Ray Heindorf

Raymond John Heindorf was born August 25, 1908. in Haverstraw, New York. He grew up in Mechanicville, New York, where he moved to when he was about 10 years old. In 1926 he graduated from Mechanicville High School. He was interested in cars and machinery; he loved to play pool with his father, the late John J. Heindorf, at the Railroad YMCA, where he was the Railroad Express agent. Ray took a business course at the Mechanicville High School. His genius at the piano was reflected in his speed on the typewriter. He had an excellent rating, but decided that business was not to be his field of endeavor. He graduated with the Class of 1926 and during his high school days he played the piano at the State Theatre (now demolished) to earn extra money. Ray eventually met Arthur Lang for a job, saying he was an arranger of dance music, and thus began a long friendship. When sound pictures took the place of the silent films, Ray and Lang decided to move to Hollywood. His first picture was The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929) at MGM. Ray connected with Warner Bros. in 1932 and remained there for the rest of his life. He succeeded Leo F. Forbstein as Music Director upon Forbstein's death in 1948. Ray was first married to Maxine and had a son, the late Michael Heindorf, and later married Lorraine and had two daughters. Ray left Warner Bros. in 1965. Until his death, Ray lived in Los Angeles, having moved from Encino. Shortly before he died, Ray had completed an oral history, which was done at the request of Yale University and was conducted in Ray's home by Irene Kahn Atkins, Gus Kahn's daughter. Raymond John Heindorf passed away on February 3, 1980. at Tarzana California Medical Center, ending an era of music that will never be the same again. His funeral service was held at St. Francis de Sales Church, Shermain Oaks, CA, and he is buried at San Fernando Valley Mission Cemetery. His favorite baton was buried with him.