Nationality American Years active 1962 to present Name Horace Jr. | Education BA and JD Spouse(s) Sandra Heidt Parents Horace Heidt | |
Occupation Big band conductor, composer, and real estate Known for Horace Heidt Jr. and his Musical Knights Alma mater Stanford University, Southwestern Law School | ||
Top Tracks - Horace Heidt Jr. and His All Star Big Band
Horace Heidt, Jr. (October 7, 1946) is an American big band conductor and radio presenter. He began his professional music career at sixteen and led the big band Horace Heidt, Jr. and his Modern Musical Knights, in addition to becoming a lawyer and serving in the U.S. Army Reserves as an officer. In 1982 he took over his father's band and renamed it Horace Heidt Jr. and his Musical Knights, adding the caveat "Jr." to the band named for his father. Heidt, Jr. is also a real estate investor and has been involved in several presidential nomination conventions, including the nominating conventions for Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole. During the 2000s, Heidt, Jr. hosted the radio program America Swings.
Contents
Education and military career
Heidt was a cadet at the Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana where he graduated in Honors Economics. He then completed his undergraduate studies at Stanford University where he earned a BA in Political Science with minors in Music and Mathematics. In 1977 Heidt graduated with his JD from the Southwestern University School of Law. After law school he earned the rank of first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves, and performed at USO events in the 1970s. He has also served on the board of directors for the USO.
Career
In November 1962, Heidt made his nightclub conducting debut at the Castle Club in Santa Monica, California. He was sixteen years old at the time. Heidt practiced with the group for several months and then took the band on tour. He would eventually name his band Horace Heidt Jr. and his Modern Musical Knights, in homage to his father’s band. Musicians that have played with Heidt include Cecil Hill and Dick Contino.
In 1982 he had become the conductor for his father’s band Horace Heidt and his Musical Nights, renaming it Horace Heidt Jr. and his Musical Knights. Their debut at the Gold Parrot in Los Angeles was broadcast on KPRZ-AM radio. In 1982 Heidt also became the Musical Director of the NFL Los Angeles Raiders on field band, which he led until the team moved in 1994. During the 1980s Heidt Jr. worked with Columbia Records, conducting national tours for its recording artists. In 1985 he performed at President Ronald Reagan’s Inaugural Ball.
After his father’s death in 1986, Heidt took over his father’s business the Heidt Agency real estate company. He also became the owner of the Horace Heidt Estates apartment building, which houses artists as well as veterans. Heidt hosts Armed Forces Day celebrations on the grounds with his orchestra. He was also the Music Director for the 1996 Republican National Convention. During the Convention he had his orchestra play the tune of "I'm a Soul Man", leading the audience to sing "I’m a Dole Man" along to the music in honor of that year’s Republican Presidential Nominee Bob Dole.
Heidt has performed large outdoor concerts in the Los Angeles area, including the Warner Center Concerts in the Park series. In 2000 he became the founding president of the National Big Band & Jazz Hall of Fame in Palm Springs, California and during the 2000s he hosted the syndicated radio program America Swings.
Politics
In 1982 Heidt earned his first elected position, as a member of the County Central Committee representing California’s 40th assembly district. In 1986 he was then named honorary mayor of Toluca Lake. In 1992 he won the Republican primary and sought a seat in the California State Assembly.
Personal life
Heidt Jr. is the son of bestselling big band composer and NBC radio host Horace Heidt. He is active with various southern Californian Chambers of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and several different charitable organizations. In 2008 he founded the Horace Heidt Big Band Foundation in order to support big band musicians and big band performances. He was honored for this work by the Southern California Motion Picture Council at their sixtieth anniversary meeting in 1997. In November 1998, Heidt was presented with the Valley Cultural Center's Golden Horn Award for his charitable efforts as well. He has been married to his wife Sandra Heidt for over thirty years, with whom he has one daughter.