Will Hudson ''(né'' Arthur Murray Hainer; March 8, 1908 – July 16, 1981) was a Canadian-born American composer, arranger, and

big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s an ...

leader who worked from the mid-1930s through the mid-1950s.''

Oxford Music Online ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language ''Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart'', it is one of the largest reference works on the history and theo ...

,'' "Will Hudson"

''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz,''

Barry Dean Kernfeld Barry Dean Kernfeld (born August 11, 1950) is an American musicologist and jazz saxophonist who has researched and published extensively about the history of jazz and the biographies of its musicians. Education In 1968, Kernfeld enrolled at U ...

Stanley Sadie Stanley John Sadie (; 30 October 1930 – 21 March 2005) was an influential and prolific British musicologist, music critic, and editor. He was editor of the sixth edition of the '' Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' (1980), which was publ ...

(eds.)

1st ed. (Hudson in Vol. 1 of 2),

Macmillan MacMillan, Macmillan, McMillen or McMillan may refer to: People * McMillan (surname) * Clan MacMillan, a Highland Scottish clan * Harold Macmillan, British statesman and politician * James MacMillan, Scottish composer * William Duncan MacMillan ...

(1988);
1st ed. (Vols. 1 & 2 combined),

St. Martin's Press St. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, in the Equitable Building. St. Martin's Press is considered one of the largest English-language publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under si ...

(1994);
2nd ed. (Hudson in Vol. 2 of 3),

(2001);

Early years

Hudson was born in Grimsby, Ontario, March 8, 1908. Print-media biographies state that he was born in Barstow, California. However, Hudson's U.S. Naturalization application indicates otherwise.

Grimsby Grimsby or Great Grimsby is a port town and the administrative centre of North East Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, England. Grimsby adjoins the town of Cleethorpes directly to the south-east forming a conurbation. Grimsby is north-east of Linco ...

, then of Lincoln County, the county of which, in 1970, became

amalgamated Amalgamation is the process of combining or uniting multiple entities into one form. Amalgamation, amalgam, and other derivatives may refer to: Mathematics and science * Amalgam (chemistry), the combination of mercury with another metal **Pan ama ...

into a county-like governmental body known as the

Regional Municipality of Niagara The Regional Municipality of Niagara, also colloquially known as the Niagara Region or Region of Niagara, is a regional municipality comprising twelve municipalities of Southern Ontario, Canada. The regional seat is in Thorold. It is the southern ...

. Hudson, with his parents, immigrated to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

November 13, 1909 — at the age of . He grew up in

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

and graduated from Southeastern High School in June 1926. Hainer put together his first big band in Detroit in the early 1930s. Hudson became a United States citizen on April 14, 1941.

Name change

Biographical sources for Will Hudson ''(né'' Arthur Murray Hainer; March 8, 1908 Grimsby, Ontario – July 16, 1981

Isle of Palms, South Carolina Isle of Palms is a city in Charleston County, South Carolina, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. At the 2010 census, the population was 4,133. Isle of Palms is a barrier island on the South Carolina coast. The city is included withi ...

) often incorrectly state that he was born in Barstow, California. He changed his name sometime between 1931 and 1933 — after his marriage to Eleanor Radtke (born 1912) in Detroit on August 15, 1931, and before his compositions were copyrighted under his new name.

Citizenship

According to a manifest by the U.S. Department of Labor, Hainer had moved from Canada to the United States on November 14, 1909, and remained in the U.S. until July 14, 1928, before moving back to Canada, to reside at 152 Dougall Ave, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He lived at 1805 West Grand Blvd, Detroit. The manifest indicates that he moved out of Detroit on November 7, 1929.

Career

Hudson joined

ASCAP The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadca ...

in 1934. At some point during the early 1930s, Hudson became a staff arranger for

Irving Mills Irving Harold Mills (born Isadore Minsky; January 16, 1894 – April 21, 1985) was an American music publisher, musician, lyricist, and jazz artist promoter. He sometimes used the pseudonyms Goody Goodwin and Joe Primrose. Personal Mills was ...

