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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHAYTON, Lennie(b 13 Feb. '08, NYC; d 24 April '71, Palm Springs CA) Pianist, bandleader, arranger, composer. Gigged with Bix Beiderbecke, etc; worked for Paul Whiteman '28- -30, appeared with him in film King Of Jazz '30; radio work incl. Bing Crosby shows early '30s; led band on first Lucky Strike Hit Parade '35 (early USA 'Top Of The Pops' continued on TV for many years); own dance band '38--40; mus. dir. for MGM '40--53; long and happy marriage to Lena Horne from '47. Film work in various capacities incl. all-star Ziegfeld Follies '44, On The Town '49 (Hayton and Roger Edens won an Oscar for their scoring). Hayton's record of Richard Rodgers's ballet sequence 'Slaughter On 10th Avenue' was a top ten hit '49 (from On Your Toes '36, also featured in Rodgers and Hart biopic Words And Music '48). Further film work incl. Singin' In The Rain '52, many others; later worked on Star! '68 (Julie Andrews playing Gertrude Lawrence), Hello, Dolly! '69. |