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Skitch Henderson

Skitch Henderson (born January 27, 1918, in Halstad, MN) began on piano at age 4, and trained as conductor under Fritz Reiner, Albert Coates, Arnold Schoenberg, Ernst Toch, and Arturo Toscanini, who invited him to conduct the NBC Symphony Orchestra. After starting his career in the 1930s playing piano in Midwest roadhouses, his major break came as an accompanist on a 1937 MGM tour with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. After World War II, he was music director for Frank Sinatra's "Light-Up Time" on NBC radio. He was also accompanist on "Philco Radio Time" with Bing Crosby, and played on Bob Hope's "Pepsodent Show." In 1946, he and the Golden Gate Quartet headlined a summer replacement program on NBC. That same year, he formed an orchestra and signed a recording contract. In 1963, he would make a Grammy-winning recording of "Porgy and Bess." Two albums as pianist were released in the early 21st century, "Swinging With Strings" (2001) and "Legends," with Bucky Pizzarelli (2003). He was conductor for "The Today Show," "Tonight Starring Steve Allen," and "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." In 1983, he founded The New York Pops orchestra, serving as music director and conductor of the orchestra until his death, November 1, 2005, age 87, in New Milford, CT.

Potpourri: Part 1

by Monk Rowe
March 6, 2026

Season 5 kicks off with a sampler of memorable anecdotes that cover a range of topics from Basie to barracudas. We hear from Skitch Henderson, Benny Powell, Joe Wilder, Chubby Jackson, Ruth Brown and Iola Brubeck. ...

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Album Review

Skitch Henderson: Skitch Henderson: Swinging With Strings

Read "Skitch Henderson: Swinging With Strings" reviewed by AAJ Staff

by AAJ Staff
January 1, 2002

Bounce, tap, stomp, slap, wiggle, giggle, snap—whatever it is you do when you hear music that makes you move, it will happen when you’ve got Skitch Henderson: Swinging With Strings in the CD player. Backed by a small yet potent army of violinists and Arbors regulars, the album is a great collection of catchy new tunes and some very familiar classics. “Blue Moon,” ”My Gal Sal,” and “C-Jam Blues” are some of the more recognizable classics for the beginning enthusiast. ...

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Obituary

Bandleader Skitch Henderson dead at 87

Source: All About Jazz
November 3, 2005

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Skitch Henderson, the Grammy-winning conductor who lent his musical expertise to Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby before founding the New York Pops and becoming the first “Tonight Show" bandleader, died Tuesday. He was 87.

Henderson died of natural causes at his New Milford home, said Barbara Burnside, director of marketing and public relations for New Milford Hospital.

Henderson worked with stars such as Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in the 1930s and ...
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