Bernie Leighton born 30 January 1921

Bernie Leighton (January 30, 1921 – September 16, 1994) was an American jazz pianist. He was a very active studio musician and a sideman to many great stars.

Bernie Leighton was born in West Haven, Connecticut, as Delroy Lazeroff.  He studied piano privately with Samuel Yaffe from 1926 to 1930, Florence Morrison from 1930 to 1937 in Connecticut, and with Bruce Simonds from 1937 to 1941 at the Yale School of Music in new Haven. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree.

His amateur performing experience included a three year stint from 1934 to 1937 throughout Connecticut with Harry Berman and Sy Dyers. He moved to New York City in 1938 where he adopted the

professional name Bernie Leighton while working with Red Stanley, Enric Madriguera and the Milt Herth Trio.  

He also played with Bud Freeman, Leo Reisman, Raymond Scott (1940) and Benny Goodman (1940-41) before serving in the Army. Following his discharge, he found much work 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).

                            

Although he never became that well-known, the value of Bernie Leighton's playing was well-known to his fellow musicians. As a leader he recorded six titles for Keynote in 1946, four for Mecury in 1950, an album for Columbia in 1950, four swing titles for Brunswick in 1951, mood music LPs for Disneyland and Capitol

(both in 1957). He also recorded for Cameo and EmArcy. 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. He also recorded a Duke Ellington tribute for Monmouth/Evergreen (1974).

Leighton did a tour with Tony Bennett in 1972-73. He is known for his work on the films Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) in which he also has a cameo role, Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) and New York Stories (1989).

He died on September 16, 1994 in Coconut Creek, Florida.

(Info scarce but edited from Wikipedia, IMDb  & People In Jazz.)