Haywood Henry
Encyclopedia
Frank Haywood Henry was an American
jazz
baritone saxophonist
. He was a 1978 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama
, United States
, Henry began on clarinet
before choosing baritone as his primary instrument. He continued to play clarinet on occasion throughout his career. He was a member of the Bama State Collegians
in 1930, then returned to play with them again from 1934, including under Erskine Hawkins
. He played with Hawkins into the 1950s.
Following his time with Hawkins, Henry worked with Tiny Grimes
, Julian Dash
(1951), and the Fletcher Henderson
Reunion Band (1957-58), and occasionally stood in for Harry Carney
in the Duke Ellington
Orchestra. He also played on over 1,000 rock and roll
records in the 1950s and 1960s, many of them anonymously and often alongside Mickey Baker
. In the 1960s he played with Wilbur DeParis, Max Kaminsky
, Snub Mosley
, Louis Metcalf
, Earl Hines
(1969-71), Sy Oliver
(1972-80), and the New York Jazz Repertory Company. He also worked in the orchestras of Broadway
shows such as Ain't Misbehavin' in the 1970s. He participated in an Erskine Hawkins reunion ensemble in 1971, and performed well into the 1980s.
Henry recorded three album
s as a leader: one for Davis Records in 1957, one for Strand early in the 1960s, and the last for Uptown
in 1983.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
baritone saxophonist
Baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
. He was a 1978 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame was founded in 1978, and opened a museum on September 18, 1993, with a mission "to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America...
.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Henry began on clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
before choosing baritone as his primary instrument. He continued to play clarinet on occasion throughout his career. He was a member of the Bama State Collegians
Bama State Collegians
The Bama State Collegians is a student jazz orchestra made up of students at Alabama State University. This group, founded in the 1930s, has been directed by a number of notable musicians, including Tommy Stewart and Erskine Hawkins....
in 1930, then returned to play with them again from 1934, including under Erskine Hawkins
Erskine Hawkins
Erskine Ramsay Hawkins was an American trumpet player and big band leader from Birmingham, Alabama, dubbed "The 20th Century Gabriel". He is most remembered for composing the jazz standard "Tuxedo Junction" with saxophonist and arranger Bill Johnson...
. He played with Hawkins into the 1950s.
Following his time with Hawkins, Henry worked with Tiny Grimes
Tiny Grimes
Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes was an American jazz and R&B guitarist. He was a member of the Art Tatum Trio from 1943 to 1944, was a backing musician on recording sessions, and later led his own bands, including a recording session with Charlie Parker...
, Julian Dash
Julian Dash
Julian Dash was an American swing music jazz tenor saxophonist born in Charleston, South Carolina, probably better known for his work with Erskine Hawkins and Buck Clayton.-Discography:...
(1951), and the Fletcher Henderson
Fletcher Henderson
James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. His was one of the most prolific black orchestras and his influence was vast...
Reunion Band (1957-58), and occasionally stood in for Harry Carney
Harry Carney
Harry Howell Carney was an American swing baritone saxophonist, clarinetist, and bass clarinetist mainly known for his 45-year tenure in Duke Ellington's Orchestra. Carney started off as an alto player with Ellington, but soon switched to the baritone. His strong, steady saxophone often served as...
in the Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
Orchestra. He also played on over 1,000 rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
records in the 1950s and 1960s, many of them anonymously and often alongside Mickey Baker
Mickey Baker
Mickey Baker, also known as Mickey "Guitar" Baker is an American guitarist...
. In the 1960s he played with Wilbur DeParis, Max Kaminsky
Max Kaminsky (musician)
Max Kaminsky was a jazz trumpeter and bandleader of his own orchestra .-Biography:Kaminsky was born in Brockton, Massachusetts...
, Snub Mosley
Snub Mosley
Lawrence Leo "Snub" Mosley was an American jazz trombonist.-Biography:...
, Louis Metcalf
Louis Metcalf
Louis Metcalf was a jazz cornetist and trumpeter. He played for a short time with Duke Ellington for which he is best remembered....
, Earl Hines
Earl Hines
Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist. Hines was one of the most influential figures in the development of modern jazz piano and, according to one source, is "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".-Early...
(1969-71), Sy Oliver
Sy Oliver
Melvin "Sy" Oliver was a jazz arranger, trumpeter, composer, singer and bandleader...
(1972-80), and the New York Jazz Repertory Company. He also worked in the orchestras of Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
shows such as Ain't Misbehavin' in the 1970s. He participated in an Erskine Hawkins reunion ensemble in 1971, and performed well into the 1980s.
Henry recorded three album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s as a leader: one for Davis Records in 1957, one for Strand early in the 1960s, and the last for Uptown
Uptown Records
Uptown Records was an American record label, founded by Andre Harrell in 1986. It went on to become one of the most popular Hip-Hop and R&B labels of the late 1980's and early 1990s. Featured on the roster were such luminaries as Guy, Heavy D & The Boyz, Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, and Soul for Real...
in 1983.
External links
- Scott YanowScott YanowScott Yanow is an American jazz commentator, known for many contributions to the Allmusic website, for writing ten books on jazz and for reviewing jazz recordings for over 30 years.-Biography:...
, [ Haywood Henry] at Allmusic - Official website of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame