Hilton Jefferson
Hilton Jefferson (July 30, 1903 – November 14, 1968) was an American jazz alto saxophonist born in Danbury, Connecticut, United States, perhaps best known for leading the saxophone section from 1940–1949 in the Cab Calloway band. Jefferson is said to have been "a soft, delicate saxophone player, with an exquisite sensibility." In 1929, Jefferson began his professional career with Claude Hopkins, and throughout the 1930s was busy working for the big bands of Chick Webb, Fletcher Henderson and McKinney's Cotton Pickers. From 1952–1953, Jefferson performed with Duke Ellington, but ultimately became a bank guard to support himself with a steady income. In the 1950s, he continued to perform, especially with Rex Stewart and some former members of Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra. |
Birth and Death Data: Born Danbury, Died November 14, 1968 (New York City)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1958
Roles Represented in DAHR: alto saxophone, clarinet, tenor saxophone
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 101-125 of 156 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decca | 65096 | 10-in. | 3/2/1939 | I'm up a tree | Chick Webb Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65097 | 10-in. | 3/2/1939 | Chew-chew-chew (Your bubble gum) | Chick Webb Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65441 | 10-in. | 4/21/1939 | Don't worry 'bout me | Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65442 | 10-in. | 4/21/1939 | If anything happened to you | Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65443 | 10-in. | 4/21/1939 | If that's what you're thinking | Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65444 | 10-in. | 4/21/1939 | If you ever change your mind | Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy Eight | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65445 | 10-in. | 4/21/1939 | Have mercy | Chick Webb Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65446 | 10-in. | 4/21/1939 | Little white lies | Chick Webb Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65447 | 10-in. | 4/21/1939 | Coochi-coochi-coo | Chick Webb Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65448 | 10-in. | 4/21/1939 | That was my heart | Chick Webb Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65903 | 10-in. | 6/29/1939 | Betcha nickel | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65904 | 10-in. | 6/29/1939 | Stairway to the stars | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65905 | 10-in. | 6/29/1939 | I want the waiter (with the water) | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65906 | 10-in. | 6/29/1939 | That's all, brother | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 65907 | 10-in. | 6/29/1939 | Out of nowhere | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 66134 | 10-in. | 8/18/1939 | My last goodbye | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 66135 | 10-in. | 8/18/1939 | Billy (I always dream of Billy) | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 66136 | 10-in. | 8/18/1939 | Please tell me the truth | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 66137 | 10-in. | 8/18/1939 | I'm not complainin' | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 66138 | 10-in. | 8/18/1939 | Betcha nickel | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 67119 | 10-in. | 1/26/1940 | Is there somebody else ? | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 67120 | 10-in. | 1/26/1940 | Sugar blues | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 67121 | 10-in. | 1/26/1940 | The starlit hour | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 67122 | 10-in. | 1/26/1940 | What's the matter with me? | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 85804 | 2/1/1954 | Come rain or come shine | Pearl Bailey | instrumentalist, alto saxophone |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Jefferson, Hilton," accessed December 12, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109150.
Jefferson, Hilton. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109150.
"Jefferson, Hilton." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 12 December 2025.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Hilton Jefferson
Discogs: Hilton Jefferson
Allmusic: Hilton Jefferson
Grove: Hilton Jefferson
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Jefferson, Hilton, 1903-1968 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no91020812
Wikidata: Hilton Jefferson - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q282977
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/198552
MusicBrainz: Hilton Jefferson - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/fadcfecc-6ecf-4e5c-a43b-fa67a4defb5c
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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