Haymes, Joe, 1907-1964

Joseph Lawrence Haymes (b. Marshfield, Missouri, on Feb. 10, 1907; d. Dallas, Texas, on July 10, 1964) was an American arranger, bandleader, pianist, and composer. In 1928, he became staff arranger for Ted Weems. Two years later he formed the Joe Haymes Orchestra which toured extensively and performed at the Roseland and Empire ballrooms in New York City. In 1933, Buddy Rogers took over the band and Haymes formed another group, the Joe Haymes Band. This group was later taken over by Tommy Dorsey. Haymes' career as a composer and arranger spanned from the 1920s, through the big band and swing eras of the 1940s, into the 1960s. He wrote arrangements for Jack Teagarden and Lawrence Welk as well as for CBS Records and various Hollywood studios.

Biographical Note

Joe [Joseph Lawrence] Haymes (b. Marshfield, Missouri, 10 February 1907; d. Dallas, Texas, 10 July 1964), was largely a self-taught musician, though he spent two semesters at Drury College, in Springfield, Ohio. In his teen years, Haymes worked in a circus, performing as a trapeze artist and playing the bass drum in the circus band.

In 1928, he became staff arranger for Ted Weems . Among Haymes’ biggest hits was his arrangement of Piccolo Pete for the Ted Weems Orchestra in the late 1920s. Two years later, Haymes formed the Joe Haymes Orchestra, which toured extensively and frequently performed at the Roseland and Empire ballrooms in New York. His band recorded often between 1932 and 1937.

As a bandleader, Haymes was known for his precision and for the talent of his musicians. The Orchestra employed such notable sidemen as trumpeters Pee Wee Irwin, Sterling Bose, Cliff Wetterau, and woodwind players Bud Freeman, Johnny Mince, and Toots Mondello .

In 1933, Buddy Rogers took over the band and Haymes formed another group, The Joe Haymes Band. A split between Tommy Dorsey and Jimmy Dorsey in 1935 led to the recruitment of Tommy Dorsey as the new bandleader of Haymes’ group.

Haymes’ career as a composer and arranger spanned the 1920s, the big band and swing eras of the 1940s, and continued into the 1960s. He produced arrangements for legendary trombonist Jack Teagarden, and contributed arrangements to Lawrence Welk, as well as to various Hollywood studios and CBS Records in New York, many of which were often uncredited.