John Hardee

John Hardee (December 20, 1918 – May 18, 1984) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Hardee toured with Don Albert in 1937–38 while he was in college; he graduated in 1941. He directed a Texas school band and served in the Army during World War II. In 1946 he played with Tiny Grimes and then recorded as a bandleader for Blue Note Records between 1946 and 1948, issuing eight releases. In the 1940s and early 1950s he played with Clyde Bernhardt, Cousin Joe, Russell Procope, Earl Bostic, Billy Kyle, Helen Humes, Billy Taylor, and Lucky Millinder. In the 1950s he retired from music and became a schoolteacher. In 1959, he played saxophone on Dallas R&B group The Nightcaps (Texas band) LP Wine, Wine, Wine. He was credited as "Jon Hardtimes" and, although he performed with them occasionally, was not an official member of the group.

Birth and Death Data: Born Corsicana (city in and county seat of Navarro County, Texas, United States), Died May 18, 1984 (Dallas (city in the state of Texas, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1945 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Atlantic 111 10-in. 12/30/1947 Profoundly blue Tiny Grimes Quintet instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 112 10-in. 12/30/1947 Blue harlem Tiny Grimes Quintet instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 113 10-in. 12/30/1947 That old black magic Tiny Grimes Quintet instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Atlantic 114 10-in. 12/30/1947 Boogie woogie barbecue Tiny Grimes Quintet instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Mercury 861 10-in. 4/2/1947 I just refuse to sing the blues Buck Clayton's Orchestra ; Helen Humes instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Mercury 862 10-in. 4/2/1947 They raided the joint Buck Clayton's Orchestra ; Helen Humes instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Exclusive EXC-1343 10-in. 12/31/1949 Chicken shack shuffle Jimmy Archey ; Danny Barker ; Dan Burley ; John Hardee ; Herman Mitchell instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Exclusive EXC-1344 10-in. 12/31/1949 Skiffle blues Jimmy Archey ; Danny Barker ; Dan Burley ; Pops Foster ; John Hardee ; Skiffle Boys instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 74592 8/20/1948 Pretty Mama blues Clyde E. B. Bernhardt instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 74593 8/20/1948 My heart belongs to you Clyde E. B. Bernhardt instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Signature SRC 141 10-in. 1945 Hand in hand blues Dickie Thompson and his Blue Five instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Signature SRC 142 10-in. 1945 Tailor made gal Dickie Thompson and his Blue Five instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Signature SRC 143 10-in. 1945 Swing song Dickie Thompson and his Blue Five instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Signature SRC 144 10-in. 1945 Star dust Dickie Thompson and his Blue Five instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Signature SRC 354 10-in. 1946 Open the door Richard-1 Walter Brown instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Signature SRC 355 10-in. 1946 My second best woman Walter Brown instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Signature SRC 356 10-in. 1946 Let's get some understanding Walter Brown instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Signature SRC 357 10-in. 1946 I'm living for you Walter Brown instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hardee, John," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/319948.

Hardee, John. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/319948.

"Hardee, John." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/319948

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