Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

March 27, 1920 in Cambridge, MA

Death

:

February 5, 2014 in New York City, NY

 

Richard Hayman was born on March 27, 1920, in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in a musical family, with his father playing the violin and his mother playing the piano. Hayman began playing the harmonica at the age of eight and quickly became proficient in the instrument. Hayman's talent on the harmonica was recognized early on, and he began performing in public at the age of ten. He was soon playing on radio programs and in theaters, and by the time he was a teenager, he was performing with some of the top orchestras in the country. In 1940, Hayman joined the Borrah Minevitch Harmonica Rascals, a popular harmonica group that toured the country and appeared in films. Hayman quickly became one of the group's star performers, and his virtuosic playing helped to popularize the harmonica as a serious musical instrument. During World War II, Hayman served in the U.S. Army, where he played in the Army Band and entertained troops with his harmonica playing. After the war, he returned to the United States and resumed his career as a performer and recording artist. Hayman's career as a solo artist took off in the 1950s, when he began recording for Mercury Records. His albums, which featured his virtuosic harmonica playing accompanied by orchestras, were popular with audiences and critics alike. He also became a sought-after session musician, playing on recordings by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and Elvis Presley. In addition to his work as a performer and recording artist, Hayman was also a prolific arranger and conductor. He arranged music for films, television shows, and commercials, and conducted orchestras for recordings and live performances. Hayman's career highlights include his performances at the White House for Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy, as well as his appearances on television shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show. He also received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including induction into the Harmonica Hall of Fame and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. Hayman continued to perform and record well into his 90s, and his influence on the harmonica as a serious musical instrument can still be felt today. He passed away on February 5, 2014, at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest harmonica players of all time.

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