26 Facts About Herbert Hardesty

Herbert Hardesty was an American musician who played tenor saxophone and trumpet.

Herbert Hardesty is best known for his association with the New Orleans pianist Fats Domino and the producer Dave Bartholomew, beginning in 1948.

Herbert Hardesty released six 45-rpm records as Herb Hardesty between 1959 and 1962.

Herbert Hardesty began trumpet lessons in school at the age of six and used a trumpet given to his stepfather by Louis Armstrong.

Herbert Hardesty took lessons from Professor Valmore Victor and began playing in a local Works Progress Administration big band.

Herbert Hardesty enlisted in the military in 1941 even though he was two years below the minimum draft age.

At the United States Army Air Corps base in Jackson, Mississippi, he volunteered to play saxophone in the band, and his commanding officer purchased an alto saxophone, which Herbert Hardesty learned to play in two days.

Herbert Hardesty's Army training continued at Tuskegee, Alabama, and he was a radio technician in the 99th Flying Training Squadron, stationed in Morocco, Italy, and Germany, making him part of what is known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

Shortly after this Herbert Hardesty purchased a tenor saxophone and began taking lessons, and by 1948 formed a group, the Four Dukes, which performed at Club Desire in New Orleans; Herbert Hardesty played trumpet and tenor sax.

Herbert Hardesty met Dave Bartholomew in 1946, and by January 1949 Bartholomew asked Herbert Hardesty to go into the studio to record with Chubby Newsome for De Luxe Records, for the album New Orleans Lover Man.

Later in 1949, Herbert Hardesty toured for about six months with the singer Roy Brown.

In 1955, Bartholomew asked Herbert Hardesty to begin touring with Fats Domino.

The first time that Herbert Hardesty's name appeared on a single was with the Canadian vocal quartet the Diamonds, "Don't Let Me Down", which was recorded on March 4,1958, and released the following month as Mercury 71291.

In 1959, Herbert Hardesty recorded four tracks in New York City with Hank Jones.

Herbert Hardesty recorded four more songs in October 1961, which were released in 1962 by Federal; two are not instrumentals and had vocals by the New Orleans guitarist Walter "Papoose" Nelson.

Herbert Hardesty co-wrote the title track of Fats Domino's 1964 album, Fats on Fire.

Herbert Hardesty continued to tour with Domino until 1971, when he moved to Las Vegas.

Herbert Hardesty became a member of the house band at the Hilton Hotel and backed vocalists including Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra.

Herbert Hardesty was a member of Waits's quartet in 1978 and 1979, touring in the United States, Europe and Australia.

Herbert Hardesty rejoined Domino from about 1980 until 2005 and can be heard on numerous live recordings released during these years.

Herbert Hardesty played tenor sax on Dr John's 1992 album Goin' Back to New Orleans.

Herbert Hardesty appeared at the Ascona Jazz Festival with the tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson.

Herbert Hardesty recorded with the pianist Mitch Woods for the albums Big Easy Boogie, released in 2006, and Gumbo Blues, released in 2010.

Herbert Hardesty died of cancer there on December 3,2016, at the age of 91.

For most of his career, Herbert Hardesty played a gold-plated Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone with an Otto Link mouthpiece.

Herbert Hardesty's trumpet was custom-made by Henri Selmer Paris, one of two made in France by a master craftsman; the other was owned by Louis Armstrong.