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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 26-50 of 68 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh W404596 10-in. 12/30/1930 Cloudy skies Chocolate Dandies Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W404597 10-in. 12/30/1930 Got another sweetie now Chocolate Dandies ; Jimmy Harrison Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W404598 10-in. 12/30/1930 Bugle call rag Chocolate Dandies Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh W404599 10-in. 12/30/1930 Dee blues Chocolate Dandies Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 38599 10-in. 9/11/1934 Shanghai shuffle-2, 3 Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 38600 10-in. 9/11/1934 Big John special-3, 4 Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra instrumentalist, piano, arranger  
Decca 38601 10-in. 9/11/1934 Happy as the day is long-3, 5 Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 38604 10-in. 9/12/1934 Wrappin' it up-2, 3 Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 38605 10-in. 9/12/1934 Memphis blues-3 Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 38724 10-in. 9/25/1934 Rug cutter's swing-1, 2, 4 Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra arranger  
Decca 38725 10-in. 9/25/1934 Hotter than 'ell-1, 4 Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra arranger  
Decca 38728 10-in. 9/25/1934 Liza-1, 3 Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 75147 8/17/1949 'Tain't nobody's business if I do Billie Holiday instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 75148 8/17/1949 Baby get lost Billie Holiday instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 75203 8/29/1949 Keeps on rainin' Billie Holiday instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 75204 8/29/1949 Them there eyes Billie Holiday instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 75221 9/1/1949 Maybe it's because Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 75222 9/1/1949 I'll keep the lovelight burning Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 75241 9/8/1949 Do your duty Billie Holiday instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 75242 9/8/1949 Gimme a pigfoot and a bottle of beer Billie Holiday instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 76756 8/25/1950 I need my baby Harold Burrage instrumentalist, piano  
Decca 76757 8/25/1950 Hi yo silver Harold Burrage instrumentalist, piano  
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  
(Results 26-50 of 68 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Henderson, Horace," accessed May 1, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106935.

Henderson, Horace. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 1, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106935.

"Henderson, Horace." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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