LENNIE NIEHAUS

Lennie Niehaus, is an award-winning composer, arranger, and performer whose career has included a kaleidoscope of musical experiences. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Niehaus received his Bachelor of Arts Degree Cum Laude and teaching credential from California State University, Los Angeles. Soon after, in 1952, he joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra with the exception of two years of service in the U.S. Army. He performed and recorded with Kenton until 1960, winning the Downbeat Magazine "New Star - Alto Sax" Award in 1955. During this time, he also wrote for and recorded his own albums, and contributed compositions and arrangements to the Kenton library. After leaving Kenton's orchestra, Mr. Niehaus became increasingly active as a commercial arranger and composer. His film scoring credits include: Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird; Tightrope; City Heat; Heartbreak Ridge; and White Hunter, Black Heart. His latest film scores were for the Clint Eastwood pictures Pale Rider, Unforgiven, The Bridges Of Madison County, Absolute Power, True Crime, Space Cowboys, and Bird, the award-winning tribute to legendary bebop artist Charlie Parker, for which he received a Cannes Film Festival Technical Achievement Award and British Academy Award nomination for Best Score. In 1994 he won an Emmy for his score for the Showtime film Lush Life. Mr. Niehaus continues to compose for film and television and remains active on the music education scene as a clinician, performer, and adjudicator. He has numerous published works for concert band, orchestra, and jazz ensemble to his credit, as well as several texts on saxophone pedagogy.

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