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Horace Henderson

Horace W. Henderson (November 22, 1904 – August 29, 1988), the younger brother of Fletcher Henderson, was an American jazz pianist, organist, arranger, and bandleader.

Henderson was born in Cuthbert, Georgia, United States. While later attending Wilberforce University he formed a band called the Collegians, which included Benny Carter and Rex Stewart. This band was later known as the Horace Henderson Orchestra and then as the Dixie Stompers. Henderson left it to work with Sammy Stewart, then in 1928 organized a new band called the Collegians. Don Redman took over this band in 1931; Henderson continued to work as the band's pianist and arranger before leaving to work for his brother.

Fletcher Henderson's book contained about as many of Horace's arrangements as of Fletcher's. Although Horace worked continually, led bands, arranged, recorded, and composed into the 1980s, and although he is considered by many the more talented and skillful of the Henderson brothers, Fletcher remained more popular and accomplished more in the field.

Horace Henderson arranged for many other jazz musicians of the era. Among his other clients for arrangements were Charlie Barnet, the Casa Loma Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Earl Hines, and Jimmie Lunceford. His best-known arrangements were of his own "Hot and Anxious" (part of which became the main theme of "In The Mood") and "Christopher Columbus", of which he was one of the writers (but never received credit). He also wrote another popular instrumental of the big band era titled "Big John's Special". These were three important compositions of the period.

At different times in his career, Horace was pianist and musical director for both Lena Horne and Billie Holiday.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 22, 1904 (Cuthbert), Died August 29, 1988 (Denver)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1952

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, arranger, composer, director, lyricist

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 71 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-100360 10-in. 4/9/1936 I'm a fool for loving you Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100361 10-in. 4/9/1936 Moonrise on the lowlands Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100362 10-in. 4/9/1936 I'll always be in love with you Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100363 10-in. 4/9/1936 Jangled nerves Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor BS-100560 10-in. 5/23/1936 Riffin' Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-100885 10-in. 8/4/1936 Knock, knock, who's there? Ed Cuffee ; Roy Eldridge ; Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet arranger  
Victor BS-023508 10-in. 5/28/1938 Big John special Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-046738 10-in. 1/29/1940 Rug cutter's swing Glenn Miller Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-063833 10-in. 4/29/1941 Ponce de Leon Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor BS-063834 10-in. 4/29/1941 Little dip Charlie Barnet Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor D4AB-1037 10-in. 11/21/1944 I didn't know about you Horace Henderson ; Lena Horne Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble director  
Victor D4AB-1038 10-in. 11/21/1944 One for my baby (and one more for the road) Horace Henderson ; Lena Horne Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble director  
Victor D4AB-1039 10-in. 11/21/1944 As long as I live Horace Henderson ; Lena Horne Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble director  
Victor D4AB-1040 10-in. 11/21/1944 I ain't got nothin' but the blues Horace Henderson ; Lena Horne Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble director  
Columbia W151443 10-in. 3/19/1931 Hot and anxious Baltimore Bell Hops Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W151444 10-in. 3/19/1931 Comin' and going Baltimore Bell Hops Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W265135 10-in. 9/22/1933 Queer notions-1 Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra instrumentalist, piano, arranger  
Columbia W265136 10-in. 9/22/1933 It's the talk of the town Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra arranger  
Columbia W265137 10-in. 9/22/1933 Night life-3 Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra arranger  
Columbia W265138 10-in. 9/22/1933 Nagasaki-2 Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra arranger  
Columbia W265144 10-in. 9/29/1933 Jamaica shout-1 Coleman Hawkins Orchestra instrumentalist, piano, arranger  
Columbia W265150 10-in. 10/3/1933 Happy feet Horace Henderson Orchestra arranger  
Columbia W265151 10-in. 10/3/1933 I'm rhythm crazy now-1 Horace Henderson Orchestra instrumentalist, piano, arranger  
Columbia W265152 10-in. 10/3/1933 Old man river Horace Henderson Orchestra arranger  
Columbia W265153 10-in. 10/3/1933 Minnie the moocher's wedding day-1 Horace Henderson Orchestra instrumentalist, piano, arranger  
(Results 1-25 of 71 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Henderson, Horace," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106935.

Henderson, Horace. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106935.

"Henderson, Horace." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106935

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