“Seeking Harmony” is a biography of jazz and Broadway maestro Luther Henderson. Once known as Duke Ellington’s “classical arm,” Henderson was also Lena Horne’s musical director and the man behind the music of many Broadway shows. Look over Devra’s shoulder while she researches and writes the life story of this remarkable man.

Seeking Harmony: The Life and Music of Luther Henderson
will be published by Scarecrow Press
Target publication date in 2008

Luther Henderson was a proud black man who graduated from the Julliard School of Music in 1942 - at a time when there were few black students enrolled and playing jazz could get you expelled. During his sixty-year career in music, he worked his magic on some of Broadway’s greatest musical hits, including Flower Drum Song, Funny Girl, No No Nanette, Purlie, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and Jelly’s Last Jam. His music was heard on television programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Bell Telephone Hour, and specials for the pop stars of the day including Dean Martin, Carol Burnett, Andy Williams, Victor Borge, and Polly Bergen.

Despite the success of these shows, on both stage and television, his contributions were never properly valued. What reason, or combination of reasons, led to this oversight? Certainly there were those who usurped credit, whether due to ego, carelessness, or resentment of Luther’s training and talent. Was he caught between two worlds – the elite classical world embodied in his Julliard training, and the world of jazz, his own heritage? Both worlds viewed him with suspicion; neither took him seriously. Was it due to the racial biases of the times? Or was it just the inevitable fate of a background man?

Everybody reads biographies, but have you ever really thought about what goes into creating one? Devra shares her insider’s view of the trials and triumphs of bringing people to life on the printed page by posting items on the Look & Listen and News & Notes pages. Check out excerpts from interviews conducted for the Henderson biography and look at some of the treasures she found in his archives. Read the book proposal and introductory chapter.