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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, leader, saxophone, 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 51-75 of 236 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-67799 10-in. 1/16/1931 Keep a song in your soul Chick Bullock ; Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-67800 10-in. 1/16/1931 Sam and Delilah Chick Bullock ; Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor CRC-68231 12-in. 6/11/1931 Creole rhapsody Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BRC-68232 10-in. 6/11/1931 Creole rhapsody Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor CRC-68233 12-in. 6/11/1931 Creole rhapsody Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BRC-68237 10-in. 6/16/1931 Limehouse blues Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BRC-68238 10-in. 6/16/1931 Echoes of the jungle Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BRC-68239 10-in. 6/17/1931 It's glory Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BRC-68240 10-in. 6/17/1931 The mystery song Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor LBRC-71811 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 2/3/1932 Mood indigo Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor LBSHQ-71812 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 2/3/1932 Mood indigo Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor LBRC-71836 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 2/9/1932 East St. Louis toddle Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor LBSHQ-71837 10-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 2/9/1932 East St. Louis toddle Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BRC-71838 10-in. 2/9/1932 Dinah Duke Ellington Orchestra ; Sonny Greer ; Cootie Williams Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BRC-71839 10-in. 2/9/1932 Bugle call rag Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-73557 10-in. 9/21/1932 Maori Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone  
Victor BS-73558 10-in. 9/21/1932 Jive Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone  
Victor BS-73559 10-in. 9/21/1932 My sophisticated daddy Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone  
Victor BS-73560 10-in. 9/21/1932 Margie Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone  
Victor BS-77025 10-in. 9/26/1933 Rude interlude Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-77026 10-in. 9/26/1933 Dallas doings Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-77199 10-in. 12/4/1933 Dear old Southland Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone  
Victor BS-77200 10-in. 12/4/1933 Awful sad Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone  
Victor BS-77201 10-in. 12/4/1933 Daybreak Express Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone  
Victor PBS-79155 10-in. 4/12/1934 Ebony rhapsody Ivie Anderson ; Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone  
(Results 51-75 of 236 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hodges, Johnny," accessed April 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103184.

Hodges, Johnny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103184.

"Hodges, Johnny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103184

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