18 Facts About Fletcher Henderson

1.

James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music.

FactSnippet No. 587,436
2.

Fletcher Henderson was one of the most prolific black musical arrangers and, along with Duke Ellington, is considered one of the most influential arrangers and bandleaders in jazz history.

FactSnippet No. 587,437
3.

Fletcher Henderson helped bridge the gap between the Dixieland and the swing eras.

FactSnippet No. 587,438
4.

Fletcher Henderson's home, now known as the Fletcher Henderson House, is a historic site.

FactSnippet No. 587,439
5.

Fletcher Henderson pursued the studies with his mother and further engaged himself in lessons on European art.

FactSnippet No. 587,440
6.

Fletcher Henderson attended Atlanta University and graduated in 1920 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics.

FactSnippet No. 587,441
7.

Fletcher Henderson did get a part-time job as a lab assistant in a downtown Manhattan chemistry firm, but this only lasted a year.

FactSnippet No. 587,442
8.

In New York City, Fletcher Henderson shared an apartment with a pianist who worked as a musician in a riverboat orchestra.

FactSnippet No. 587,443
9.

When his roommate was too sick to perform, Fletcher Henderson took his place, which soon gave him a job as a full-time replacement.

FactSnippet No. 587,444
10.

On October 13, 1924, history was made when Fletcher Henderson's band began their re-engagement at Roseland, with Armstrong now in the orchestra.

FactSnippet No. 587,445
11.

Besides playing at the Roseland, Fletcher Henderson played at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, playing until 3:30 in the morning.

FactSnippet No. 587,446
12.

Fletcher Henderson's said that John Hammond and Goodman bought Henderson's arrangements to support him, that Goodman always gave Henderson credit for the arrangements and said that he played them better than his own.

FactSnippet No. 587,447
13.

The singer Helen Ward stated that Fletcher Henderson was delighted to hear the Goodman Orchestra realize his creations with such impeccable musicianship.

FactSnippet No. 587,448
14.

In 1939, Fletcher Henderson disbanded his band and joined Goodman's, first as pianist and arranger and then working full-time as staff arranger.

FactSnippet No. 587,449
15.

Fletcher Henderson suffered a stroke in 1950, resulting in partial paralysis that ended his career as a pianist.

FactSnippet No. 587,450
16.

Fletcher Henderson died in New York City in 1952, 11 days after his 55th birthday.

FactSnippet No. 587,451
17.

Fletcher Henderson played a key role in bringing improvisatory jazz styles from New Orleans and other areas of the country to New York, where they merged with a dance-band tradition that relied heavily on arrangements written out in musical notation.

FactSnippet No. 587,452
18.

Louis Metcalf said: "The sight of Fletcher Henderson's men playing behind music stands brought on a learning-to-read-music kick in Harlem which hadn't cared before it.

FactSnippet No. 587,453