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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 26-50 of 257 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-55848 10-in. 9/16/1929 Swanee shuffles Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-57542 10-in. 11/14/1929 Breakfast dance Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-57543 10-in. 11/14/1929 Jazz lips Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-57544 10-in. 11/14/1929 March of the hoodlums Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-59692 10-in. 4/11/1930 Double check stomp Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band composer, instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-59693 10-in. 4/11/1930 My gal is good for nothing but love Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-59694 10-in. 4/11/1930 I was made to love you Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor PBVE-61011 10-in. 8/20/1930 Ring dem bells Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Victor PBVE-61012 10-in. 8/20/1930 Old man blues Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Victor PBVE-61013 10-in. 8/20/1930 Three little words Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Rhythm Boys Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio instrumentalist, soprano saxophone, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-62192 10-in. 6/4/1930 Sweet dreams of love Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-62193 10-in. 6/4/1930 Jungle nights in Harlem Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-62194 10-in. 6/4/1930 Sweet jazz o' mine Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-62195 10-in. 6/4/1930 Shout 'em, Aunt Tillie Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-63360 10-in. 10/2/1930 Hittin' the bottle Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-63361 10-in. 10/2/1930 That Lindy hop Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-63362 10-in. 10/2/1930 You're lucky to me Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-63363 10-in. 10/2/1930 Memories of you Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-64378 10-in. 11/26/1930 What good am I without you? Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-64379 10-in. 11/26/1930 Blue again Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Sid Garry Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-64380 10-in. 11/26/1930 When a black man's blue Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Bennie Payne Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (takes 3 and 4); with male vocal trio (takes 1 and 2) instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-64812 10-in. 11/21/1930 Nine little miles from Ten-Ten-Tennessee Smith Ballew ; Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-64813 10-in. 11/21/1930 I'm so in love with you Smith Ballew ; Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-67401 10-in. 1/16/1931 Rockin' in rhythm Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-67798 10-in. 1/16/1931 The river and me Chick Bullock ; Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
(Results 26-50 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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