Skitch Henderson

Skitch Henderson

Lyle Russel "Skitch" Henderson was a pianist, conductor, and composer. His nickname "Skitch" came from his ability to "re-sketch" a song in a different key. Bing Crosby suggested that he should use the name professionally. After starting his professional career in the 1930s playing piano in the roadhouses of the American Midwest, Henderson's major break came when he was an accompanist on a 1937 MGM promotional tour featuring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. Henderson later said that as a member of MGM's music department, he worked with Garland to learn "Over the Rainbow" during rehearsals for The Wizard of Oz and played piano for her first public performance of the song at a local nightclub before the film was finished. However this account is at odds with the memoirs of the tune's composer, Harold Arlen, who said he first performed the song for the 14-year-old Garland. Blue Network Varieties, which began May 20, 1940, on NBC's Pacific Blue network, featured Henderson in charge of the music, leading "a novelty instrumental group." After the war, Henderson worked for NBC Radio Network, where he was the musical director for Frank Sinatra's Light-Up Time. He was also accompanist on Philco Radio Time with Bing Crosby on the new ABC network. Henderson also played on Bob Hope's Pepsodent Show. In 1946, Henderson and the Golden Gate Quartet headlined a 13-week summer replacement program on NBC, sponsored by Old Gold cigarettes. He also wrote Baby Made a Change in Me for the 1948 movie On Our Merry Way. In 1950, he had a disc jockey program on WNBC in New York City. In a career at NBC from 1951 to 1966, Henderson was conductor of the orchestras for The Tonight Show and The Today Show. Henderson served as the bandleader for both Tonight Starring Steve Allen, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Henderson left the show again in 1966, during Carson's early years as host, and was replaced by Milton Delugg, who was succeeded by trumpeter Doc Severinsen (who led the NBC Orchestra until Carson's retirement in 1992). In 1983, Henderson founded The New York Pops orchestra, which makes its home at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He served as the music director and conductor of the orchestra until his death in 2005. Henderson also conducted numerous symphonic orchestras throughout the world. Skitch and his wife Ruth owned and operated The Silo, a store, art gallery, and cooking school in New Milford, Connecticut from 1972 until his death. Henderson died of natural causes on November 1, 2005, at age 87.

  • Popularity : 1.771
  • Known For : Acting
  • Birthday : 1918-01-27
  • Place of Birth : Halstad, Minnesota, USA
img

Skitch Henderson Movies

  • 1971
    imgMovies

    Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow!

    Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow!

    6 1971 HD

    Barney owns the last working farm in Manhattan. For various reasons, city officials have decided to close it down. A special event is planned to...

    img
  • 2006
    imgMovies

    Carson Country

    Carson Country

    1 2006 HD

    It's an all star, all American country line-up! We've opened the vaults and re-discovered treasured memories with Johnny's favorite country stars! ...

    img
  • 1963
    imgMovies

    Act One

    Act One

    5.9 1963 HD

    img
  • 1963
    imgMovies

    Act One

    Act One

    5.9 1963 HD

    img
  • 1950
    imgS5 E24

    Your Show of Shows

    Your Show of Shows

    5.5 1950 HD

    Your Show of Shows was a live 90-minute variety show that was broadcast weekly in the United States on NBC, from February 25, 1950, until June 5,...

    img
  • 1965
    imgS2 E30

    Hullabaloo

    Hullabaloo

    1 1965 HD

    Hullabaloo is an American musical variety series that ran on NBC from January 12, 1965 through August 29, 1966. Similar to Shindig! it ran in prime...

    img
  • 1961
    imgS22 E21

    The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

    5.1 1961 HD

    The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that originally aired only in the Cleveland area during much...

    img
  • 2000
    imgS2 E13

    MasterChef USA

    MasterChef USA

    1 2000 HD

    MasterChef USA, on PBS, is the original US adaptation of the BBC's MasterChef, a cooking competition for amateur cooks. Grab your whisks and hang on...

    img
  • 1968
    imgS12 E100

    The Dick Cavett Show

    The Dick Cavett Show

    6.658 1968 HD

    The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks.

    img
  • 1957
    imgS5 E237

    Tonight Starring Jack Paar

    Tonight Starring Jack Paar

    6.5 1957 HD

    Tonight Starring Jack Paar is an American talk show hosted by Jack Paar under The Tonight Show franchise from 1957 to 1962. It originally aired...

    img
  • 1962
    imgS31 E74

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    7.37 1962 HD

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally...

    img
  • 1962
    imgS31 E74

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    7.37 1962 HD

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally...

    img
  • 1962
    imgS1 E174

    The Match Game

    The Match Game

    7.8 1962 HD

    In this panel game show, contestants try to match answers given by six celebrities to humorous and often risque fill-in-the-blank questions.

    img
  • 1962
    imgS1 E174

    The Match Game

    The Match Game

    7.8 1962 HD

    In this panel game show, contestants try to match answers given by six celebrities to humorous and often risque fill-in-the-blank questions.

    img