Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. (December 18, 1897 – December 28, 1952) was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. He was often known as "Smack" Henderson (apparently named due to his college baseball hitting skills).
Fletcher Henderson was born in Cuthbert, Georgia. His father, Fletcher H. Henderson Sr. (1857–1943), was the principal of the nearby Howard Normal Randolph School from 1880 until 1942.
Henderson attended Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated in 1920. After graduation, he moved to New York City to attend Columbia University for a master's degree in chemistry. However, he found his job prospects in chemistry to be very restricted due to his race, and turned to music for a living.
He was recording director for the fledgling Black Swan label from 1921–1923. Throughout the early and mid 1920s, Henderson provided solo piano accompanyment for many blues singers. In 1922 he formed his own band, which was resident first at the Club Alabam then at the Roseland Ballroom, and quickly became known as the best African-American band in New York. Even though he did not do band arrangements in the 1920s, for a time his ideas of arrangement were heavily influenced by those of Paul Whiteman, but when Louis Armstrong joined his orchestra in 1924 Henderson realized there could be a much richer potential for jazz band orchestration. Henderson's band also boasted the formidable arranging talents of Don Redman (from 1922 to 1927). During the 1920s and very early 1930s, Henderson actually wrote few, if any, arrangements; most of his recordings were arranged by Redman (c. 1923–1927) or Benny Carter (after 1927 – c. 1931). As an arranger, Henderson came into his own in the mid-1930s.
His band circa 1925 included Howard Scott, Coleman Hawkins (who started with Henderson in 1923 playing the low tuba parts on bass saxophone and quickly moved to tenor and a leading solo role), Louis Armstrong, Charlie Dixon, Kaiser Marshall, Buster Bailey, Elmer Chambers, Charlie Green, Ralph Escudero and Don Redman.
Henderson, along with Don Redman, established the formula for swing music. The two concocted the recipe every swing band played from (i.e., sections 'talking' to one another, 'hot' swing). Swing, its popularity spanning over a decade, was the most fashionable form of jazz ever in the United States.
Henderson was also responsible for bringing Louis Armstrong from Chicago to New York in October 1924, thus flipping the focal point of jazz in the history of the United States (although Armstrong left the band in November 1925 and returned to Chicago).
A museum is being established in his memory in Cuthbert, Georgia.
1921-23
01. Pretty Ways (2:57)
02. There Ain't No Nothin' (Gonna Take the Place of You) (3:14)
03. My Oriental Rose (3:03)
04. Baby Girl (2:49)
05. Unknown Blues (2:47)
06. Fancies (3:07)
07. Say It While Dancing (3:00)
08. Love Days (2:56)
09. Bamboo Isle (3:02)
10. Blue (3:14)
11. Chime Blues (3:33)
12. I Want To (3:25)
13. Farewell Blues (2:46)
14. Wet Yo' Thumb (3:14)
15. Down by the River (3:07)
16. Trot Along (2:55)
17. Beale Street Mama (3:13)
18. Don't Think You'll Be Missed (2:49)
19. Downhearted Blues (2:56)
20. Gulf Coast Blues (3:06)
21. When You Walked Out, Someone Else Walked Right In (3:19)
22. Gulf Coast Blues (3:20)
