Richard Hayman facts for kids

Richard Hayman in 1966

Richard Hayman (March 27, 1920 – February 5, 2014) was an American musician known for his amazing work with orchestras. For over 50 years, he was the main music arranger for the Boston Pops Orchestra. He also conducted many other famous orchestras, like the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony, and the Grand Rapids Symphony in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Richard Hayman was also a skilled harmonica player. He toured and recorded many albums, especially for Mercury Records, often with his own group, "Richard Hayman and His Orchestra." His biggest hit song was "Ruby," which came from the 1952 movie Ruby Gentry. Hayman's version of "Ruby" featured his own harmonica playing as the main solo. Throughout his long career, he created music arrangements for more than 50 famous artists, including Barbra Streisand, Bob Hope, Liza Minnelli, and Olivia Newton-John.

Richard Hayman's Music Career

Richard Hayman was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. He started his music career when he was a teenager. He played and arranged music for a group called the Borrah Minnevitch Harmonica Rascals. In the 1940s, he began working as an arranger for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios. He helped create music for popular MGM films like Girl Crazy, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Thousands Cheer. From 1945 to 1950, he was the musical director for the Vaughn Monroe Orchestra.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Hayman recorded many albums for Mercury Records. One of his albums, Havana In Hi-Fi (1957), was the first pop music stereo album released by that record label.

Hayman is most famous for being the main arranger for the Boston Pops Orchestra for over 30 years. His award-winning music arrangements are still used by the orchestra today. He sometimes conducted the Boston Pops as a guest. When the famous conductor Arthur Fiedler was busy with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, he suggested Hayman take his place as a pops conductor.

Richard Hayman also worked closely with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for over 30 years. He was known for his sparkly jackets, harmonica solos, and funny jokes. In 1976, he became their Principal Pops Conductor. He led many popular concerts, including those at Powell Hall and Queeny Park. The Queeny Pops concerts were very popular for many years.

In 1985, he became the Principal Pops Conductor of the Grand Rapids Symphony. He worked with them for more than 21 seasons until he retired in 2006. After retiring, he was named their Pops Conductor Laureate, which is an honorary title. Hayman also started and conducted the Florida Sunshine Pops orchestra in Boca Raton. He continued to make guest appearances as a conductor in the United States and Europe.

His biggest hit song was "Ruby" in 1953. Hayman took the main tune from the movie Ruby Gentry. He created a special arrangement using a harmonica as the main solo instrument, backed by a large orchestra. This song became a huge hit around the world and made people interested in the harmonica again. The other side of the "Ruby" record was a song called "Dansero," which also became an international hit.

Hayman continued to have popular songs into the early 1960s, including "Night Train."

His last performance with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra was on June 27, 2010. This concert celebrated his 90th birthday. The St. Louis Metro Singers, who often performed with him, also joined him on stage.

Hayman is also known for some of his albums that are now considered part of the "Exotica" music style.

Richard Hayman's Passing

Richard Hayman passed away at a hospice in New York on February 5, 2014. He was 93 years old.

Richard Hayman's Music Recordings

Richard Hayman had a very long and successful career, creating many recordings as both a conductor and an arranger. Here are a few examples of his work:

As a Conductor

Hayman conducted many more albums, covering a wide range of musical styles.

As an Arranger

He arranged music for many other famous artists and orchestras throughout his career.