, writing stock arrangements. Mills — notable in various roles in the development of swing and jazz — was as much a promoter of songwriters, arrangers, and big bands as he was a publisher. Mills was known to have included his name as co-author of works that he did not write, but published. This was a common method of including music promoters in royalties.

Bands

Hudson was a dance-band arranger, and co-leader with Eddie DeLange of the Hudson-DeLange Orchestra. Singers with the Hudson-DeLange Orchestra included Ruth Gaylor, in 1936;

Mitchell Ayres Mitchell Ayres (December 24, 1909 – September 5, 1969) was an orchestra leader, music arranger, composer and performer. He is best known for his many years of work with Perry Como on radio, records, and television and as the musical condu ...

''(né'' Meyer Agress; 1910–1969), in 1937;

Georgia Gibbs Georgia Gibbs (born Frieda Lipschitz; August 17, 1918December 9, 2006) was an American popular singer and vocal entertainer rooted in jazz. Already singing publicly in her early teens, Gibbs achieved acclaim and notoriety in the mid-1950s interp ...

''(formerly'' Fredda Gibson; ''née'' Frieda Lipschitz; 1919–2006); and

Nan Wynn Nan Wynn, born Masha VatzNew York Times & Arno Press ''The New York Times biographical service, Volume 2'', p. 1013; 1971 (May 8, 1918 – March 21, 1971) was an American big-band singer, and Broadway and film actress. She sang and recorded thro ...

. When the Hudson-DeLange Orchestra was at the height of its popularity, around 1940, Hudson had to withdraw for health reasons. Hudson led his own band, the Will Hudson Orchestra, from 1939 to about 1941. Singers included Kay Kenny; Elisse Cooper, who, in 1944 married saxophonist Joseph Gabriel "Gabe" Gelinas; Jayne Dover ''(née'' Jane Rappaport), while signing with Van Alexander Orchestra; and Ruth Gaylor. Eddie DeLange co-led with Hudson the Hudson DeLange Orchestra and wrote the lyrics to several songs composed by Hudson. Notable musicians involved with the band include

George Siravo George Siravo (October 2, 1916, Staten Island, New York – February 28, 2000, Medford, Oregon) was an American composer, arranger, conductor, saxophonist, and clarinetist. He began his career playing reeds with the Cliquot Club Eskimos and l ...

(also with the Will Hudson Orchestra; on the clarinet), Edward ("Doc") Goldberg (bass);

, Mitchell Parish (lyricist),

(vocalist),

(vocalist), and Gus Bivona (clarinet). In 1941, Hudson began focusing on arranging, full-time.

World War II

Hudson enlisted in the U.S. Army March 6, 1943 (SSN 090 03 4600), and served in the

U.S. Army Air Force The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

. He became the arranger for the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. Hudson was discharged September 23, 1945.

Post-World War II

In 1948, Hudson enrolled at Juilliard, studying orchestration and composition with Wallingford Riegger, Henry Brant, and

Vincent Persichetti Vincent Ludwig Persichetti (June 6, 1915 – August 14, 1987) was an American composer, teacher, and pianist. An important musical educator and writer, he was known for his integration of various new ideas in musical composition into his own wo ...

— and earned a diploma in 1952 and post-grad diploma in 1953. He also studied composition privately. His popular-music compositions include " Moonglow" (words Eddie DeLange; ©1934), "Tormented" (©1936), "Sophisticated Swing" (©1936), "Mr. Ghost Goes to Town" (©1937), "Devil's Kitchen" (©1935), "You're Not the Kind" (co-composed with

Selected discography

* "Wild Party" Vocals by Ina Ray Hutton. Recorded September 13, 1934, New York City. Vocalion / Brunswick BR 15915-1 * "You're Not The Kind of Girl for Me". Will Hudson & Irving Mills. * "

Cherokee The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...

" by the

Ralph Burns Ralph Joseph P. Burns (June 29, 1922 – November 21, 2001) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Early life Burns was born in Newton, Massachusetts, United States, where he began playing the piano as a child. In 1938, he attend ...

