Luther Henderson
Background information
Born	Luther Lincoln Henderson Jr.[1] (1919-03-14)March 14, 1919 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Died	July 29, 2003(2003-07-29) (aged 84) New York City
Genres	Jazz orchestral jazz big band
Occupations	Composer arranger orchestrator
Instrument	Piano
Years active	1942–2000

Luther Henderson (March 14, 1919 – July 29, 2003) was an American arranger, composer, orchestrator, and pianist best known for his contributions toBroadway musicals.

Born inKansas City, Missouri, Henderson relocated to theSugar Hill section ofHarlem at the age of four. Following a short stint studying mathematics at theCity College of New York, he enrolled at theJuilliard School of Music, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1942.^[2][3]

Drafted into theNavy duringWorld War II, Henderson became an arranger for the Navy band stationed at theNaval Station Great Lakes, prior to becoming the staff orchestrator for TheU. S. Navy School of Music inWashington, D.C., from 1944 to 1946.^[4]

Following the war, Henderson began a long professional association with a number of musical notables of the era, includingDuke Ellington,Lena Horne,Jule Styne, andRichard Rodgers.^[5] Notably, Henderson maintained a lengthy pre-professional relationship with Ellington, having been neighbors with the Ellington family as a child and schoolmate with his son,Mercer. Henderson went on to serve as classical orchestrator for Ellington's symphonic works, receiving the nickname of being Ellington's "classical arm."^[4][6]

Henderson's first foray into Broadway theatre was Ellington'sBeggar's Holiday, serving as co-orchestrator alongsideBilly Strayhorn. He went on to serve as orchestrator, arranger, and musical director on more than fifty Broadway musicals, includingLena Horne: The Lady and Her Music,That's Entertainment,Flower Drum Song,Funny Girl,No, No Nanette,Purlie,Ain't Misbehavin' andJelly's Last Jam.^[7] Henderson also did the music along with Buster Davis for the 1975 Broadway musicalDoctor Jazz.^[8]

Henderson additionally made his Broadway songwriting debut withJelly's Last Jam, receiving a 1992Tony Award nomination forBest Original Score, alongside lyricistSusan Birkenhead.^[4]

From the 1950s on, Henderson also worked extensively in television, includingThe Ed Sullivan Show,The Bell Telephone Hour, and specials forDean Martin,Carol Burnett,Andy Williams, andVictor Borge. He was nominated for anEmmy Award for his work on the television presentation ofAin't Misbehavin.^[2]

Henderson served as musical director for actressPolly Bergen andVictor Borge; and arranged music for many popular singers, includingLesley Gore,Robert Goulet,Nancy Wilson,Ben Vereen,Sandler and Young,Leslie Uggams,Eartha Kitt,Diahann Carroll,Dinah Shore,Eileen Farrell,Juliet Prowse, andLiza Minnelli.^[3] He performed as "The Professor" on the children's television showJoya's Fun School.^[9]

Henderson's arrangements of Ellington's music were recorded in 1999 by theCity of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The recording was titledClassic Ellington. A year later, the work was performed atCarnegie Hall by theSt. Luke's Orchestra. The performance featured jazz musiciansClark Terry,Dianne Reeves andRegina Carter.^[2]

Over the course of two decades, Henderson arranged over a hundred pieces for theCanadian Brass. The group's album of Ellington's music,Take the "A" Train, was nominated for aGrammy Award in 2000.^[10] Henderson also recorded six albums as the leader of the Luther Henderson Orchestra.^[2]

Henderson was twice nominated for Broadway'sTony Award: in 1992 for Best Original Score forJelly's Last Jam, and in 1997 forBest Orchestrations forPlay On!.^[7] He received theDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations for his work onJelly's Last Jam.^[11] Other recognitions include the 2002AUDELCO Pioneer Award, awarded alongside his wife, actress Billie Allen.^[4] He received a posthumous Jazz Masters Award from theNational Endowment for the Arts in 2004.^[7] In 2008 Juilliard School of Music, Henderson's alma mater, established the Luther Henderson Scholarship Fund.^[12]

Following a long battle with cancer, Henderson died on July 29, 2003, at the age of 84. He was survived by his wife, actressBillie Allen, three children includingThe Electric Company actress Melanie Henderson, Denson B. Henderson, and Dr. Luther L. Henderson III, professor of music and humanities at Los Angeles City College, two step-children, two grandchildren, one step-grandchild, and one great-grandchild.^[6][13][14]

• Luther Henderson biography – African American Registry
• Luther Henderson biography – American Theatre Wing at theWayback Machine (archived May 12, 2013)
• Luther Henderson biography – Luther Henderson Scholarship Fund
• Luther Henderson obituary – New York Times
• Luther Henderson Papers – New York Public Library
• NEA Jazz Masters: Luther Henderson

Archives at
Location Music Division, Library of Congress Identifiers Sc MG 322  Source Luther Henderson papers, circa 1930-2003
How to use archival material

• Luther Henderson tribute page – Canadian Brass at theWayback Machine (archived May 13, 2004)
• Luther Henderson Scholarship Fund
• The Last Post – Jazzhouse

• 1919 births
• 2003 deaths
• 20th-century African-American musicians
• 20th-century American pianists
• 20th-century classical musicians
• 20th-century American jazz composers
• 21st-century African-American musicians
• African-American classical musicians
• African-American jazz composers
• African-American jazz pianists
• American male jazz composers
• American male jazz pianists
• American music arrangers
• Orchestral jazz musicians
• NEA Jazz Masters
• 20th-century American male pianists

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