America’s favourite “Pops” conductor, Richard Hayman was Principal “Pops” Conductor of the Saint Louis, Hartford and Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestras, of Orchestra London Canada and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and also held that post with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for many years. His original compositions are standards in the repertoire of these ensembles as well as frequently performed selections of many orchestras and bands throughout the world.
For over 30 years, Richard Hayman served as the chief arranger for the Boston Pops Orchestra during Arthur Fiedler’s tenure, providing special arrangements for dozens of their hit albums and famous singles. Under John Williams’s direction, the orchestra continues to program his award-winning arrangements and orchestrations. For several years, Richard Hayman concentrated most of his time on guest-conducting special “Pops” concerts. He was reinvited, season after season, by all the leading orchestras across the United States and Canada, to conduct these popular entertainments during their regular seasons, as well as for their summer festivals.
During his residence in New York, Richard Hayman’s work was in constant demand, in every medium of musical expression, from Boston to Hollywood. Though then more involved with the symphony orchestra circuit, he served as musical director and/or master of ceremonies for the tour shows of many popular entertainers: Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash, Olivia Newton-John, Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, The Carpenters, The Osmonds, Al Hirt, Andy Williams and many others.
Richard Hayman and His Orchestra presented in 23 albums and 27 hit singles by Mercury Records, for which he served as musical director for 12 years. Dozens of his original compositions have been recorded by various artists all over the world. He also arranged and conducted recordings for more than 50 stars of the motion picture, stage, radio and television world. He also scored Broadway shows and numerous motion pictures.
In 1960, Richard Hayman was honoured with his own star in Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Other awards have included a Certificate of Recognition from Cosmopolitan magazine for Achievement in Bettering Popular Music, the Edison Award for Creative Achievement in Recorded Arts from the Academy of Musical Recorded Arts and Sciences and the National TV Festival and Forum Award.
For Naxos international, Richard Hayman recorded some ten compact discs every year ranging from the music of Leroy Anderson to the Best of John Williams and theme programmes such as Love Is A Many-Splendoured Thing, Viva España and others.
Richard Hayman died on 5 February 2014 at the age of 93.