Buster Harding
Buster Harding, born Lavere Harding on March 19, 1917, in North Buxton, Ontario, Canada, was a prominent jazz pianist, arranger, and composer. He became one of the top freelance arrangers during the swing era and was versatile enough to adapt to the bop era. Harding grew up in Cleveland, where he led his own band as a teenager in the early 1930s. After working in Buffalo with Marion Sears and spending a year in Canada, he moved to New York in 1938.
In New York, Harding arranged and played second piano for Teddy Wilson's Orchestra from 1939 to 1940. He also wrote for Coleman Hawkins' short-lived big band, led a quartet, and served as a staff arranger for Cab Calloway from 1941 to 1942. Throughout his career, Harding was a busy freelance arranger for many top bands, including those of Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway, Earl Hines, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Dizzy Gillespie, and Billie Holiday. Notably, he arranged Buddy Johnson's "Since I Fell for You" in 1945.
Despite his significant contributions to jazz, Harding never led his own recording session. Later in life, he worked with Jonah Jones during the 1960s. Buster Harding passed away on November 14, 1965, in New York, NY. His work remains respected in the jazz community, though he is often considered an underrated talent.
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