Quintet. Recorded October 11, 1938, New York City.

Ray Noble Raymond Stanley Noble (17 December 1903 – 2 April 1978) was an English jazz and big band musician, who was a bandleader, composer and arranger, as well as a radio host, television and film comedian and actor; he also performed in the United ...

(music). Arranged by Will Hudson. B-23575 (matrix): Brunswick BR 8247.

(piano); Serge Chaloff (bari sax);

Chuck Wayne Chuck Wayne (February 27, 1923 – July 29, 1997) was an American jazz guitarist. He came to prominence in the 1940s, and was among the earliest jazz guitarists to play in the bebop style. Wayne was a member of Woody Herman's First Herd, the f ...

(electric guitar); Artie Bernstein (bass); Don Lamond (drums) * "Midnight in Manhattan" by Benny Mereoff. * "I'd Love It" (© 1930) by McKinney's Cotton Pickers. By Don Redman & Will Hudson. Recorded November 5, 1929,

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

57066-2 (matrix):

Victor The name Victor or Viktor may refer to: * Victor (name), including a list of people with the given name, mononym, or surname Arts and entertainment Film * ''Victor'' (1951 film), a French drama film * ''Victor'' (1993 film), a French shor ...

V-38133-B) * "Then Someone's In Love" ("Alguien esta Enamorado") waltz by Max Prival (music) and

Lew Pollack Lew Pollack (June 16, 1895 – January 18, 1946) was an American song composer and musician active during the 1920s and the 1930s. Career Pollack was born in New York City where he went to DeWitt Clinton High School and was active as a boy sopran ...

(words). Arranged by Will Hudson. Frank Martin (vocalist). Recorded in New York City, January 31, 1930. (matrix 58547-1: Victor Records V-38142-B) * "Hot Water" by

Cab Calloway Cabell Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, conductor and dancer. He was associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he was a regular performer and became a popular vocalist ...

. By Will Hudson. Recorded on December 7, 1932, New York City. 12696-A (matrix):

Banner A banner can be a flag or another piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or another message. A flag whose design is the same as the shield in a coat of arms (but usually in a square or rectangular shape) is called a banner of arms. Also, ...

32647 OCLC 78518408 * "Wild Party" (©1934) by Fletcher Henderson. * "Hocus Pocus" (released 1934; music ©1935) by Fletcher Henderson. Recorded March 6, 1934, New York City. Bluebird B-10247-B * "Jazznochracy" (©1934) by Jimmy Lunceford. * "Organ Grinder's Swing" (©1936) by Jimmy Lunceford. * "Remember When?" (w&m co-written with Eddie DeLange & Irving Mills; ©1934) by Jimmy Lunceford. * "Ride, Red, Ride" (© 1930) by Mills Blue Rhythm Band. by Lucky Millinder & Irving Mills (w&m). Arranged by Will Hudson. CO-17759 (matrix): Columbia 3087-D

Hudson-DeLange Orchestra

By 1937, Hudson had composed 50 hits, including: * " Moonglow" (words Eddie DeLange; ©1934), * "Sophisticated Swing" (©1936), * "Mr. Ghost Goes to Town" (©1937) * "Jazznocracy" (©1934) * "Devil's Kitchen" (©1935) * "You're Not the Kind" (co-composed with

; ©1936) * "Witch Doctor" (©1935) * "White Heat" (©1934) * "Popcorn Man" (1936), co-composed with Louis Klein (1888–1945) & William "Bill" Livingston (1911–1989) * "Tormented" (©1936) * "Monopoly Swing" (©1936), and the band's theme song * "Love Song of a Half-Wit" (1936) * "Eight Bars In Search of a Melody" (©1936) * "Hobo on Park Avenue" (©1936). *: Many of Hudson's compositions were published by

Mills Music Irving Harold Mills (born Isadore Minsky; January 16, 1894 – April 21, 1985) was an American music publisher, musician, lyricist, and jazz artist promoter. He sometimes used the pseudonyms Goody Goodwin and Joe Primrose. Personal Mills was ...

