Lyle Russel "Skitch" Henderson was a pianist, conductor, and composer.
26 Facts About Skitch Henderson
2.
Skitch Henderson's aunt taught him piano, starting at the age of four.
3.
Skitch 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.
4.
Skitch Henderson was accompanist on Philco Radio Time with Bing Crosby on the new ABC network.
5.
In 1950, Skitch Henderson had a disc jockey program on WNBC in New York City.
6.
In 1946, Skitch Henderson formed his own orchestra and signed a contract with Capitol Records.
7.
Skitch Henderson's recording career spanned the period from 78s to CDs.
8.
Skitch Henderson served as conductor of The New York Pops with Maureen McGovern on With a Song in My Heart: The Great Songs of Richard Rodgers for Reader's Digest and Centaur Records.
9.
Skitch Henderson served as the bandleader for both Tonight Starring Steve Allen, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
10.
Skitch 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.
11.
In 1983, Skitch Henderson founded The New York Pops orchestra, which makes its home at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
12.
Skitch Henderson served as the music director and conductor of the orchestra until his death in 2005.
13.
Skitch Henderson wrote Baby Made a Change in Me for the 1948 movie On Our Merry Way.
14.
In 1997, Skitch Henderson was honored for the vital role he played in the cultural life of New York City by being awarded the Handel Medallion, presented by the City of New York, New York.
15.
On January 29,2005, Skitch Henderson was awarded the Smithsonian Institution's highest honor, the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal.
16.
Skitch Henderson was known for his unique laugh on the Carson show.
17.
Skitch Henderson married movie actress and television personality Faye Emerson in 1950.
18.
Skitch Henderson then married Ruth Einsiedel in 1958 and raised two children, Hans and Heidi.
19.
Skitch and Ruth Henderson owned and operated The Silo, a store, art gallery, and cooking school in New Milford, Connecticut from 1972 until his death.
20.
In 2003, Ruth and Skitch Henderson co-founded the Hunt Hill Farm Trust, an effort to preserve their farm's land and buildings and to celebrate Americana in music, art and literature through the creation of a living museum.
21.
Skitch Henderson died of natural causes on November 1,2005, at age 87.
22.
Skitch Henderson further claimed he had consulted with Leonard Bernstein and Henry Mancini about the value of his collection, both of whom denied this in testimony at trial.
23.
Skitch Henderson was convicted on two counts of filing false tax returns.
24.
Skitch Henderson was acquitted on the tax evasion charges and obstructing a tax audit.
25.
Skitch Henderson was sentenced on January 17,1975, to six months in prison, and was fined $10,000.
26.
Skitch Henderson began serving his sentence at a minimum-security Federal prison on April 9,1975, and was released after four months, on August 4,1975.