Education
He graduated from the West Chester State Teachers College majoring in meteorology with a minor in music
He graduated from the West Chester State Teachers College majoring in meteorology with a minor in music
Layton was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began playing the organ when he was twelve years old. While serving in the United States Navy during World World War II, he learned to play the Hammond organization
After the war, he began a career as a professional organist writing scores for soap operas on Columbia Broadcasting System. Two noted Columbia Broadcasting System soap operas were "The Secret Storm" and "Love is a Many Splendored Thing." During that time, he recorded nearly 27 albums of organ music
He was also noted for traveling the world as a spokesperson and artist for the Hammond Organ company. New York Yankees Layton joined the New York Yankees franchise in 1967 when Columbia Broadcasting System purchased the Yankees from Dan Topping.
Topping, under pressure because of the success of the New York Mets, their new Shea Stadium facility and the popularity of their organist, Jane Jarvis, installed an organ at the beginning of the 1965 season. Lowrey organ demonstrator Toby Wright was the first Yankee organist and did the 1965 and 1966 seasons.
Team president Mike Burke brought Layton in to play organ music at the stadium in 1967.
At the time, he had never been to the stadium and knew nothing about baseball. He went on to play the organ for the Yankees for over three decades, taking a break from 1971 to 1977 to pursue other musical commitments. (Wright had returned as organist during that time) When he retired on September 28, 2003, he played a final performance of "Take Maine Out to the Ball Game", while fans chanted "Eddie! Eddie!".
Current New York Yankees organists Editor Alstrom and Paul Cartier were recruited by Layton to take his place at Yankee Stadium.
Other Work Hobbies Layton loved sailing and owned his own Tug. He also owned a huge collection of Model Trains he maintained at his Forest Hills, New York home.
On December 26, 2004, he died of natural causes at his home in Forest Hills, New York at age 77, (Or age 79 according to various reports) following a brief illness.