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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 176-200 of 257 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D5VB-0274 10-in. 5/16/1945 Every hour on the hour (I fall in love with you) Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Al Hibbler Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D5VB-0518 10-in. 7/30/1945 Things ain't what they used to be Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D5VB-0662 10-in. 10/8/1945 Tell ya what I'm gonna do Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D5VB-0663 10-in. 10/8/1945 Come to baby, do! Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D5VB-0949 10-in. 11/26/1945 I'm just a lucky so-and-so Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Al Hibbler Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D5VB-0951 10-in. 11/26/1945 The wonder of you Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Joya Sherrill Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, songwriter  
Victor D6VB-2093 10-in. 7/9/1946 Rockabye river Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2094 10-in. 7/9/1946 Suddenly it jumped Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Jimmy Hamilton ; Taft Jordan ; Oscar Pettiford Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2095 10-in. 7/9/1946 Transblucency (a blue fog that you can almost see through) Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2096 10-in. 7/9/1946 Just squeeze me (but don't tease me) Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2113 10-in. 8/26/1946 Back home again in Indiana Duke Ellington Orchestra Piano solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2114 10-in. 8/26/1946 Blue is the night Duke Ellington Orchestra Piano solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2115 10-in. 8/26/1946 Lover man (Oh, where can you be?) Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with piano and female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2116 10-in. 8/26/1946 Just you, just me Duke Ellington Orchestra Piano solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2117 10-in. 8/26/1946 Beale Street blues Duke Ellington Orchestra Piano solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2126 10-in. 9/3/1946 My honey's lovin' arms Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Ray Nance Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2129 10-in. 9/3/1946 St. Louis blues Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2130 10-in. 9/3/1946 Swamp fire Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D6VB-2131 10-in. 9/3/1946 Royal garden blues Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D7VB-1676 10-in. 10/6/1947 It shouldn't happen to a dream Luther Henderson Orchestra ; Leslie Scott Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia W148641 10-in. 5/28/1929 Beggars blues Sonny Greer and his Memphis Men Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia [W]150586 10-in. 6/12/1930 Double check stomp Ten Black Berries Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Brunswick E29381 10-in. 3/1/1929 Rent party blues Jungle Band Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick B18316 10-in. 12/03/1935 These 'n' that 'n' those Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Brunswick B18318 10-in. 12/03/1935 You let me down Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
(Results 176-200 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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