Ernie Henry

Ernie Henry (born Ernest Albert Henry, September 3, 1926 – December 29, 1957) was an American jazz saxophonist.

Henry played in the late 1940s with Tadd Dameron, Fats Navarro, Charlie Ventura, Max Roach, and was a key member of Dizzy Gillespie's big band. Between 1950 and 1951, Henry performed in the band of Illinois Jacquet while seeking freelance performance opportunities. Henry later returned to play with Thelonious Monk (1956), Charles Mingus, Kenny Dorham, Kenny Drew, Wynton Kelly, Wilbur Ware, Art Taylor, Philly Joe Jones and Gillespie again (1956–57). He recorded three albums as a leader for the Riverside label shortly before his death at the end of 1957.

Henry died in his sleep, aged 31. A heroin overdose was alleged, but it is known that he suffered from unusually high blood pressure and suffered ill health.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 3, 1926 (Brooklyn (borough of New York City, New York, United States)), Died December 29, 1957 (New York City (most populous city in the United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1948 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: saxophone, alto 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
Victor D8VB-4148 10-in. 12/29/1948 Guarachi guaro Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D8VB-4149 10-in. 12/29/1948 Duff capers Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra ; Dizzy Gillespie ; Dizzy Gillespie Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D8VB-4150 10-in. 12/29/1948 Lover, come back to me Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra ; Dizzy Gillespie ; Dizzy Gillespie Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D8VB-4151 10-in. 12/29/1948 I'm be boppin' too Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D9VB-0471 10-in. 4/14/1949 Swedish suite Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D9VB-0473 10-in. 4/14/1949 I should care Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra ; Johnny Hartman Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D9VB-0474 10-in. 4/14/1949 That old black magic Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra ; Johnny Hartman Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D9VB-1011 10-in. 5/6/1949 Jump did-le ba Joe Carroll ; Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with scat singing instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Victor D9VB-1795 10-in. 7/6/1949 If love is trouble Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra ; Johnny Hartman Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  
Victor D9VB-1796 10-in. 7/6/1949 In the land of Oo-Bla-Dee Joe Carroll ; Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, saxophone  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Henry, Ernie," accessed December 26, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/358884.

Henry, Ernie. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 26, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/358884.

"Henry, Ernie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 26 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/358884

External Sources

Wikipedia: Ernie Henry

Discogs: Ernie Henry

Allmusic: Ernie Henry

Grove: Ernie Henry

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Henry, Ernie - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n91069191

Wikidata: Ernie Henry - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1356914

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/22327509

MusicBrainz: Ernie Henry - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/e4ca587b-e6f2-42c0-ac90-1b175bf756c5

Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/288649 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/288649

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