" which also became an international favorite hit. Because of it this single sold thousands or perhaps millions of copies for several years in the early to mid 1950s worldwide.
He continued to chart into the early 1960s with titles like "Night Train".
Richard Hayman's latest event with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (he holds the title of Pops Conductor Emeritus) was on June 27, 2010 for his 90th birthday. The St. Louis Metro Singers, who have performed with him at many Pops concerts, were also on stage at the event.
External links
- [ Richard Hayman] at AllMusic