Ernie Henry

Who was Ernie Henry?

Ernie Henry was an American jazz saxophonist.

Henry played in the late 1940s with Tadd Dameron, Fats Navarro, Charlie Ventura, Max Roach, and Dizzy Gillespie. From 1950 to 1952 he played in the band of Illinois Jacquet. After a few years in the shadows, he returned to play with Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Kenny Dorham, Kenny Drew, Wynton Kelly, Wilbur Ware, Art Taylor, Philly Joe Jones and Gillespie again. He recorded three albums as a leader for the Riverside label shortly before his death at the end of 1957. He died of a heroin overdose at age 31.