Dick Hamilton

Dick Hamilton was a pianist, trumpeter, flautist, arranger and bandleader based in his home town of Sarasota, FL after a distinguished career of 47 years as an arranger and composer in LA for the Hollywood film and TV industry.

1956 graduated Sarasota High; 1957 one semester, Florida State U., then Ralph Flanagan Band;1958 9 months touring Europe with Don Penn Quintet; 1959 played Chicago jazz clubs: Hamilton–Spaulding Quartet with James Spaulding 1960 Sarasota; again: West Coast Symphony, Players, the Colony and Explorers Clubs 1961 draft notice, off to Washington D.C.;1962 4 years with U.S. Navy Band, composing concert music, film scores and recordings 1966 Los Angeles: began 47-year career in the recording, film and TV studios

Played/recorded with: Woody Herman, Les Brown, Louis Bellson, Henry Mancini, Bill Holman, Don Ellis, Ray Charles, Si Zentner, Red Norvo, Johnny Mann, Dave Pell Octet, Bud Shank/Chet Baker, Joe Pass, Dick Cary, Chuck Flores, Mike Barone, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Bing Crosby, Jose Feliciano, Jack Jones Richard and Karen Carpenter, Doris Day, Julie Andrews Show, Hollywood Palace, Bob Hope Show, Joey Bishop Show, John Gary Show, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas.

Composed, arranged, wrote lyrics for, engineered and produced TV and radio commercials, network and station ID and promo packages, scores for films, TV series and specials.

In 2013 Dick Hamilton moved back to his home town of Sarasota. He died there June, 2025 at the age of 86.

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