Harry Betts
Harry Betts (September 15, 1922 – July 13, 2012) was an American jazz trombonist.
Also recorded as Harold Richard Betts
Harry Betts
![Harry Betts. Gottlieb, William P., 1917-, photographer. [Portrait of Harry Betts, Richmond, Va.(?), 1947 or 1948] 1 negative: b w; 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 in.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Harry_Betts5354793210_c856efdba2_o.jpg/1024px-Harry_Betts5354793210_c856efdba2_o.jpg)
The Library of Congress · [Portrait of Harry Betts, Richmond, Va.(?), 1947 or 1948] (LOC) · No known copyright restrictions
- Name
- Harry Betts
- Born
- 15 September 1922
- Birthplace
- New York, U.S.
- Died
- 13 July 2012
- Occupation
- Musician, arranger
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- music · film score
- Languages
- English
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Harry Betts (September 15, 1922 – July 13, 2012) was an American jazz trombonist.
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Note VALÉORINE
Harry Betts (1922–2012) was a bandleader, composer and conductor, among other activities, of American nationality. The bandleader was born in New York City. Activity centred on film score and music. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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wikidata · Q254357 · wikipedia · Harry Betts
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Harry Betts • Born — 15 September 1922 • Birthplace — New York, U.S. • Died — 13 July 2012 • Genre — Jazz • Occupation — Musician, arranger • Instrument — Trombone • Label — Ava • Associated Acts — Stan Kenton
Background
Background
Born in New York and raised in Fresno, California, he was active as a jazz trombonist and played with Stan Kenton's orchestra in the 1950s. He can be heard on the album Get Happy! (Verve, 1959) by Ella Fitzgerald.
Music
Music
He wrote and orchestrated soundtracks for several films, including A Swingin' Summer (1965), The Big Mouth (1967), A Time for Dying (1969), The Fantastic Plastic Machine (1969), Goodnight, My Love (1972), Black Mama White Mama (1972), Little Cigars (1973) and Nice Dreams (1981). Music from his score to Black Mama White Mama was used in the 2003 soundtrack for Kill Bill, Volume 1. In 1977, he was nominated and won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement - "Nadia's Theme (The Young and the Restless)", with Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkin Jr. Aside from his work in scoring, he was known for his numerous arrangements for singer Jack Jones.
As sideman
As sideman
With Elmer Bernstein • "The Man with the Golden Arm" (Decca, 1956) With Bobby Darin • Venice Blue (Capitol) With Fred Katz • Folk Songs for Far Out Folk (Warner Bros., 1958) With Ray Charles • The Genius Hits the Road (ABC-Paramount,1960) With Stan Kenton • Stan Kenton's Milestones (Capitol, 1943–47 [1950]) • Encores (Capitol, 1947) • A Presentation of Progressive Jazz (Capitol, 1947) • Innovations in Modern Music (Capitol, 1950) • Stan Kenton Presents (Capitol, 1950) • This Modern World (Capitol, 1953) • The Kenton Era (Capitol, 1940–54, [1955]) • The Innovations Orchestra (Capitol, 1950–51 [1997]) With Barney Kessel • Carmen (Contemporary, 1959) With Shorty Rogers • Cool and Crazy (RCA Victor, 1953) • Shorty Rogers Courts the Count (RCA Victor, 1954) • The Swingin' Nutcracker (RCA Victor, 1960) • Jazz Waltz (Reprise, 1962) With Pete Rugolo • Introducing Pete Rugolo (Columbia, 1954) • Adventures in Rhythm (Columbia, 1954) • Rugolomania (Columbia, 1955) • Rugolo Plays Kenton (EmArcy, 1958) • 10 Trombones Like 2 Pianos (Mercury, 1960)
Discography
• Illustration — Stan Kenton, Eddie Safranski, Shelly Manne, Chico Alvarez, Ray Wetzel, Harry Betts, Bob Cooper, and Art Pepper, 1947 or 1948 • The Jazz Soul of Dr. Kildare (Ava, 1962)
Awards
• 1977 - Grammy Award winner - Best Instrumental Arrangement - "Nadia's Theme (The Young and the Restless)", with Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkins Jr.
Stan Kenton, Eddie Safranski, Shelly Manne, Chico Alvarez, Ray Wetzel, Harry Betts, Bob Cooper, and Art Pepper, 1947 or 1948. Photograph by William P. Gottlieb
William P. Gottlieb · This image is available from the United States Library of Congress 's Music Division under the digital ID gottlieb.13171. This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A norma
![Gottlieb, William P., 1917-, photographer. [Portrait of Stan Kenton, Eddie Safranski, Bob Cooper, Art Pepper, Ray Wetzel, Chico Alvarez, Harry Betts, and Shelly Manne, Richmond, Va.(?), 1947 or 1948] 1 negative: b w; 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 in.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/%28Portrait_of_Stan_Kenton%2C_Eddie_Safranski%2C_Bob_Cooper%2C_Art_Pepper%2C_Ray_Wetzel%2C_Chico_Alvarez%2C_Harry_Betts%2C_and_Shelly_Manne%2C_Richmond%2C_Va.%28%3F%29%2C_1947_or_1948%29_%28LOC%29_%285020407354%29.jpg/800px-%28Portrait_of_Stan_Kenton%2C_Eddie_Safranski%2C_Bob_Cooper%2C_Art_Pepper%2C_Ray_Wetzel%2C_Chico_Alvarez%2C_Harry_Betts%2C_and_Shelly_Manne%2C_Richmond%2C_Va.%28%3F%29%2C_1947_or_1948%29_%28LOC%29_%285020407354%29.jpg)
Gottlieb, William P., 1917-, photographer. [Portrait of Stan Kenton, Eddie Safranski, Bob Cooper, Art Pepper, Ray Wetzel, Chico Alvarez, Harry Betts, and Shelly Manne, Richmond, Va.(?), 1947 or 1948] 1 negative: b w; 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 in.
The Library of Congress · [Portrait of Stan Kenton, Eddie Safranski, Bob Cooper, Art Pepper, Ray Wetzel, Chico Alvarez, Harry Betts, and Shelly Manne, Richmond, Va.(?), 1947 or 1948] (LOC)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Harry Betts Obituary. Los Angeles Times. 18 July 2012.
- 2.Eder, Bruce. Harry Betts. Allmusic.
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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 17 August 2026.
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