Bernie Leighton

Bernie Leighton (January 30, 1921 – September 16, 1994) was an American jazz pianist.

Leighton was born in West Haven, Connecticut. He first played professionally at the end of the 1930s. He played with Bud Freeman, Leo Reisman, Raymond Scott (1940) and Benny Goodman (1940-41) before serving in the Army. Following his discharge, he worked as a studio sideman, with Dave Tough (1946), Billie Holiday (1949), Neal Hefti (1951), Goodman again, Artie Shaw (1953), John Serry, Sr. (1956), James Moody (1963) and Bob Wilber (1969). He did a tour with Tony Bennett in 1972-73.

While Leighton was best known as a sideman, he also recorded extensively as a leader; he recorded for Keynote Records in 1946, Mercury Records in 1950, an LP on Columbia Records in 1950, Brunswick in 1951, LPs for Disneyland and Capitol in 1957, and a tribute to Duke Ellington released in 1974.

His instrumental cover of Connie Francis' "Don't Break The Heart That Loves You" on the Colpix label in 1962 reached #101 on Billboard's listing.

Leighton has a cameo role in the film Hannah and Her Sisters (1986). He died in Coconut Creek, Florida.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 30, 1921 (West Haven), Died September 16, 1994 (Coconut Creek)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1949 - 1954

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 55 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 84818 7/6/1953 They can't take that away from me Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84819 7/6/1953 All the things you are Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84820 7/6/1953 September song Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84858 7/13/1953 When I'm with you Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84859 7/13/1953 Hors d'oeuvre Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84860 7/13/1953 Jim'ny Crickets (The joke's on me) Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85347 10/8/1953 It's a wonderful world Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85348 10/8/1953 Davey Jones (at the bottom of the sea) Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85419 10/22/1953 'Zat you, Santa Claus? Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85420 10/22/1953 Cool Yule Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85421 10/22/1953 Someday you'll be sorry Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85422 10/22/1953 The gypsy Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85423 10/22/1953 I can't afford to miss this dream Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85486 11/5/1953 The march of the Commanders Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85487 11/5/1953 I want a little girl Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85822 2/2/1954 Make love to me Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85823 2/2/1954 The Dixie flyer Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 85824 2/2/1954 Kentucky boogie Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86590 7/19/1954 Sally May Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86591 7/19/1954 Say hey Willie Mays Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86592 7/19/1954 Pussy footin' (Back to me) Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 86593 7/19/1954 Flo the all American flirt-1 Johnny Long Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Signature H-20 approximately 1950-1951 The syncopated clock Bernie Leighton and his Swing Seven instrumentalist, piano  
Signature H-55 approximately 1950-1951 The world is waiting for the sunrise Bernie Leighton and his Swing Seven instrumentalist, piano  
Signature H-56 approximately 1950-1951 Whispering Bernie Leighton and his Swing Seven instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 26-50 of 55 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Leighton, Bernie," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106216.

Leighton, Bernie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106216.

"Leighton, Bernie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106216

External Sources

Wikipedia: Bernie Leighton

Discogs: Bernie Leighton

Allmusic: Bernie Leighton

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Leighton, Bernie, 1921-1994 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n90628202

Wikidata: Bernie Leighton - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q826564

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/7576238

MusicBrainz: Bernie Leighton - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5a482807-a3db-42cf-8f96-7346cf0d5f42

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