. *: The Hudson-Delange broadcast on ''Bandstand'' and recorded for Brunswick and

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label * Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label * Decca Studios, a recording facility in We ...

. * "Tormented" (©1936) * "With All My Heart and Soul" (©1934) * "You're My Desire" (words, Hudson & Irving Mills, music Hudson; ©1937) * "World Without You" (w&m Maria Kramer & Hudson; ©1940) * "Start Jumpin'" * "Three at a Table for Two" * "Hi Ya Mr. Chips" * "Peekin' at the Deacon" * "On the Verge"

Recorded by Cab Calloway

Jazz compositions

Selected TV and filmography

; " Moonglow" : 2015: ''

Legend A legend is a Folklore genre, genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived, both by teller and listeners, to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human valu ...

'' : 2013: '' 42'' : 2011: ''

Mildred Pierce ''Mildred Pierce'' is a psychological drama by James M. Cain published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1941. A story of “social inequity and opportunity in America" set during the Great Depression, ''Mildred Pierce'' follows the trajectory of a lower- ...

'' (TV Mini-Series; Part 2) : 2009: Amelia : 2007: ''American Masters'' (TV Series documentary) (

Les Paul Lester William Polsfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009), known as Les Paul, was an American jazz, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid-body electric guitar, and his prototype ...

: "Chasing Sound") : 2007: ''Midnight Son'' (short) : 2006: ''

The Holiday ''The Holiday'' is a 2006 romantic comedy film written, produced and directed by Nancy Meyers. Coproduced by Bruce A. Block, it was filmed in both California and England and stars Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz as Iris and Amanda, two lovelorn ...

'' : 2006: '' Idlewild'' : 2005: Carly Simon: '' A Moonlight Serenade on the Queen Mary 2'' (Video) : 2004: '' The Aviator'' : 2004: ''

Melinda and Melinda ''Melinda and Melinda'' is a 2004 American comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. It premiered at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. The film is set in Manhattan and stars Radha Mitchell as the protagonist Melinda, in two st ...

'' : 2000: '' Center Stage'' : 1999: '' Ben & Gunnar'' (sv) (TV movie) (uncredited) : 1998: ''Frank Lloyd Wright'' (documentary) : 1997: '' Private Parts'' : 1995: ''

Casino A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are also known for hosting live entertai ...

'' : 1991: '' My Girl'' : 1990: ''

Alice Alice may refer to: * Alice (name), most often a feminine given name, but also used as a surname Literature * Alice (''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''), a character in books by Lewis Carroll * ''Alice'' series, children's and teen books by ...

'' : 1990: ''

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

'' : 1989: '' The Fabulous Baker Boys'' : 1988: ''

Stealing Home ''Stealing Home'' is a 1988 American coming of age romantic drama film written and directed by Steven Kampmann and William Porter (billed as Will Aldis). The film stars Mark Harmon, Blair Brown, Jonathan Silverman, Harold Ramis, William McNamara ...

'' : 1987: '' September'' : 1986: ''Picnic'' (TV movie) : 1984: ''Speed'' (documentary short) : 1975: '' Inserts'' : 1962: Perry Como's ''

Kraft Music Hall ''The Kraft Music Hall'' was a popular old-time radio variety program, featuring top show business entertainers, which aired first on NBC radio from 1933 to 1949. Radio ''The Kraft Program'' debuted June 26, 1933, as a musical-variety progra ...

'' (TV Series) (1 episode) ::- Episode #14.29 (uncredited) : 1961: ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, su ...

