Elliot Lawrence

Elliot Lawrence
Lawrence at the piano with three band members, 1946
Background information
Birth name	Elliot Laurence Broza
Born	(1925-02-14) February 14, 1925 (age 92) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, big band
Occupation(s)	Musician, bandleader
Instruments	Piano
Years active	1940s–current
Labels	Columbia, Decca, SESAC, Fantasy, King, Vik
Associated acts	Gerry Mulligan, Johnny Mandel, Red Rodney, Mary Osborne, Tyree Glenn, Gower Champion

Elliot Lawrence (born Elliott Lawrence Broza, February 14, 1925) is an American jazz pianist and bandleader.

Son of the broadcaster Stan Lee Broza, Lawrence led his first dance band at age 20, but he played swing at the time its heyday was coming to a close. He recorded copiously as a bandleader for Columbia, Decca, King, Fantasy, Vik, and SESAC between 1946 and 1960. Lawrence is currently music director for the Tony awards show.

Elliot Lawrence was born Elliot Lawrence Broza on February 14, 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents, Stan Lee Broza and Esther Broza were radio and television pioneers. In 1927 they created and produced the Horn and Hardart Children’s Hour, which ran on WCAU radio from 1927–1958 and concurrently on television from 1948–1958. Stan Lee Broza was also the first president of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia from 1962-1963. Stan Lee was the host of the Children’ Hour and Esther produced it. Childhood stars that appeared on the show include Eddie Fisher, Frankie Avalon, Joey Bishop, Bernadette Peters and best selling author Jacqueline Susann. The idea for The Children’s Hour was originally born by Stan Lee when a new shopping mall in Philadelphia was looking to sponsor a show on the radio. He came up with the idea to create a variety show in which talented children would sing and perform. While looking for sponsors, one of Stan Lees’ first customers was William Paley, who bought advertising time on WCAU for his fathers cigar shop. William Paley went on to become the chairman of CBS. Stan Lee Broza and Esther Broza were pioneers of broadcasting and of the variety show. Both are in the Philadelphia Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Elliot grew up in this show biz environment and began studying piano at the age of 3. His first public performance was at age 4 conducting the orchestra on the Children’ Hour stage show. At the age of six he wrote his first composition, “Falling Down Stairs” and he was stricken with polio. Lawrence fought the illness for 6 months, after which he recovered. By the age of 12, Elliot had formed his first band; a 15-piece unit called The Band Busters. and had already begun doing club dates on the weekends. Elliot finished high school at age 16 and entered The University Of Pennsylvania. During his junior year his band, now named The Elliot Broza Orchestra, began playing college proms around Pennsylvania. At Penn, he majored in symphonic conducting under Harl McDonald, who offered him a position as assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra upon graduation. In 1944, after three years at Penn, Elliot graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree and received the Thornton Oakely Award, given each year to the undergraduate who has contributed most to the arts.