Born in Los Angeles, California, October 7, 1946, Horace H. Heidt majored in Political Science with minors in Music and Mathematics, at STANFORD UNIVERSITY. Focusing upon music and the arts, he studied for six months at the Stanford University campus in Florence, Italy. He obtained his B. A. in June, 1969. Prior to attending college, Mr. Heidt was a Cadet at CULVER MILITARY ACADEMY in Culver, Indiana, where he graduated with Honors in Economics. In 1977, he graduated from SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, obtaining his Juris Doctor Degree.
After being honorably discharged from the United States Army Reserves as a 1st Lieutenant, he was awarded a CERTIFICATE OF ESTEEM by the Department of Defense for a U.S.O. Christmas Tour of Korea in December 1975. Mr. Heidt later served as a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S.O.
Mr. Heidt is President of the HORACE HEIDT AGENCY, which owns and operates a unique 220-unit, 10-acre apartment complex in Sherman Oaks. This family-owned business has been in operation since 1956. He is also President of the HORACE HEIDT PRODUCTIONS, in which he offers his consultative expertise in the field of entertainment to Fortune 500 companies. From 1982-1994, he was the Musical Director for the LOS ANGELES RAIDERS, and in 1985 played for PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN at the 50th AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL BALL. He also completed two national tours for Columbia Artists in 1984 and 1990. Mr. Heidt, as a member of Musicians Union Local 47, in 1989 and 1992 negotiated the collective bargaining agreements for the casual music industry on behalf of the orchestra leaders of Los Angeles. In 1996, he was Music Director for the Republican National Convention held in San Diego, California. Mr. Heidt usually does an annual tour of California Performing Arts Centers. Most recently he toured with John Davidson and Shirley Jones.
Community-minded, Mr. Heidt has served with the following CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE: Sherman Oaks (where he served as President in 2000), Encino, Van Nuys, Universal City/North Hollywood, Canoga Park, Los Angeles and United Chambers of Commerce. A ROTARIAN, he was a member of the Mid-SFV Sunrise Rotary Club from 1992-1996. He also is a long-time member of the Los Angeles and Anaheim Convention Bureaus, and a member of the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters. He has served with the Navy League, the Food Industry Circle of the CITY OF HOPE, the Big Band Academy of America, the Professional Dancers Society, CHILDREN?S VILLAGE, U.S.A., Screen Smart Set and the Southern California Motion Picture Council, who honored Horace along with his father with the Bronze Halo Award in 1982 and 1997. He is also a member of Stanford Alumni, Culver Legion, American Legion and Lakeside Golf Club.
For five years, he was the HONORARY CHAIRMAN of the Valley Cultural Center, sponsors of the CONCERTS IN THE PARK. He received the Golden Halo Award in 1998 for his contributions to music. He has served on the Board of Directors of the VALLEY INDUSTRY COMMERCE ASSOCIATION (VICA) and was on the Executive Committee of NEW DIRECTIONS FOR YOUTH (NDY). He was elected to the County Central Committee representing the 40th A. D. in 1982, and in 1986 was appointed Honorary Mayor of Toluca Lake. Horace served on the prestigious boards of the Americanism Educational League (AEL) and Pierce College Foundation.
Horace Heidt has served as the President and a Board Member of the SAN FERNANDO VALLEY BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION (SFVB&PA) and was Dinner Host for the 1996 prestigious ?Free Enterprise Award Banquet.? He has served on the Legislative Review Committee of the SFVB&PA since joining in 1982. The SFV LINCOLN CLUB also honored him in 1989 with their ?Contributions to the Community Award.? Currently he is a member of the SHERMAN OAKS and ENCINO CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE and serves on the Board of the SAN FERNANDO VALLEY UNITED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE He is currently Vice Chairman of the organization.
Horace ran for the STATE ASSEMBLY in the 40th A. D. in 1992 and won the primary due to his strong community involvement, he was nominated for the prestigious FERNANDO AWARD the same year. In July of 1993, because of his numerous contributions to the community through his influence in entertainment, Horace was given the distinguished FREEDOM AWARD from the Los Angeles Sertoma Club. n 2013 he was awarded SPECIAL HONOREE by the ENCINO CHAMBER of COMMERCE.
Early in 1997, Horace Heidt ran for the Los Angeles Charter Commission. In May, 1997, he was honored as CITIZEN OF THE YEAR at the 47th Annual Community Awards of the East Valley Coordinating Council in August, 1997 Mr. Heidt was privileged to be selected as one of the five Finalists for the prestigious FERNANDO AWARD.
In the Spring of 1999, Horace Heidt and his Big Band, with Kae Butterfield as vocalist, were the featured entertainment on the fabulous CRYSTAL CRUISES Crystal Harmony, as their cruise (Acapulco to New Orleans) was the last one to go through the Panama Canal before the Canal returned to Panama.
In 2008 Mr. Heidt founded the HORACE HEIDT BIG BAND FOUNDATION dedicated to the support and contribution to Big Bands and the artists who carry on that style of music. Two programs that the foundation promotes are Music in the Park, that produces concerts at Public Parks free of charge (Summer Concerts in the Park at Warner Center Woodland Hills, and A Day in the Park Memorial Day 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 at Sherman Oaks/Van Nuys War Memorial Park), and America Swings, a Weekly Nationally-Syndicated Radio Show focusing upon leaders, stars, celebrities, singers and musicians who produce the Big Band music that is so much a part of the American Way.
Mr. Heidt has been married to Sandra Heidt for thirty-five years. He and his wife have a daughter, Monica, and two dogs BeBe and Star. His hobbies include trumpet, singing, golf, volleyball, scuba-diving, tennis, water-skiing and swimming. Horace is a member of the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI).H