Dick Hafer was an American jazz tenor saxophonist born in Wyomissing. He began playing clarinet at age seven and later switched to tenor saxophone during high school. His first professional engagement was with the orchestra of Charlie Barnet in 1949. Hafer subsequently performed with several major big bands, including those led by Claude Thornhill (1949–1950), Woody Herman (1951–1955), Tex Beneke (1955), Bobby Hackett (1957–1958), Elliot Lawrence (1958–1960), and Benny Goodman (1962). In 1963 he appeared on two albums by Charles Mingus. Hafer moved to the Los Angeles area in 1974, where he worked extensively as a studio musician, including as part of the band for The Merv Griffin Show. He later released two albums as a leader, Prez Impressions (1994) and In a Sentimental Mood (1999). Hafer died on December 15, 2012, in La Costa.
