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

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 75227 9/6/1949 That lucky old sun Louis Armstrong ; Gordon Jenkins and his Chorus and Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 75228 9/6/1949 Blueberry hill-1 Louis Armstrong ; Gordon Jenkins and his Chorus and Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 75421 10/19/1949 You're my thrill Billie Holiday instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 75422 10/19/1949 Crazy he calls me Billie Holiday instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 75423 10/19/1949 Please tell me now Billie Holiday instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 75424 10/19/1949 Somebody's on my mind Billie Holiday instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81505 9/5/1951 Love me or please let me be Rita Moss instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81506 9/5/1951 Darlin' Rita Moss instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81529 9/12/1951 Waitin' for the evenin' mail Roberta Lee ; Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81530 9/12/1951 Slow poke Roberta Lee ; Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81531 9/12/1951 I wanna play house with you Roberta Lee ; Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81532 9/12/1951 Cherokee Roberta Lee ; Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82613 4/3/1952 Forgive me Peggy Lee instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82614 4/3/1952 Be anything (but be mine) Peggy Lee instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82615 4/3/1952 I'm glad there is you Peggy Lee instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82616 4/3/1952 You go to my head Peggy Lee instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84025 2/27/1953 Swanee river boogie Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84026 2/27/1953 Honey in the horn Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84784 6/29/1953 O (Oh!) Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84785 6/29/1953 Meet the brass Commanders Big Band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84799 7/2/1953 These foolish things Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84800 7/2/1953 In the still of the night Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84801 7/2/1953 That old black magic Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84802 7/2/1953 I'll be seeing you Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 84817 7/6/1953 It could happen to you Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
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  
Signature H-57 approximately 1950-1951 Sixty minute man Johnny Davis instrumentalist, piano  
Signature H-58 approximately 1950-1951 Smooth sailing Johnny Davis instrumentalist, piano  
Signature H-62 approximately 1950-1951 Down yonder Bernie Leighton instrumentalist, piano  
Signature SRC 2018 10-in. approximately 1949-1950 Bewildered Bernie Leighton instrumentalist, piano  
Signature SRC 2160 10-in. approximately 1949-1950 Bewitched Bernie Leighton instrumentalist, piano  

Citation

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

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

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.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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