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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 101-125 of 236 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor PBS-049656 10-in. 5/4/1940 Don't get around much anymore Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-053020 10-in. 5/28/1940 Dusk Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-053021 10-in. 5/28/1940 Bojangles Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-053022 10-in. 5/28/1940 A portrait of Bert Williams Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-053023 10-in. 5/28/1940 Blue goose Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, soprano saxophone  
Victor BS-053427 10-in. 9/5/1940 There shall be no night Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-053428 10-in. 9/5/1940 In a mellotone Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, soprano saxophone  
Victor BS-053429 10-in. 9/5/1940 Five o'clock whistle Ivie Anderson ; Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-053430 10-in. 9/5/1940 Warm valley Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-053552 10-in. 10/17/1940 The flaming sword Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-053579 10-in. 10/28/1940 Across the track blues Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-053580 10-in. 10/28/1940 Chlo-e Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-053581 10-in. 10/28/1940 I never felt this way before Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-053603 10-in. 11/2/1940 Day dream Johnny Hodges Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, leader  
Victor BS-053604 10-in. 11/2/1940 Good Queen Bess Johnny Hodges Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer, instrumentalist, alto saxophone, leader  
Victor BS-053605 10-in. 11/2/1940 That's the blues, old man Johnny Hodges Orchestra Jazz/dance band leader, composer, instrumentalist, soprano saxophone  
Victor BS-053606 10-in. 11/2/1940 Junior hop Johnny Hodges Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, leader  
Victor BS-053780 10-in. 12/28/1940 The sidewalks of New York Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-053781 10-in. 12/28/1940 Flamingo Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-053782 10-in. 12/28/1940 The girl in my dreams tries to look like you Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-054606 10-in. 7/22/1940 Harlem air-shaft Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-054607 10-in. 7/22/1940 At a Dixie roadside diner Ivie Anderson ; Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-054608 10-in. 7/22/1940 All too soon Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-054609 10-in. 7/22/1940 Rumpus in Richmond Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BS-054624 10-in. 7/24/1940 My greatest mistake Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
(Results 101-125 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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