Skitch Henderson

Skitch Henderson listed his birthplace as Birmingham, England early on to further his career. He was in fact born in Halstad, Minnesota, and can be found as a 2 year old in the 1920 US Census in Hasltad in Norman County, Minnesota. He was orphaned at a young age and raised by his aunt Hattie Gift.

Musical director for ABC Radio's "I Deal in Crime" (1946-1947).

Composer, conductor, band leader, arranger, pianist, jazz expert and accompanist to Judy Garland on tour, Skitch Henderson was educated at Juilliard and the University of Califonia and was a student of Malcolm Frost, Roger Aubert, Albert Coates, Fritz Reiner, and Arnold Schönberg. He was a pianist in dance bands, and then theater orchestras, and in films and radio on the West Coast. He served in the US Air Force during World War II, then became Bing Crosby's music director on radio. Between 1947 and 1949, he toured with his own dance band, and from 1961 was the musical director for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) and a guest conductor for a number of symphony orchestras including the New York Philharmonic and the London Philharmonic. He was also music director for the New York opera "Street Scene" and made many recordings.

Hit #110 on the Billboard Singles Charts in 1968 with "Green, Green Grass of Home" (Columbia 44333).

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 239-240. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.

Currently the founder, music director, and conductor of the New York Pops in New York City. He founded the orchestra, which performs at Carnegie Hall, over 20 years ago, and continues to be its leader today. [January 2005]