Born: October 29, 1922 in Hastings, Nebraska.
Died: October 11, 2008 in Los Angeles, California
Jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger.
Began arranging professionally in his teens for Nat Towles. Became a prominent composer and arranger while playing trumpet for Woody Herman. After leaving Herman's band in 1946, Hefti concentrated on arranging and composing, occasionally leading his own bands. He is especially known for his Count Basie classics "Li'l Darlin'" and "Cute".
In the 1960s and later he composed and arranged mainly for movies and television, notably 'Sex and the Single Girl', 'How to Murder Your Wife', 'Barefoot in the Park' and 'The Odd Couple'. The 'Batman Theme' is probably his most well known contribution, although most people cannot name the author of tune.