Fletcher HendersonFletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. (December 18, 1897 - December 28, 1952) was an African American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and Swing music. Henderson was born in Cuthbert, Georgia. His father was a principal and his mother taught piano. He attend Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated in 1920. After graduation, he moved to New York City to attend Columbia University for a master's degree in chemistry. He worked for the Pace-Handy music company as a song demonstrator. He also worked at Black Swan Records as music director and pianist. He also lead the band accompanying singer Ethel Waters. His success in music made him forget about a career in chemistry. In 1922 he formed his own band, which was resident first at the Club Alabam then at the Roseland, and quickly became known as the best "Colored" band in New York. For a time his ideas of arrangement were heavily influenced by those of Paul Whiteman, but when Louis Armstrong joined his orchestra in 1924 Henderson realized there could be a much richer potential for jazz band orchestration. Henderson's band also boasted the formidable arranging talents of Don Redman. At one time or another, in addition to Armstrong, the band featured Henry "Red" Allen, Joe Smith, Rex Stewart, Tommy Ladnier and Roy Eldridge on trumpet. Reed men Coleman Hawkins, Buster Bailey, Benny Carter and Chu Berry also were in and out of Fletcher's band. Beginning in the early 1930s, Fletcher's piano-playing younger brother, Horace Henderson (11/22/1904-1989) contributed to the arrangements of the band. He later led a band of his own that also received critical acclaim Although the band was very popular, Henderson had little success managing the band. Following a serious auto accident in 1928, he seemed to lose interest in business matters, and was never known as a disciplinarian. He was well regarded as an arranger and his arrangements became influential. In addition to his own band he arranged for several other bands, including those of Teddy Hill, Isham Jones, and most famously, Benny Goodman. In 1934, Goodman's Orchestra was selected as a house band for the "Let's Dance" radio program. Since he needed new charts every week for the show, his friend John Hammond suggested that he purchase some Jazz charts from Henderson. Many of Goodman's hits from the swing music were arranged by Henderson for his own band in the late 20s and early 30s. In 1939 he disbanded his own band and joined Goodman's, first as both pianist and arranger and then working full time as arranger. He reformed bands of his own several times in the 1940s, toured with Ethel Waters again in 1948 - 1949. Henderson suffered a stroke in 1950 resulting in partial paralysis that ended his days as a pianist. He died in New York City. A good source for information on Fletcher Henderson is The Fletcher Henderson Story a 3 CD Box Set sampling Henderson's music with extensive liner notes by jazz scholar Frank Diggs. This page about Fletcher Henderson includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Fletcher Henderson News stories about Fletcher Henderson External links for Fletcher Henderson Videos for Fletcher Henderson Wikis about Fletcher Henderson Discussion Groups about Fletcher Henderson Blogs about Fletcher Henderson Images of Fletcher Henderson |
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A good source for information on Fletcher Henderson is The Fletcher Henderson Story a 3 CD Box Set sampling Henderson's music with extensive liner notes by jazz scholar Frank Diggs. Country Music Association. He died in New York City. Academy of Country Music. Henderson suffered a stroke in 1950 resulting in partial paralysis that ended his days as a pianist. ASCAP. He reformed bands of his own several times in the 1940s, toured with Ethel Waters again in 1948 - 1949. His sense of humour comes through on the satirical description of the wannabees who cynically jumped on the country music bandwagon in the 1990s, "Everybody's gone country/Yeah we've gone country/The whole world's gone country." ("Gone Country"). In 1939 he disbanded his own band and joined Goodman's, first as both pianist and arranger and then working full time as arranger. He has sung with George Jones on the award winning "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair". Many of Goodman's hits from the swing music were arranged by Henderson for his own band in the late 20s and early 30s. Although Jackson has been characterised as a "hat act", his influences go deep into the roots of country music and his songs have been recorded by some of the greats like Charley Pride, who recorded "Here In The Real World". Since he needed new charts every week for the show, his friend John Hammond suggested that he purchase some Jazz charts from Henderson. After a few more hit albums, Jackson again rocketed to fame with "Where Were You", a song about the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks, which became a hit single despite much criticism for jingoism and hollow patriotism; including an unflattering portrayal in an episode of South Park. In 1934, Goodman's Orchestra was selected as a house band for the "Let's Dance" radio program. His 1992 release, A Lot About Livin' (And a Little About Love) was a smash success, spawning five major singles with "Chattahoochee" being the most enduring and successful. In addition to his own band he arranged for several other bands, including those of Teddy Hill, Isham Jones, and most famously, Benny Goodman. His first album, 1990's Here in the Real World, was a major hit, as was his second (1991) album, Don't Rock the Jukebox. He was well regarded as an arranger and his arrangements became influential. Jackson's wife, Denise, got him connected to Glen Campbell, who helped him jumpstart his career. Following a serious auto accident in 1928, he seemed to lose interest in business matters, and was never known as a disciplinarian. He has become one of the best-selling country musicians of the 1990s, in spite of almost-universal critical panning in the latter, and most successful, half of his career. Although the band was very popular, Henderson had little success managing the band. Alan Jackson (born October 17, 1958) is an American country music singer, and songwriter, originally from Newnan, Georgia. He later led a band of his own that also received critical acclaim. Alan Jackson wearing his hat Henderson's band also boasted the formidable arranging talents of Don Redman. Album of the Year, Common Threads: The Songs of the Eagles 1994. For a time his ideas of arrangement were heavily influenced by those of Paul Whiteman, but when Louis Armstrong joined his orchestra in 1924 Henderson realized there could be a much richer potential for jazz band orchestration. Song of the Year, "Chattahoochee" 1994. In 1922 he formed his own band, which was resident first at the Club Alabam then at the Roseland, and quickly became known as the best "Colored" band in New York. Vocal Event of the Year, "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" (with George Jones) 1993. His success in music made him forget about a career in chemistry. Music Video of the Year, "Chattahoochee" 1993. He also lead the band accompanying singer Ethel Waters. Single of the Year, "Chattahoochee" 1993. He also worked at Black Swan Records as music director and pianist. Music Video of the Year, Midnight In Montgomery (about Hank Williams 1992. He worked for the Pace-Handy music company as a song demonstrator. Triple Play Award 1990, 1991, 1992. After graduation, he moved to New York City to attend Columbia University for a master's degree in chemistry. Male Vocalist of the Year 1994 and 1995. He attend Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated in 1920. Album of the Year, A Lot About Livin' (And A Little 'Bout Love) 1993. His father was a principal and his mother taught piano. Single Record of the Year, "Chattahoochee" 1993. Henderson was born in Cuthbert, Georgia. Album of the Year, Don't Rock The Jukebox 1991. Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. (December 18, 1897 - December 28, 1952) was an African American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and Swing music. Single Record of the Year, "Don't Rock The Jukebox" 1991. Top New Male Vocalist 1990. Country Songwriter of the Year 1993. Country Song of the Year, "Don't Rock The Jukebox" 1992. |