Hal Schaefer (22 July 1925 - 8 December 2012) was an American jazz musician and vocal coach. He had all taught Marilyn Monroe, Mitzi Gaynor, Judy Garland, Robert Wagner, Jane Russell and Barbra Streisand in film's and in musical songs. Schaefer was a pianist in Benny Carter's group including performing as a pianist in Harry James and Boyd Raeburn's jazz groups and for Peggy Lee and Billy Eckstine. During his career he helped many director's and producer's such as Howard Hawks, Harold Prince and George Cukor.He was nominated by Michael Feinstein in 2009 for the Best Latin Jazz Award and also for the NEA Jazz Masters. He never left the music industry. Schaefer once performed a musical piece for Eleanor Roosevelt and sang at the United Nations's anniversary in 1955. He moved to Florida in the 1990s and continued to teach voice lessons to students until his death.
Some reference works (eg Colonna Sonora) credit Schaefer as composer of the music score for Fail-Safe (1964). In fact, the Columbia record division did issue his five minute Fail Safe suite on a 7-inch disc in 1964 (Colpix Records CP 751) with the film promoted on the actual label: Fail Safe - A Columbia Pictures Release. Schaefer's music, performed by the Hal Schaefer Quintet, was a somewhat nervous and dissonant jazz work, fairly appropriate to the film's content. However, director Lumet decided to release the film with no background score, so Schaefer's music only exists on the promotional disc.
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Amsterdam Kill
1977
as Hal Shaffer
The Money Trap
1965
There's No Business Like Show Business
1954
uncredited
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
1953
uncredited
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
With a Song in My Heart
1952
Pianist (uncredited)
The Secret Fury
1950
Pianist (uncredited)
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
There's No Business Like Show Business
1954
music arranger: vocals
A Star Is Born
1954
musician: piano - uncredited
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
One Less Tear
2003
Video
Himself
E! True Hollywood Story
2001
TV Series documentary
Himself
Known for movies
There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) as Composer
$11 Million
