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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 51-71 of 71 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 76758 8/25/1950 I ain't mad at no one Harold Burrage instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81695 10/9/1951 Cold, cold heart Horace Henderson Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81696 10/9/1951 I can't help it Horace Henderson Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81697 10/9/1951 I ain't in the mood Donna Hightower instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81698 10/9/1951 Cry Donna Hightower instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81711 10/10/1951 Lido walk Horace Henderson Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81712 10/10/1951 Hot rock Horace Henderson Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81713 10/10/1951 Gloomy evening Floyd Smith instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 81714 10/10/1951 Floydynasty Floyd Smith instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82244 2/3/1952 Honest and truly Donna Hightower instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82245 2/3/1952 I found a new love Donna Hightower instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82635 4/4/1952 Kiss me baby Donna Hightower instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82636 4/4/1952 You had better change your ways Donna Hightower instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82637 4/4/1952 Don't you think I ought to know Donna Hightower instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82638 4/4/1952 The face in the mirror Donna Hightower instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82639 4/4/1952 Farewell blues Donna Hightower instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82640 4/2/1952 Don't cry baby Floyd Smith instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82641 4/2/1952 After hours Floyd Smith instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82642 4/2/1952 Me and you Floyd Smith instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 82643 4/2/1952 You may be trash to someone Floyd Smith instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 107860 8/29/1949 Them there eyes Billie Holiday instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 51-71 of 71 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Henderson, Horace," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106935.

Henderson, Horace. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106935.

"Henderson, Horace." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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