Jimmie Haskell with Jose Feliciano and the Pope at Yankee stadium, 2008.

Life Member. Composer
11/7/1926 – 2/4/2016

by Scottie Haskell, daughter

On Feb. 4, 2016, the music world lost an international treasure. World renowned music composer, arranger and conductor Jimmie Haskell passed away at his home in Laguna Niguel California. He was 89 years young.

Born Sheridan Pearlman in Brooklyn, New York on Nov. 7, 1926, Jimmie came to Los Angeles when he was just nine years old. He became an in-demand arranger and producer for the likes of Ricky Nelson, Bobby Darin, The Lettermen, The Grassroots, and many, many more.

His career blossomed as he worked on countless records, film scores and TV themes receiving over 150 gold and platinum albums. He also received three Grammy awards for best arrangement for “Ode to Billie Joe” by Bobbie Gentry, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkel, and Chicago’s “If You Leave Me Now.” He enjoyed such huge unprecedented success in the music business and his life, yet always remained the very humble, kind and gentle man that everyone knew.

Services were held privately at Forest Lawn of Hollywood Hills on Feb. 8. Jimmie is survived by his two children, daughter Scottie Haskell (a professional session singer in Los Angeles), and son David Haskell.

In lieu of flowers, Scottie and David ask that you please send your tax deductible donations in Jimmie’s name to one of these organizations that Jimmie loved so much:

American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers
5903 Noble Ave., Van Nuys CA 91411
asmac.org

ProMusicDB: The Professional Music Credits Database and Archive
c/o Pasadena Arts Council, 65 S. Grand Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105
promusicdb.org

The Grammy Foundation
3030 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404
grammy.org/grammy-foundation

A public celebration of Jimmie’s life is in the works at Local 47 and will be announced in the near future.