Leroy Anderson

Composer Leroy Anderson was born on June 29, 1908 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As a boy he showed precocity for music and at the age of 11 studied piano at the New England Conservatory. He attended Harvard University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and later received his Masters degree there.

He began his career in 1929 as a church choirmaster and organist. He served on the faculty at Radcliffe College from 1930-1932 in the division of music, played double bass and conducted orchestras throughout Boston. From 1931-1935, he was the director of the Harvard University Band and from 1936 until the 1950’s served as a guest conductor for the Boston “Pops” Orchestra and other symphonies. He was a member of the New York National Guard from 1937-1939 and served in World War II in the US Army. At the end of the war, he served In Washington as the Captain of Military Intelligence from 1944-1946 and at Fort Bragg in North Carolina from 1951-1952.

After the army, Anderson returned to music composing a series of popular songs, mostly hits in the 1940’s and 50’s. His song catalog includes such hits as “Fiddle Faddle”, “Sleigh Ride”, “Jazz Legato”, “Jazz Pizzicato”, “Blue Tango”, “The Syncopated Clock” (which was the old theme song for the Late Show), “The Penny Whistle Song”, “Belle of the Ball”, “The Girl in Satin”, “Forgotten Dreams”, “A Trumpeter’s Lullaby”, “Sandpaper Ballet”, “The Bugler’s Holiday”, “Serenata”, “The Typewriter”, “Plink, Plank, Plunk”, “Promenade”, “The Phantom Regiment”, “The Pussy Foot”, “Who’s Been Sitting In My Chair”, “I Never Know When to Say When” and “Saraband”.

He collaborated with several lyricists including Mitchell Parish, Walter and Jean Kerr and Joan Ford and worked on stage scores, most notably Goldilocks. Anderson is also a well known serious composer with works such as “Irish Suite”, “Christmas Festival” and “Horse and Buggy”.

Leroy Anderson died in Woodbury, Connecticut on May 18, 1975. IN 1995, Harvard University named its new band quarters, Anderson Band Center, in honor of the composer.