23 Facts About Dee Barton

Dee Barton is best known for his association with the Stan Kenton Orchestra.

Dee Barton's father became the band director at Starkville High School.

Dee Barton practiced in the school band room for 10 hours a day, and was able to help when his father was ill.

Dee Barton was able to take over his father's work and teach all of his classes for two years to keep the Starkville High School job running.

Dee Barton went on to attend Murray State University and after that North Texas State University where he was a member of the famed One O'Clock Lab Band under Gene Hall and Leon Breeden.

In 1957 Dee Barton already had a reputation and wanted to study composition at North Texas State University but had no money.

Dee Barton first met Kenton backstage at a concert in 1953 when Barton was 15.

Dee Barton worked with the Charlie Spivak band during that time.

Kenton became very familiar with Dee Barton's playing and writing abilities.

In 1961, at the age of 23, Dee Barton joined Kenton's orchestra in the trombone section.

Dee Barton served on three other major Capitol releases in the trombone section.

Dee Barton acted as a substitute for Kenton's drummer on occasion and in June 1962 he gave up a trombone chair and became the band's drummer recording on Adventures in Time in September 1962, as well as four subsequent Kenton releases.

Dee Barton eventually left the band in late 1963 to pursue a wider music career in Los Angeles.

Dee Barton returned for short tours in 1967 worked with Kenton as drummer and arranger on the album The World We Know and Finian's Rainbow.

Dee Barton moved to Los Angeles and eventually wrote the scores for more than 50 Hollywood films.

Dee Barton contributed to the writing for five other Eastwood films, including Dirty Harry and Magnum Force.

Dee Barton worked as a music consultant for Frank Sinatra, the Rolling Stones, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, John Lennon and others.

Dee Barton helped Jimmy Webb with the composition of MacArthur Park and later wrote an arrangement of the tune for Stan Kenton.

In 1973 Barton moved to Memphis TN to become musical director for the William B Tanner Company.

Dee Barton worked there until 1988 when he left to work independently and teach seminars at schools.

Dee Barton continued for live music performances and in films mainly with London Symphony Orchestra and in Europe.

In 1998 Dee Barton moved to Brandon, Mississippi, and he became composer in residence at Jackson State University.

Dee Barton died in Brandon, Mississippi, on December 3,2001, at the age of 64.