Will Hudson(néArthur Murray Hainer; March 8, 1908 – July 16, 1981) was a Canadian-born American composer, arranger, and big band leader who worked from the mid-1930s through the mid-1950s.[1]
Early years
Hudson was born in Grimsby, Ontario, March 8, 1908. Print-media biographies state that he was born in Barstow, California. However, Hudson's U.S. Naturalization application indicates otherwise.[2]Grimsby, then of Lincoln County, the county of which, in 1970, became amalgamated into a county-like governmental body known as the Regional Municipality of Niagara. Hudson, with his parents, immigrated to the United States November 13, 1909 — at the age of 1 year, 8 months. He grew up in Detroit and graduated from Southeastern High School in June 1926. Hainer put together his first big band in Detroit in the early 1930s. Hudson became a United States citizen on April 14, 1941.[2]
Name change
Biographical sources for Will Hudson (né Arthur Murray Hainer; March 8, 1908 Grimsby, Ontario – July 16, 1981 Isle of Palms, South Carolina) often incorrectly state that he was born in Barstow, California. He changed his name sometime between 1931 and 1933 — after his marriage to Eleanor Radtke (born 1912) in Detroit on August 15, 1931, and before his compositions were copyrighted under his new name.[2]
Citizenship
According to a manifest by the U.S. Department of Labor, Hainer had moved from Canada to the United States on November 14, 1909, and remained in the U.S. until July 14, 1928, before moving back to Canada, to reside at 152 Dougall Ave, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He lived at 1805 West Grand Blvd, Detroit. The manifest indicates that he moved out of Detroit on November 7, 1929.[3]
At some point during the early 1930s, Hudson became a staff arranger for Irving Mills, writing stock arrangements. Mills — notable in various roles in the development of swing and jazz — was as much a promoter of songwriters, arrangers, and big bands as he was a publisher. Mills was known to have included his name as co-author of works that he did not write, but published. This was a common method of including music promoters in royalties.
Bands
Hudson was a dance-band arranger, and co-leader with Eddie DeLange of the Hudson-DeLange Orchestra. Singers with the Hudson-DeLange Orchestra included Ruth Gaylor, in 1936; Mitchell Ayres(né Meyer Agress; 1910–1969), in 1937; Georgia Gibbs(formerly Fredda Gibson; née Frieda Lipschitz; 1919–2006); and Nan Wynn. When the Hudson-DeLange Orchestra was at the height of its popularity, around 1940, Hudson had to withdraw for health reasons.[4]
Hudson led his own band, the Will Hudson Orchestra, from 1939 to about 1941. Singers included Kay Kenny; Elisse Cooper, who, in 1944 married saxophonist Joseph Gabriel "Gabe" Gelinas; Jayne Dover (née Jane Rappaport), while signing with Van Alexander Orchestra;[5] and Ruth Gaylor.
In 1941, Hudson began focusing on arranging, full-time.
World War II
Hudson enlisted in the U.S. Army March 6, 1943 (SSN 090 03 4600), and served in the U.S. Army Air Force. He became the arranger for the Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. Hudson was discharged September 23, 1945.
Post-World War II
In 1948, Hudson enrolled at Juilliard, studying orchestration and composition with Wallingford Riegger, Henry Brant, and Vincent Persichetti — and earned a diploma in 1952 and post-grad diploma in 1953. He also studied composition privately.
"Then Someone's In Love" ("Alguien esta Enamorado") waltz by Max Prival (music) and Lew Pollack (words). Arranged by Will Hudson. Frank Martin (vocalist). Recorded in New York City, January 31, 1930. (matrix 58547-1: Victor Records V-38142-B)
"Hot Water" by Cab Calloway. By Will Hudson. Recorded on December 7, 1932, New York City. 12696-A (matrix): Banner 32647 OCLC 78518408
^ ab"Moonglow" — The slow swing number is based on the harmonies of Ellingston's "Lazy Rhapsody" (aka "Swanee Rhapsody") and was known mainly by Benny Goodman; He formed the basis for the title song of the film Picnic and 1956 used in the movie The Benny Goodman Story. (see. Bohländer 1989)
^"Organ Grinder's Swing" became a hit after the 1935 American film The Littlest Rebel. In Germany, the song was recorded in March 1936 in Berlin by the Spree Revellers (de), a male vocal quartet, accompanied by the Hans Bund Dance Orchestra under the title "Hofkonzert im Hinterhaus" on the German label, Imperial 17111 (matrix K-C 9991 I) (BIEM) (audio on YouTube) The German lyrics were by Charles Amberg (de) (see Bohländer 1989)
Record access: New York, Naturalization Records, 1882–1944 (Rolls 1293-1326), Petition N°s 367936 - 381643 (Roll 1313); Petition N°s 375551–375900 (accessed April 29, 2016, via Ancestry.com)
