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.
Bernie Leighton
- Name
- Bernie Leighton
- Born
- 30 January 1921
- Birthplace
- West Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
- Died
- 16 September 1994
- Place of death
- Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.
- Occupation
- Jazz pianist
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- jazz
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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.
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wikidata · Q826564 · wikipedia · Bernie Leighton
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Biography
Biography
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.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Bernie Leighton • Born — 30 January 1921 • Birthplace — West Haven, Connecticut, U.S. • Died — 16 September 1994 • Place of death — Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S. • Occupation — Jazz pianist
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West Haven.
Birth place
Coconut Creek.
Death place
Discography
Bernie Leighton Quintet and Quartet and With Joe Thomas (trumpeter) (Keynote 1946) With George Barnes (musician) • Guitars Galore (Mercury, 1961) With James Moody • Great Day (Argo, 1963) With Gerry Mulligan • Holliday with Mulligan (DRG, 1961 [1980]) with Judy Holliday With Mark Murphy • That's How I Love the Blues! (Riverside, 1962) With Charlie Parker • Big Band (Clef, 1954) With John Serry Sr. • Squeeze Play (album) (Dot Records, 1956) with Al Caiola With Jack Teagarden • Think Well of Me (Verve, 1962) • With Cal Tjader • Warm Wave (Verve, 1964) • With Jackie Gleason Orchestra on multiple Capitol recordings from 1956 through 1966
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 21 August 2026.
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