Johnny Hodges
Swing music, Musical Artist
1906 – 1970
Who was Johnny Hodges?
John Keith "Johnny" Hodges 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, except the period between 1932 and 1946 when Otto Hardwick generally played first chair. Hodges was also featured on soprano saxophone, but refused to play soprano after 1946, when he was given the lead chair. He is considered one of the definitive alto saxophones players of the Big Band Era.
Hodges started playing with Lloyd Scott, Sidney Bechet, Lucky 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.
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- Born
- Jul 25, 1906
Cambridge - Also known as
- Jony Hodges
- Jony Hoges
- Jhony Hodges
- Johny Hodges
- J. Hodges
- Jhonny Hodges
- John Hodges
- Hodges, Johnny
- Rabbit
- John Cornelius Hodge
- Parents
- Ethnicity
- African American
- Nationality
- United States of America
- Profession
- Died
- May 11, 1970
New York City
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
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"Johnny Hodges." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/johnny_hodges>.
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