(TV Series) (1 episode) ::- "It's a Good Life" : 1958: '' Jazz Party'' (TV Series) ::- Episode #1.19 : 1958: ''Timex All-Star Jazz Show'' (TV Series) ::- Episode dated April 30, 1958 (uncredited) : 1956: '' Your Hit Parade'' (TV Series) (2 episodes) ::- Episode dated June 9, 1956 ::- Episode dated June 2, 1956 : 1956: ''

The Benny Goodman Story Dick Winslow ''The Benny Goodman Story'' is a biographical film starring Steve Allen and Donna Reed, directed by Valentine Davies, and released by Universal-International in 1956. The film was intended as a follow-up to Universal's 1954 hit ''The G ...

'' : 1955: ''

Picnic A picnic is a meal taken outdoors ( ''al fresco'') as part of an excursion, especially in scenic surroundings, such as a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event such as preceding ...

'' (uncredited) : 1941: '' Hi Gang!'' (uncredited) : 1935: ''

Fighting Stock ''Fighting Stock'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by and starring Tom Walls. It also features Robertson Hare, Lesley Wareing and Herbert Lomas. its plot involves a Brigadier who retires to a country cottage for some quiet fishing, but i ...

'' (uncredited) ; "You're Not the Kind of Boy for a Girl Like Me" : 1955: ''Show Time at the Apollo'' (TV Series) (1 episode; "All Star Review") : 1956: ''

Basin Street Revue ''Basin Street Revue'' is a 1956 American film directed by Joseph Kohn and Leonard Reed. The film is also known as ''Basin Street Review'' (American TV title). Cast *Willie Bryant as himself *Sarah Vaughan as herself *Lionel Hampton as himse ...

'' (uncredited) ; "The Man From Harlem" : 1989: '' Bloodhounds of Broadway'' ; "Cowboy in Manhattan" : 1936: ''Emil Coleman and His Orchestra'' (short) (uncredited) ; "Jazznochracy" : 1936: ''Jimmie Lunceford and His Dance Orchestra'' (short) (uncredited) ; "

Organ Grinder's Swing "Organ Grinder's Swing" is a song composed by Will Hudson, with lyrics credited to Mitchell Parish and Irving Mills (Mills was the publisher), published in 1936. It became associated with the Jimmie Lunceford orchestra. Hudson based the "Organ Gr ...

" : 1997: ''

One Night Stand A one-night stand or one-night sex is a single sexual encounter in which there is an expectation that there shall be no further relations between the sexual participants. It draws its name from the common practice of a one-night stand, a single ...

'' : 1985: ''

That's Dancing! ''That's Dancing!'' is a 1985 American compilation film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that looked back at the history of dancing in film. Unlike the ''That's Entertainment!'' series, this film not only focuses specifically on MGM films, but als ...

'' : 1963: '' The Lawrence Welk Show'' (TV Series) (1 episode; episode #8.46) : 1938: ''Sin-copation'' (short) (uncredited) : 1937: ''

Calling All Stars Calling All Stars may refer to: *Calling All Stars (1934 musical), a 1934 Broadway musical *Calling All Stars (1937 musical) ''Calling All Stars'' is a 1937 British musical comedy film directed by Herbert Smith and starring Arthur Askey, Evely ...

'' : 1937: ''Swing, Hutton, Swing'' (short) (uncredited) : 1937: ''Organ Grinder's Swing'' (short) : 1935: ''

The Littlest Rebel ''The Littlest Rebel'' is a 1935 American musical drama film directed by David Butler. The screenplay by Edwin J. Burke was adapted from a play of the same name by Edward Peple. Cast * Shirley Temple as Virgie Cary * John Boles as Herbert Ca ...

Selected copyrights

* "Jazznochracy" by Will Hudson. © February 20, 1934
EP40861
Exclusive Publications, Inc. * " Moonglow" by Will Hudson, Eddie DeLange,

. © May 10, 1934
EP42400
Exclusive Publications, Inc. * "Glen Island Special" by Eddie DeLange, Will Hudson (arranger; for orchestra) © February 5, 1940
EP82794

Leo Feist, Inc. Leopold Feist (January 3, 1869, New York City – June 21, 1930, Mount Vernon, New York), in 1897 founded and ran a music publishing firm bearing his name. In the 1920s, at the height of the golden age of popular music, his firm was among the seve ...