Horace Heidt Jr.

Horace Heidt Jr.
Nationality American
Education BA and JD
Alma mater Stanford University and Southwestern University School of Law
Occupation Big band conductor, composer, and real estate
Years active 1962 to present
Known for Horace Heidt Jr. and his Musical Knights
Spouse(s) Sandra Heidt
Parent(s) Horace Heidt
Website Official website

Horace Heidt Jr. (October 7, 1946)[1] is an American big band conductor and radio presenter. He began his professional music career at sixteen and led the big band Horace Heidt Jr. and his Modern Musical Knights, in addition to becoming a lawyer and serving in the U.S. Army Reserves as an officer. In 1982, he took over his father's band and renamed it Horace Heidt Jr. and his Musical Knights, adding the caveat "Jr." to the band named for his father. Heidt Jr. is also a real estate investor and has been involved in several presidential nomination conventions, including the nominating conventions for Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole. During the 2000s, Heidt Jr. hosted the radio program America Swings.

Education and military career

Heidt was a cadet at the Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana where he graduated in Honors Economics. He then completed his undergraduate studies at Stanford University where he earned a BA in Political Science with minors in Music and Mathematics. In 1977 Heidt graduated with his JD from the Southwestern University School of Law. After law school he earned the rank of first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves, and performed at USO events in the 1970s. He has also served on the board of directors for the USO.[1][2]

Career

In November 1962, Heidt made his nightclub conducting debut at the Castle Club in Santa Monica, California. He was sixteen years old at the time.[3] Heidt practiced with the group for several months and then took the band on tour.[4] He would eventually name his band Horace Heidt Jr. and his Modern Musical Knights, in homage to his father’s band.[5] Musicians that have played with Heidt include Cecil Hill[6] and Dick Contino.[7]

In 1982, he had become the conductor for his father’s band Horace Heidt and his Musical Nights, renaming it Horace Heidt Jr. and his Musical Knights. Their debut at the Gold Parrot in Los Angeles was broadcast on KPRZ-AM radio.[8] In 1982 Heidt also became the Musical Director of the NFL Los Angeles Raiders on field band, which he led until the team moved in 1994.[1][7][9] During the 1980s Heidt Jr. worked with Columbia Records, conducting national tours for its recording artists.[2] In 1985, he performed at President Ronald Reagan’s Inaugural Ball.[1][2]

After his father’s death in 1986, Heidt took over his father’s business the Heidt Agency real estate company.[2] He also became the owner of the Horace Heidt Estates apartment building, which houses artists as well as veterans. Heidt hosts Armed Forces Day celebrations on the grounds with his orchestra.[10] He was also the Music Director for the 1996 Republican National Convention. During the Convention he had his orchestra play the tune of "I'm a Soul Man", leading the audience to sing "I’m a Dole Man" along to the music in honor of that year’s Republican Presidential Nominee Bob Dole.[11]

Heidt has performed large outdoor concerts in the Los Angeles area, including the Warner Center Concerts in the Park series.[12] In 2000, he became the founding president of the National Big Band & Jazz Hall of Fame in Palm Springs, California[13] and during the 2000s he hosted the syndicated radio program America Swings.[2]

Politics

In 1982 Heidt earned his first elected position, as a member of the County Central Committee representing California’s 40th assembly district. In 1986, he was then named honorary mayor of Toluca Lake. In 1992, he won the Republican primary and sought a seat in the California State Assembly.[2]

Personal life

Heidt Jr. is the son of bestselling big band composer and NBC radio host Horace Heidt.[14] He is Vice Chairman of the United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley, the Rotary Club, and several different charitable organizations. In 2008, he founded the Horace Heidt Big Band Foundation in order to support big band musicians and big band performances.[2] He was honored for this work by the Southern California Motion Picture Council at their sixtieth anniversary meeting in 1997.[15] In November 1998, Heidt was presented with the Valley Cultural Center's Golden Horn Award for his charitable efforts as well.[16] He has been married to his wife Sandra Heidt over thirty years since June 6, 1981, with whom he has one daughter, Monica.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Homepage biography". Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "THE "HEIDT" OF THE BIG BANDS – HORACE HEIDT JR. – CONDUCTING FAMILY". Life After 50. December 7, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  3. ↑ Lee Zhito (November 24, 1962). "Hollywood". ’’Billboard Music Week’’. p. 10. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  4. ↑ Jack Maher (December 22, 1962). "New York". Billboard Music Week. p. 24. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  5. ↑ Eliot Tiegel (November 7, 1970). "From the Music Capitals of the World". Billboard Magazine. p. 25. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Former Beneke sax man Cecil Hill still "swings his thing "". Jazz Institute of Chicago. 2003. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  7. 1 2 "PARK CONCERT TO FEATURE BIG-BAND PERFORMANCE". Los Angeles Daily News. June 21, 1998. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  8. ↑ Dave Dexter Jr. "Heidt Revival Marks Opening of Gold Parrot". Billboard Magazine. p. 46. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  9. ↑ Del Courtney. Hey! The Band’s Too Loud. pp. 189–190. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ Dennis McCarthy (May 2, 2002). "SON CARRIES ON TRADITION OF AIDING VETS". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ John McCaslin (August 16, 1996). "Beyond the Beltway". The Washington Times. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  12. ↑ "BIG BAND PLAYS AT FREE CONCERT". Los Angeles Daily News. June 16, 2002. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Nominees announced for Big Band & Jazz Hall of Fame". American Music Teacher. October 1, 2000. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Bandleader Horace Heidt Dead at 85". Los Angeles Times. December 2, 1986. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  15. ↑ Barbara De Witt (April 6, 1997). "PARTY LINES : REEL-LIFE GALA GOES OVER-THE-TOP". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  16. ↑ Barbara De Witt (November 1, 1998). "PARTY LINES : THE HEIDT OF CLASS". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
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