Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

HENDERSON, Horace

(b 22 November 1904, Cuthbert GA; d 29 August 1988) Pianist, arranger, bandleader; brother of Fletcher (see above). Attended Wilburforce U, formed band the Collegians and led it during summer holidays, including Benny Carter and Rex Stewart; Horace's band was still called the Collegians when Don Redman took it over '31: Redman had management and record contracts, but valued Horace's services as pianist/arranger '31-2.

For a week Horace worked for Duke Ellington November '32. He wrote arrangements for Charlie Barnet, Tommy Dorsey, Earl Hines, Jimmie Lunceford and others; some thought he was a better pianist and arranger than Fletcher, but when Redman, Carter and brother Horace were no longer writing for Fletcher, Fletcher had to do it himself, smoothed out the style and got the credit for the style that became the sound of the Swing Era.

From a recording session of 19 March '31 through '39, of about 120 arrangements recorded by the Fletcher Henderson band, many are uncredited and others were written by Edgar Sampson, Russ Morgan, Will Hudson, Nat Leslie, trumpeter Dick Vance (b 28 November 1915, Mayfield KY; d 1 July 1985) etc, but discographies can credit almost as many to Horace as to Fletcher: about 28-30 for each, and Horace played piano on others. Horace's included some of the most interesting: his own 'Hot And Anxious' '31 (also recorded by Redman '32; later reduced to 'In The Mood': see Edgar Hayes), 'Nagasaki' (both Fletcher and Redman '32-3), 'Queer Notions' '33 (modern-sounding tune by Coleman Hawkins), Horace's own 'Big John's Special' '34 (later a hit by Benny Goodman), 'Christopher Columbus' '36 (composition credited to Chu Berry, probably Fletcher's biggest hit).

Horace's recording dates as leader included a '33 session with Fletcher's band; he made 21 titles in '40, but one of those five dates was credited as 'Fletcher Henderson conducts Horace Henderson and his Orchestra': a very talented man, always in the shadow of his older and more famous brother. Led his own bands early '35, '37-40; US Army service; accompanied Lena Horne; arranged and played on six tracks for Capitol '45, four under Big Sid Catlett's name and two for Al Casey, all recorded at one session '45 and reissued '97 by Mosaic in its 12-CD limited-edition box of Classic Capital Jazz Sessions. He led his own band again '45-9; small groups from '49.

He worked in Chicago c'1950, recorded for Decca; led band on Catalina Island '60s; settled in Colorado, conducted the band at the Broadmore Hotel, Colorado Springs; took part in History of American Music project for Smithsonian Institution; lived in Denver, still playing organ in clubs there c'1980. Also wrote 'Love For Scale', 'Rug Cutter's Swing', 'Kitty On Toast', 'Comin' And Goin'', 'Jamaica Shout', etc.