Gender
Male
Born
Mar 14, 1919
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Died
Jul 29, 2003
New York, New York, USA
Composer Arranger Musical Director Orchestrator Musical Supervisor Conductor Musical Staff Musician
Also Known As
Luther Henderson, Jr.
Relations
Father of
Denson B. Henderson
Father of
Dr. Luther L. Henderson, III
Father of
Melanie Henderson
Husband of
Billie Allen (February 8, 1981 - July 29, 2003); his death
  • CREDITS
    Play On! (Mar 20, 1997 - May 11, 1997)
    • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    • Musical Supervisor: Luther Henderson
    MusicalOriginal
    Jelly's Last Jam (Apr 26, 1992 - Sep 05, 1993)
    • Music adapted by Luther Henderson
    • Additional music by Luther Henderson
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    • Musical Supervisor: Luther Henderson
    MusicalOriginal
    Black and Blue (Jan 26, 1989 - Jan 20, 1991)
    • Additional arrangements by Luther Henderson
    • Additional orchestrations by Luther Henderson
    MusicalRevueOriginal
    Ain't Misbehavin' (Aug 15, 1988 - Jan 15, 1989)
    • Music Supervision and Arrangements by Luther Henderson
    • Conductor and Pianist: Luther Henderson
    MusicalRevueRevival
    The First (Nov 17, 1981 - Dec 13, 1981)
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    • Musical Supervisor: Luther Henderson
    MusicalOriginal
    Lena Horne: "The Lady and Her Music" (May 12, 1981 - Jun 30, 1982)
    • Music Consultant: Luther Henderson
    SpecialConcertOriginal
    Happy New Year (Apr 27, 1980 - May 10, 1980)
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    • Musical Supervisor: Luther Henderson
    MusicalOriginal
    The American Dance Machine (Jun 14, 1978 - Dec 03, 1978)
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    SpecialDanceOriginal
    Ain't Misbehavin' (May 09, 1978 - Feb 21, 1982)
    • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    • Musical Supervisor: Luther Henderson
    MusicalRevueOriginal
    So Long, 174th Street (Apr 27, 1976 - May 09, 1976)
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    MusicalOriginal
    Rodgers & Hart (May 13, 1975 - Aug 16, 1975)
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    • Principal Orchestrator: Luther Henderson
    MusicalRevueOriginal
    Doctor Jazz (Mar 19, 1975 - Mar 22, 1975)
    • Music by Luther Henderson
    • Incidental music by Luther Henderson
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    MusicalOriginal
    Good News (Dec 23, 1974 - Jan 04, 1975)
    • Dance and incidental music composed and arranged by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyRevival
    Purlie (Dec 27, 1972 - Jan 07, 1973)
    • Choral Arranger: Luther Henderson
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyRevival
    That's Entertainment (Apr 14, 1972 - Apr 16, 1972)
    • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    • Musical Director: Luther Henderson
    MusicalRevueOriginal
    Wild and Wonderful (Dec 07, 1971 - Dec 07, 1971)
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    MusicalOriginal
    No, No, Nanette (Jan 19, 1971 - Feb 03, 1973)
    • Incidental music by Luther Henderson
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyRevival
    Purlie (Mar 15, 1970 - Nov 06, 1971)
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    • Choral arrangements by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyOriginal
    Golden Rainbow (Feb 04, 1968 - Jan 11, 1969)
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    MusicalOriginal
    Hallelujah, Baby! (Apr 26, 1967 - Jan 13, 1968)
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    MusicalOriginal
    I Had a Ball (Dec 15, 1964 - Jun 12, 1965)
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyOriginal
    Funny Girl (Mar 26, 1964 - Jul 01, 1967)
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyOriginal
    Hot Spot (Apr 19, 1963 - May 25, 1963)
    • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    MusicalOriginal
    Bravo Giovanni (May 19, 1962 - Sep 15, 1962)
    • Dance music arranged and orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    MusicalOriginal
    Let It Ride! (Oct 12, 1961 - Dec 09, 1961)
    • Additional Arrangements: Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyOriginal
    Do Re Mi (Dec 26, 1960 - Jan 13, 1962)
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyOriginal
    Flower Drum Song (Dec 01, 1958 - May 07, 1960)
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson, Jr.
    MusicalComedyOriginal
    Jelly's Last Jam (Oct 25, 1994 - Aug 06, 1995)
    • Musical adaptation and additional music by Luther Henderson
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    MusicalOriginal
    Ain't Misbehavin' (Sep 25, 1979 - Aug 10, 1980)
    • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    MusicalRevueOriginal
    Ain't Misbehavin' (May 08, 1979 - Feb 15, 1981)
    • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    MusicalRevueOriginal
    Ain't Misbehavin' (Feb 23, 1979 - May 04, 1980)
    • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    • Musical Supervisor: Luther Henderson
    • Conducted by Luther Henderson
      • Replacement
    • Pianist: Luther Henderson
      • Replacement
    MusicalRevueOriginal
    Good News (Dec 15, 1973 - Oct 20, 1974)
    • Incidental Music Composed by Luther Henderson
    • Dance Music Arranged by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyRevival
    No, No, Nanette (Sep 14, 1973 - Mar 10, 1974)
    • Incidental music by Luther Henderson
    • Dance music arranged by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyRevival
    No, No, Nanette (Oct 06, 1972 - Aug 04, 1973)
    • Incidental music by Luther Henderson
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyRevival
    No, No, Nanette (Dec 27, 1971 - Mar 10, 1973)
    • Incidental music by Luther Henderson
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyRevival
    Purlie (Nov 20, 1971 - Dec 02, 1972)
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
    • Orchestration and Choral Arrangments by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyOriginal
    Funny Girl (Oct 08, 1965 - Oct 29, 1966)
    • Dance orchestrations by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyOriginal
    Do Re Mi (Jan 16, 1962 - Mar 17, 1962)
    • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
    MusicalComedyOriginal
    Flower Drum Song (May 10, 1960 - Oct 14, 1961)
    • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson, Jr.
    MusicalComedyOriginal
  • AWARDS

