A fine journeyman player, Herbie Haymer was an asset to several big bands. He began playing alto when he was 15, switching to tenor five years later. After working with the Carl Sears-Johnny Watson Band, Haymer had brief stints with Rudy Vallee and Charlie Barnet. Haymer was an important part of the orchestras of Red Norvo (1935-37), Jimmy Dorsey (1937-41), Woody Herman (1941-42) and Kay Kyser (who had a jazz-oriented outfit during 1942-43). Haymer spent short periods with Benny Goodman and the Dave Hudkins band in L.A. before spending time in the Navy in 1944. After his discharge, he mostly worked as a studio musician although there were occasional jazz gigs (including with Red Nichols and Benny Goodman). Tragically, Herbie Haymer was killed in a car accident at the age of 33 while driving home from a Frank Sinatra recording session in 1949. He had led an all-star recording date in 1945 (a quintet with Charlie Shavers and Nat King Cole that has been reissued in full by Black Lino) along with three songs for Keynote in 1946. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi