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 126-150 of 156 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decca | 85805 | 2/1/1954 | Alla en el rancho grande | Pearl Bailey | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 85806 | 2/1/1954 | What happened to the hair (on the head of the man I love) | Pearl Bailey | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 85807 | 2/1/1954 | I wouldn't walk across the street | Pearl Bailey | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 85816 | 2/2/1954 | Fernandez of the Andes | Pearl Bailey | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 85817 | 2/2/1954 | He's gone | Pearl Bailey | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 91836 | 10-in. | 10/12/1939 | You're gonna lose your gal | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 91837 | 10-in. | 10/12/1939 | After I say I'm sorry | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 91838 | 10-in. | 10/12/1939 | Baby, what else can I do? | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 91839 | 10-in. | 10/12/1939 | My wubba dolly | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 91840 | 10-in. | 10/12/1939 | Lindy hoppers' delight (Instrumental) | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 91841 | 10-in. | 10/12/1939 | Moon ray | Ella Fitzgerald | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 101154 | 12/12/1956 | Mahogany Hall stomp | Louis Armstrong | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 101155 | 12/12/1956 | When you're smiling | Louis Armstrong | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 101156 | 12/12/1956 | Some of these days | Louis Armstrong | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 101157 | 12/12/1956 | I surrender dear | Louis Armstrong | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 101158 | 12/12/1956 | Georgia on my mind | Louis Armstrong | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 101159 | 12/12/1956 | Exactly like you | Louis Armstrong | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 101168 | 12/12/1956 | High society-3 | Louis Armstrong | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 101169 | 12/13/1956 | Song of the islands | Louis Armstrong | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 101170 | 12/13/1956 | That's my home | Louis Armstrong | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 101171 | 12/13/1956 | Memories of you | Louis Armstrong | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 101172 | 12/13/1956 | Them there eyes | Louis Armstrong | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 101173 | 12/14/1956 | This younger generation | Louis Armstrong | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 101174 | 12/14/1956 | In pursuit of happiness | Louis Armstrong | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 101491 | 1/28/1957 | (I'll be glad when you're dead) You rascal you | Louis Armstrong | 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
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