Samuel E. Heyward, Jr. was born in Savannah, Georgia on March 26, 1904, the son of Samuel Edwin Heyward, Sr. and Eloise Harper Heyward. He attended public schools in Savannah and high school in Philadelphia. In the early 1930s he attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and studied violin and viola. Upon finishing at the Conservatory Heyward came to New York where he continued his musical studies, becoming proficient on piano, saxophone and trumpet. At the start of his musical career he gravitated toward classical music and organized a string ensemble, but later, with the change in popular music demands, he became devoted to classical jazz which he exemplified in many forms.

Of his many musical skills Heyward was probably best known for his viola and violin abilities. He played both instruments in symphony and opera orchestras and chamber groups, as well as playing the violin in jazz combos. Additionally, Heyward was known for his skills on the guitar and appeared on radio and television and at folk festivals, theatres, colleges and churches, singing and playing guitar with his calypso quintet.

Among Heyward's original compositions are the “Ballad of Harry Moore” which he wrote with the poet, Langston Hughes, “Suite for Violin Alone,” “Six Shades of Blue” and the “Freedom Train.” Several of his songs were published in song collections, including the Calypso Folk Sing and Great Songs of Christmas, the latter, in collaboration with Massie Patterson.

Heyward was a member of the New Amsterdam Musical Association, an organization of black musicians which was founded in 1904 as a clearinghouse for musicians. Early members included James Reese Europe, Will Marion Cook and James Weldon Johnson. Heyward was president from 1971 to 1979 and edited the newsletter “On the Go” for several years. He was also a member of the New York City chapter of the Duke Ellington Society, the Senior Concert Orchestra of New York, Musicians Union, Local 802 and the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers. He was well-known in church circles having been president of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Alumni from 1968 to 1973, and for the many concerts he gave for St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church in Harlem, Immanuel Lutheran Church, the Spiritual Assembly of Baha' is and St. Peter's Church.

Heyward was married to Annie Edwine Smyer for 45 years who, before her retirement was assistant superintendent of nurses and assistant director of nursing at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx for approximately 40 years. The Heywards had no children.