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Richard Hayman

1920 – 2014

American musician

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About Richard Hayman

Lived 1920 – 2014 (aged 93). Richard Hayman was an American composer, conductor and musician.

Richard Warren Joseph Hayman (March 27, 1920 – February 5, 2014) was an American musician who was the chief music arranger of the Boston Pops Orchestra for over 50 years, and served as a pops conductor for orchestras including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony and the Grand Rapids Symphony in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

He toured and recorded as a harmonica player and made dozens of recordings for Mercury Records as "Richard Hayman and His Orchestra." His biggest hit was a single, "Ruby," from the 1952 film Ruby Gentry, starring Jennifer Jones and Charlton Heston. Hayman's arrangement featured himself as harmonica soloist. Over a lengthy career, he created musical arrangements for more than 50 artists and entertainers including Barbra Streisand, Bob Hope, Liza Minnelli and Olivia Newton-John.

Career A native of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, Hayman's career in music began in his teen years as a player and arranger for the Borrah Minnevitch Harmonica Rascals.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
McMaster University, University of Alberta
Employers
Mount Royal University, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, MacEwan University
Awards
Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

People in Richard Hayman's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Richard Hayman's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Richard Hayman?

American musician

When was Richard Hayman born?

Richard Hayman was born on 27 March 1920 in Cambridge.

When did Richard Hayman die?

Richard Hayman died on 5 February 2014 in New York.

What was Richard Hayman's occupation?

Richard Hayman was a composer, conductor and musician.

What nationality was Richard Hayman?

Richard Hayman was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Richard Hayman

· Wikidata: Q10361278

· DBpedia: Richard Hayman

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Richard Hayman. https://biography.guide/richard-hayman/

MLA: "Richard Hayman." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/richard-hayman/.

Chicago: "Richard Hayman." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/richard-hayman/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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