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Johnny Hodges

Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges (July 25, 1907 – May 11, 1970) was an American alto saxophonist, best known for solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years. Hodges was also featured on soprano saxophone, but refused to play soprano after 1946. Along with Benny Carter, Hodges is considered to be one of the definitive alto saxophone players of the big band era.

After beginning his career as a teenager in Boston, Hodges began to travel to New York and played with Lloyd Scott, Sidney Bechet, Luckey Roberts and Chick Webb. When Ellington wanted to expand his band in 1928, Ellington's clarinet player Barney Bigard recommended Hodges. His playing became one of the identifying voices of the Ellington orchestra. From 1951 to 1955, Hodges left the Duke to lead his own band, but returned shortly before Ellington's triumphant return to prominence – the orchestra's performance at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 25, 1907 (Cambridge), Died May 11, 1970 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1959

Roles Represented in DAHR: alto saxophone, clarinet, soprano saxophone, composer, saxophone, leader, songwriter

Notes: He is not to be confused with pianist Johnnie Hardge, whose name sometimes appears as "Hodges."

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 226-250 of 257 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 105298 7/14/1958 Black butterfly Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 105299 7/14/1958 Got my foot in the door Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 105300 7/17/1958 Indelible Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 105301 7/17/1958 Ruint Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 105302 7/17/1958 Frolic Sam Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 105303 7/17/1958 Be patient Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 105304 7/22/1958 If you were in my place Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 105305 7/22/1958 The gal from Joe's Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 105306 7/22/1958 Afternoon moon Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 105307 7/22/1958 Broadway babe Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 105308 7/22/1958 Yearning for love Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 106805 3/16/1959 Cherry pink Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 106806 3/16/1959 Azure Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 106807 3/16/1959 Little white lies Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 106808 3/18/1959 Coral rock Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 106809 3/18/1959 Aqua-tonic Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 106810 3/18/1959 Maroon Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 106811 3/18/1959 Black and tan fantasy Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 106812 3/18/1959 Mood indigo Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 106813 3/18/1959 Blue serge Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 106814 3/18/1959 Golden cress Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 106815 3/18/1959 The moon was yellow Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 106816 3/18/1959 Down of a greenhorn Mercer Ellington Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Signature BOB-1 5/26/1944 Flamingo Eddie Heywood Jazz Trio instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Signature BOB-2 5/26/1944 On the sunny side of the street Eddie Heywood Jazz Trio instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
(Results 226-250 of 257 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hodges, Johnny," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103184.

Hodges, Johnny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103184.

"Hodges, Johnny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103184

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