    Tony Award®

     

    Best Orchestrations

    1997 | Nominee  | Play On!
    Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
     

    Best Original Score

    1992 | Nominee  | Jelly's Last Jam
    Additional music by Luther Henderson

    Drama Desk Award

     

    Outstanding Orchestrations

    2003 | Nominee
    Luther Henderson (for "Little Ham")

    Outstanding Orchestration/Musical Adaptation

    1992 | Winner  | Jelly's Last Jam
    Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
Play On! (Mar 20, 1997 - May 11, 1997)
  • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
  • Musical Supervisor: Luther Henderson
MusicalOriginal
Jelly's Last Jam (Apr 26, 1992 - Sep 05, 1993)
  • Music adapted by Luther Henderson
  • Additional music by Luther Henderson
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
  • Musical Supervisor: Luther Henderson
MusicalOriginal
Black and Blue (Jan 26, 1989 - Jan 20, 1991)
  • Additional arrangements by Luther Henderson
  • Additional orchestrations by Luther Henderson
MusicalRevueOriginal
Ain't Misbehavin' (Aug 15, 1988 - Jan 15, 1989)
  • Music Supervision and Arrangements by Luther Henderson
  • Conductor and Pianist: Luther Henderson
MusicalRevueRevival
The First (Nov 17, 1981 - Dec 13, 1981)
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
  • Musical Supervisor: Luther Henderson
MusicalOriginal
Lena Horne: "The Lady and Her Music" (May 12, 1981 - Jun 30, 1982)
  • Music Consultant: Luther Henderson
SpecialConcertOriginal
Happy New Year (Apr 27, 1980 - May 10, 1980)
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
  • Musical Supervisor: Luther Henderson
MusicalOriginal
The American Dance Machine (Jun 14, 1978 - Dec 03, 1978)
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
SpecialDanceOriginal
Ain't Misbehavin' (May 09, 1978 - Feb 21, 1982)
  • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
  • Musical Supervisor: Luther Henderson
MusicalRevueOriginal
So Long, 174th Street (Apr 27, 1976 - May 09, 1976)
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
MusicalOriginal
Rodgers & Hart (May 13, 1975 - Aug 16, 1975)
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
  • Principal Orchestrator: Luther Henderson
MusicalRevueOriginal
Doctor Jazz (Mar 19, 1975 - Mar 22, 1975)
  • Music by Luther Henderson
  • Incidental music by Luther Henderson
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
MusicalOriginal
Good News (Dec 23, 1974 - Jan 04, 1975)
  • Dance and incidental music composed and arranged by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyRevival
Purlie (Dec 27, 1972 - Jan 07, 1973)
  • Choral Arranger: Luther Henderson
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyRevival
That's Entertainment (Apr 14, 1972 - Apr 16, 1972)
  • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
  • Musical Director: Luther Henderson
MusicalRevueOriginal
Wild and Wonderful (Dec 07, 1971 - Dec 07, 1971)
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
MusicalOriginal
No, No, Nanette (Jan 19, 1971 - Feb 03, 1973)
  • Incidental music by Luther Henderson
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyRevival
Purlie (Mar 15, 1970 - Nov 06, 1971)
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
  • Choral arrangements by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyOriginal
Golden Rainbow (Feb 04, 1968 - Jan 11, 1969)
