Thousands — more like millions — along with a plethora of local admirers mourned the death last month of Hubert “Tex” Arnold who had solid ties to the Conroe Symphony Orchestra.
Hubert “Tex” Arnold, brilliant pianist, composer, arranger, conductor and accompanist died on Aug. 22 at age 74. His death followed a sudden stroke suffered in his hotel room while he was performing in New Jersey, according to Nancy Johnson, longtime staffer at Conroe Symphony Centre.
Another entertainer found Arnold in his hotel room, she said. He was life-flighted to a trauma center in Atlantic City and placed on life support, but sadly succumbed, leaving many in deep sorrow.
Hubert “Tex” Arnold was born March 2, 1945. The consummate musician spent five decades immersed in all facets of musical possibilities worldwide.
He was an unassuming, almost shy person. Aside from his parents, few if any, Conroe residents knew him well.
Arnold accompanied his close friend, Broadway vocalist Sal Viviano, during numerous Conroe Symphony Orchestra concerts. These engagements originally came about through Arnold’s stepmother, Dr. Aline Arnold, and his father Gene Arnold, both now deceased; but he quickly became in demand by area music lovers.
“’Tex’ Arnold was a gentleman just like his father, Gene,” Nancy Johnson said. “Light and kind-hearted. Always seemed to have a tune in his mind.”
“Hubert ‘Tex’ Arnold and Sal Viviano performed in CSO concerts many times over in the past years,” said Gayle Laminack, who formerly headed Friends of the Symphony. “He even came back this past spring to accompany Sal at Aline Arnold’s [his stepmother] memorial service. Our CSO musicians considered him a friend as well as a colleague. All of us are sad.”
Both Arnold’s parents were heavily involved with CSO. Aline Arnold was credited with much of the phenomenal growth and success of the symphony because of her tenacious and determined leadership. Gene quietly always stood behind her.
“The death of ‘Tex’ was almost like losing one of our own orchestra members,” said Annette Spikes, a longtime CSO supporter. “He felt like he was a part of us, too. CSO was planning to have him and Sal Viviano back for another guest appearance under Jake’s [CSO Director/ Conductor Dr. Jacob Sustaita] leadership.
“Gene and ‘Tex’ Arnold had a strong father/son relationship. ‘Tex’ had the same kind of quiet sincerity and gentlemanly manner that Gene had,” Spikes said. “This is indeed a loss for Conroe.”
Hubert Arnold’s nickname derived from his having grown up in Temple, Texas. After high school graduation he earned a bachelor of music degree from Michigan State University in Lansing; and a year later, in 1970, a master’s degree there in music composition. These achievements were followed by study at New York’s Juilliard; one of the most prestigious music schools in the U. S. His first job was a staff position as music arranger for the U. S. Military Band at West Point. Not a shabby beginning.
All this led to Arnold’s 50-year career that began in New York but embraced every aspect of his musical achievements in worldwide locales.
He spent 25 years as vocalist Margaret Whiting’s chief director, arranger, and accompanist. He worked with an enormous number of entertainment stars in the most noted hubs that include Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and with Los Angeles Philharmonic; City Symphony Orchestras of Dallas, Detroit, Baltimore; the Minnesota Orchestra; New York Saxophone Quintet, and more, including the Conroe Symphony Orchestra.
He also worked years with the Great American Songbook Foundation and its successor, The Cabaret Conference, that had a Yale University connection.
Internationally, Arnold directed and arranged the Eugene O’Neil Theatre Center’s concerts in St. Petersburg, Russia, featuring Johnny Mercer’s lyrics; a successful musical in London’s West End; as well as popular recordings, radio, TV shows, and off-Broadway productions.
The list of luminaries associated with Arnold is astonishing. A few are Larry Adler, Sally Ann Howes, Ann Wakefield, Rita Moreno, Whiting, Clooney, Dick Shawn, and Julius La Rosa.
He won ASCAPlus Awards for Music Composition numerous times and was, as well, a member of an American Federation of Musicians union in New York City.
Arnold once performed in the late Ira Gershwin’s living room in Los Angeles while he was working with Rosemary Clooney in her Beverly Hills home. The private show in Gershwin’s home was a medley of Richard Whiting and Gershwin songs titled Daddy and the Boy Next Door.
Hubert Arnold is survived by wife Linda; a stepsister, Teresa Prestidge; and his beloved cat, Waldo.
Several seasons past, Carl and Lyn Howard hosted an elegant reception in their Conroe home for CSO supporters on the evening before the CSO Christmas concert at which Arnold and Viviano were to perform.
“He was so fine,” Lyn said. “Pleasant and accommodating. Always quiet and unassuming, shy. We are happy for the privilege of knowing him. He gave us so much joy.” Not often is found someone content to provide the music while others shine as stars.
Amanda S. Stevenson 
