Theater News

Music Man Luther Henderson Dies at 84

Luther Henderson
Luther Henderson

Luther Henderson, a highly respected Broadway musical director, dance arranger, and orchestrator, died on July 29 after a long battle with cancer. He was 84.

Among Henderson’s many Broadway shows were the original productions of Flower Drum Song, Do Re Mi, Funny Girl, Hallelujah, Baby!, Golden Rainbow, Purlie, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Jelly’s Last Jam, and Play On!, as well as revivals of No, No, Nanette and Good News. His most recent New York theater credit was Little Ham, which played Off-Broadway last year.

Over the course of his career, Henderson worked with such artists as Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Lena Horne, Richard Rodgers, Jule Styne, Carol Haney, Polly Bergen, and Mandy Patinkin. He also arranged more than 100 songs for The Canadian Brass, and he wrote music for several television programs and for the films Recess and The Slams.

Born in 1919, Henderson studied at the College of the City of New York, at Juilliard, and at New York University. He is survived by his wife, actress-director Billie Allen, along with three children, two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.