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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 1-25 of 236 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-47799 10-in. 10/30/1928 The mooche Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-48102 10-in. 10/30/1928 I can't give you anything but love Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-48103 10-in. 10/30/1928 No papa no Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band (take 1); with female vocal solo (take 2) instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-48166 10-in. 11/15/1928 Bandanna babies Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-48167 10-in. 11/15/1928 Diga diga do Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-48168 10-in. 11/15/1928 I must have that man Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-48373 10-in. 2/18/1929 Japanese dream Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-48374 10-in. 2/18/1929 Harlemania Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor CVE-49007 12-in. 12/20/1928 St. Louis blues Warren Mills and his Blue Serenaders Jazz/dance band, with mixed vocal chorus instrumentalist, clarinet  
Victor BVE-49652 10-in. 1/16/1929 Flaming youth Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-49653 10-in. 1/16/1929 Saturday night function Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-49654 10-in. 1/16/1929 High life Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-49655 10-in. 1/16/1929 Doin' the voom voom Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-49767 10-in. 3/7/1929 The dicty glide Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-49768 10-in. 3/7/1929 Hot feet Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor BVE-49770 10-in. 3/7/1929 Stevedore stomp Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor CVE-51158 12-in. 4/12/1929 A night at the Cotton Club, part 1 Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Irving Mills Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor CVE-51159 12-in. 4/12/1929 A night at the Cotton Club, part 2 Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington ; Irving Mills Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-51971 10-in. 5/3/1929 Cotton Club stomp Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, composer  
Victor BVE-51972 10-in. 5/3/1929 Misty mornin' Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-51973 10-in. 5/3/1929 Arabian lover Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-51974 10-in. 5/3/1929 Saratoga swing Cotton Club Orchestra ; Duke Ellington Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-55845 10-in. 9/16/1929 Mississippi Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
Victor BVE-55846 10-in. 9/16/1929 The Duke steps out Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, composer  
Victor BVE-55847 10-in. 9/16/1929 Haunted nights Duke Ellington Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet  
(Results 1-25 of 236 records)

Citation

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

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

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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