Quotes from Skitch Henderson

I grew up on film scores and scores from films.

While there used to be one or two Pops orchestras, now there are all kinds of European orchestras that suddenly look upon this as a golden wand that can enable them to make money recording this music.

Although we are being presented in Carnegie Hall, we have to furnish a budget for our guest stars, and for the music writing - which is a huge budget in any orchestra that plays popular music.

I've watched the demise of the Hollywood orchestra, the house orchestras of the big studios.

Then I went to radio with Sinatra and I watched that disappear.

I had had a classical education prior to that.

Well, in our business, it's a very tough profession.

We try to say it's creative and in a manner it is creative, but it is a business, because today, with the cost factor in crossing the boundaries that you do.

We do a lot of light classical programming with that, too... obviously... a lot of Tchaikovsky music, Grieg, things like that which have become less classical with classical concerts.

Do, What you're going to do in longevity. Not just what happens tomorrow.

In a way, yes, because I was starting something fresh, and it was something totally independent.

I worked with practically everybody in the business in all of the years in NBC, but I worked personally many years with people like Crosby and Sinatra, so of course that was a great ground school for me.

And then I went into television; and then television moved from the East Coast to Hollywood.

That was probably the stamp that went into my mind, because I worked in television for many years, doing that kind of music, so that really was my strong forte.

If you don't operate it as a business, you aren't going to be around very long.

Symphonic orchestras have almost become a glut in the market.

I recorded with Sinatra, but the recording business is a very strange strata right now.

But I listen to everything, I listen to all artists that come along.

Well, I worked with lots of different artists, of course.

I think my favorite experience is whatever I'm doing now.