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
MusicalOriginal
Hallelujah, Baby! (Apr 26, 1967 - Jan 13, 1968)
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
MusicalOriginal
I Had a Ball (Dec 15, 1964 - Jun 12, 1965)
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyOriginal
Funny Girl (Mar 26, 1964 - Jul 01, 1967)
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyOriginal
Hot Spot (Apr 19, 1963 - May 25, 1963)
  • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
MusicalOriginal
Bravo Giovanni (May 19, 1962 - Sep 15, 1962)
  • Dance music arranged and orchestrated by Luther Henderson
MusicalOriginal
Let It Ride! (Oct 12, 1961 - Dec 09, 1961)
  • Additional Arrangements: Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyOriginal
Do Re Mi (Dec 26, 1960 - Jan 13, 1962)
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyOriginal
Flower Drum Song (Dec 01, 1958 - May 07, 1960)
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson, Jr.
MusicalComedyOriginal
Jelly's Last Jam (Oct 25, 1994 - Aug 06, 1995)
  • Musical adaptation and additional music by Luther Henderson
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
MusicalOriginal
Ain't Misbehavin' (Sep 25, 1979 - Aug 10, 1980)
  • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
MusicalRevueOriginal
Ain't Misbehavin' (May 08, 1979 - Feb 15, 1981)
  • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
MusicalRevueOriginal
Ain't Misbehavin' (Feb 23, 1979 - May 04, 1980)
  • Music arranged by Luther Henderson
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
  • Musical Supervisor: Luther Henderson
  • Conducted by Luther Henderson
    • Replacement
  • Pianist: Luther Henderson
    • Replacement
MusicalRevueOriginal
Good News (Dec 15, 1973 - Oct 20, 1974)
  • Incidental Music Composed by Luther Henderson
  • Dance Music Arranged by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyRevival
No, No, Nanette (Sep 14, 1973 - Mar 10, 1974)
  • Incidental music by Luther Henderson
  • Dance music arranged by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyRevival
No, No, Nanette (Oct 06, 1972 - Aug 04, 1973)
  • Incidental music by Luther Henderson
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyRevival
No, No, Nanette (Dec 27, 1971 - Mar 10, 1973)
  • Incidental music by Luther Henderson
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyRevival
Purlie (Nov 20, 1971 - Dec 02, 1972)
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson
  • Orchestration and Choral Arrangments by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyOriginal
Funny Girl (Oct 08, 1965 - Oct 29, 1966)
  • Dance orchestrations by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyOriginal
Do Re Mi (Jan 16, 1962 - Mar 17, 1962)
  • Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
MusicalComedyOriginal
Flower Drum Song (May 10, 1960 - Oct 14, 1961)
  • Dance arrangements by Luther Henderson, Jr.
MusicalComedyOriginal

Tony Award®

 

Best Orchestrations

1997 | Nominee  | Play On!
Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson
 

Best Original Score

1992 | Nominee  | Jelly's Last Jam
Additional music by Luther Henderson

Drama Desk Award

 

Outstanding Orchestrations

2003 | Nominee
Luther Henderson (for "Little Ham")

Outstanding Orchestration/Musical Adaptation

1992 | Winner  | Jelly's Last Jam
Music orchestrated by Luther Henderson

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