Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

December 1, 1896 in Buffalo, NY

Death

:

December 31, 1970 in Greenwich, CT

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Ray Henderson was an American composer and songwriter who was born on December 1, 1896, in Buffalo, New York. He was the youngest of three children born to a family of musicians. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist. Henderson's siblings were also musically inclined, with his brother playing the trumpet and his sister playing the piano. Henderson's musical education began at an early age, with his mother teaching him to play the piano. He later studied at the Chicago Musical College and the American Conservatory of Music. In 1916, he moved to New York City to pursue a career in music. Henderson's early career was focused on writing popular songs for Broadway shows and films. He collaborated with lyricist Buddy DeSylva and composer Lew Brown on a number of successful musicals, including "Good News" and "Hold Everything!" In 1925, the trio wrote the hit song "Black Bottom," which became a popular dance craze. In 1929, Henderson began working with lyricist Ted Koehler, and the two went on to write a number of successful songs, including "The Thrill is Gone" and "Love Me or Leave Me." They also wrote the score for the 1930 film "Follow Thru," which included the hit song "Button Up Your Overcoat." Henderson's most famous work is the song "Bye Bye Blackbird," which he wrote with lyricist Mort Dixon in 1926. The song has been recorded by countless artists over the years, including Miles Davis, Etta James, and Diana Ross. In addition to his work as a songwriter, Henderson also composed classical music. He wrote a number of orchestral works, including a symphony and a piano concerto. He also wrote music for ballets and operas. Henderson's career was cut short by his death in 1970 at the age of 73. However, his music continues to be celebrated and performed to this day. His contributions to the world of popular music and classical music have left a lasting legacy.

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