Johnny Hodges

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
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)

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Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hodges, Johnny," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103184.

Hodges, Johnny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103184.

"Hodges, Johnny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.