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Neal Hefti

Neal Paul Hefti (October 29, 1922 – October 11, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger. He wrote music for The Odd Couple movie and TV series and for the Batman TV series.

He began arranging professionally in his teens, when he wrote charts for Nat Towles. He composed and arranged while working as a trumpeter for Woody Herman providing the bandleader with versions of "Woodchopper's Ball" and "Blowin' Up a Storm" and composing "The Good Earth" and "Wild Root". He left Herman's band in 1946. Now concentrating on writing music only, he began an association with Count Basie in 1950. Hefti occasionally led his own bands.

Birth and Death Data: Born Hastings, Died October 11, 2008 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1942 - 1959

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, arranger, trumpet, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 101-125 of 262 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 84711 6/12/1953 Eh là bas Bunny Briggs ; Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet, arranger, leader  
Decca 84712 6/12/1953 Margie Bunny Briggs ; Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet, arranger, leader  
Decca 85034 8/14/1953 When I lost you Jackie Paris arranger, leader  
Decca 85035 8/14/1953 Idle gossip Jackie Paris arranger, leader  
Decca 85036 8/14/1953 I had a talk with a daisy Jackie Paris arranger, leader  
Decca 85037 8/14/1953 Skylark Jackie Paris arranger, leader  
Decca 85292 10/1/1953 Just one more chance Neal Hefti Orchestra ; Mel Torme leader  
Decca 85293 10/1/1953 The anything can happen mambo Neal Hefti Orchestra ; Mel Torme leader  
Decca 85294 10/1/1953 Blue skies Neal Hefti Orchestra ; Mel Torme leader  
Decca 85295 10/1/1953 oo-ya-ya Neal Hefti Orchestra ; Mel Torme leader  
Decca 85486 11/5/1953 The march of the Commanders Commanders Big Band arranger  
Decca 85487 11/5/1953 I want a little girl Commanders Big Band arranger  
Decca 85664 1/5/1954 Teardrop Avenue Eydie Gorme leader  
Decca 85665 1/5/1954 Chain reaction Eydie Gorme leader  
Decca 85666 1/5/1954 If you only knew Eydie Gorme leader  
Decca 85667 1/5/1954 Fallen apples Eydie Gorme leader  
Decca 85668 1/5/1954 Tea for two Eydie Gorme leader  
Decca 85669 1/5/1954 Crocodile tears Eydie Gorme leader  
Decca 85670 1/5/1954 Climb up the wall Eydie Gorme leader  
Decca 85675 1/7/1954 The way I feel Johnny Parker arranger, leader  
Decca 85676 1/7/1954 Lover Johnny Parker arranger, leader  
Decca 85677 1/7/1954 Penthouse serenade (When we're alone) Johnny Parker arranger, leader  
Decca 85678 1/7/1954 Runnin' around in circles Johnny Parker arranger, leader  
Decca 85915 3/1/1954 Banana split Jackie Cain ; Roy Kral arranger, leader  
Decca 85916 3/1/1954 Pa! Take me to the circus Jackie Cain ; Roy Kral arranger, leader  
(Results 101-125 of 262 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hefti, Neal," accessed December 11, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103459.

Hefti, Neal. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 11, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103459.

"Hefti, Neal." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 11 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103459

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