Lennie Hayton collection of noncommercial recordings

1933-1959

Lennie Hayton was a jazz pianist, composer, conductor, and arranger active from the 1920's through the 1960's. Hayton worked on a number of radio programs, including Lucky Strike's Your Hit Parade (1935), and the Ed Wynn Show (1936). He was musical director of MGM from 1940 to 1953, and worked on many movies as an arranger, conductor, or musical director. Hayton married Lena Horne in 1947, and worked with her as a manager-pianist-arranger. The collection contains selections of Hayton's work on radio and in the studio, as well as recordings of Lena Horne and other performers. Recordings of his radio work include selected episodes of Lucky Strike Your Hit Parade, Ed Wynn Show, Chesterfield's Music that satisfies, and Ipana's Hour of Smiles programs. Included in the collection are recordings of Lena Horne on studio acetates, as well as live radio recordings. Also included in the collection are radio recordings of both popular and classical music performances that Hayton owned.