23. Midnight Blues (3:18)
1923
01. Papa Better Watch Your Step 06-25-23 (3:20)
02. My Sweetie Went Away 06-25-23 (2:54)
03. Gulf Coast Blues 06-28-23 (3:03)
04. Down Hearted Blues 06-28-23 (2:49)
05. Dicty Blues 08-09-23 (2:39)
06. Do Doodle Oom 08-09-23 (2:44)
07. Dicty Blues 09-13-23 (3:02)
08. Do Doodle Oom 09-13-23 (3:07)
09. Just Hot 10-05-23 (2:59)
10. Down South Blues 10-06-23 (3:06)
11. Dicty Blues 10- ? -23 (2:48)
12. Charleston Crazy 10- ? -23 (3:00)
13. Do Doodle Ooom 10- ? -23 (2:40)
14. West Indian Blues 10- ? -23 (2:58)
15. You've Got To Get Hot 10-23-23 (2:51)
16. Old Black Joe's Blues c.11-26-23 (3:05)
17. 31st Street Blues c.11-26-23 (3:09)
18. Shake Your Feet 11-27-23 (4:27)
19. Linger Awhile 11-27-23 (4:13)
20. Dixie Moon 04-24-23 (4:08)
21. My Papa Doesn't Two-Time No Time 04-24-23 (4:26)
1923-24
01. Charleston Crazy (2:46)
02. I'm Gonna See You (When Your Troubles Are Just Like Mine) (2:49)
03. Chattanooga (Down in Tennessee) (2:54)
04. Lonesome Journey Blues (2:39)
05. Bull Blues (2:32)
06. Old Black Joe's Blues (2:47)
07. Potomac River Blues (3:07)
08. Shake Your Feet (3:07)
09. Swanee River Blues (2:50)
10. It Won't Be Long Now (2:46)
11. Warhorse Mama (intro Triflin' Man) (3:02)
12. Oh! Sister, Ain't That Hot (3:03)
13. Steppin' Out (2:55)
14. Mamma's Gonna Slow You Down (2:58)
15. Old Black Joe's Blues (2) (3:01)
16. House Rent Ball (2:52)
17. Darktown Has A Gay White Way (2:46)
18. Mistreatin' Daddy (3:22)
19. Cotton Picker's Ball (2:57)
20. Lots O'Mama (3:01)
1924
01. Chicago Blues (2:50)
02. Why Put The Blame On You? (3:11)
03. Sud Bustin' Blues (3:08)
04. War Horse Mama (2:53)
05. Wish I Had You (And I'm Gonna Get You Blues) (3:10)
06. Just Blues (2:53)
07. I'm Crazy Over You (2:48)
08. I Wish I Could Make You Cry (3:23)
09. Say Say Sadie (3:03)
11. Feelin' The Way I Do (3:03)
12. Chattanooga (Down In Tennessee) (3:18)
13. Ghost Of The Blues (3:04)
14. Tea Pot Dome Blues (3:01)
15. Mobile Blues (3:09)
16. My Papa Doesn't Two-Time No Time (3:19)
17. Somebody Stole My Gal (3:02)
18. After The Storm (3:11)
19. Driftwood (3:12)
20. Feeling The Way I Do (3:08)
21. Red Hot Mama (3:06)
1924 vol. 2
01. I Don't Know And I Don't Care (3:01)
02. Strutter's Drag (3:04)
03. Do That Thing (3:07)
04. Those Broken Busted (Can't Be Trusted Blues) (3:09)
05. Oh! Eva (Ain't You Coming Out Tonight?) (2:58)
06. Jimminy Gee (3:10)
07. Jealous (3:08)
08. Wait'll You See My Gal (2:56)
09. I Can't Get The One I Want (3:14)
10. You Know Me, Alabam' (3:15)
11. Houston Blues (3:09)
12. Muscle Shoals Blues (3:23)
13. Hard Hearted Hannah (2:50)
14. Where The Dreamy Wabash Flows (3:10)
15. The Grass Is Always Greener (In The Other Fellow's Yard) (3:03)
16. Charley, My Boy (3:06)
17. The Gouge Of Armour Avenue (3:01)
18. Hard Hearted Hannah (3:04)
19. That's Georgia (3:08)
20. You'll Never Go To Heaven With Those Eyes (3:03)
21. A New Kind Of Man (With A New Kind Of Love For Me) (3:00)
22. The Meanest Kind O' Blues (3:13)
1924 vol.3
01. He's The Hottest Man In Town (3:00)
02. I Never Care 'Bout Tomorrow (2:55)
03. Forsaken Blues (3:10)
04. Cold Mamas (Burn Me Up) (3:08)
05. Manda (3:13)
06. Go 'Long, Mule (3:04)
07. Tell Me, Dreamy Eyes (3:09)
08. My Rose Marie (2:52)
09. Don't Forget You'll Regret Day By Day (3:15)
10. Shanghai Shuffle (3:21)
11. Words (2:55)
12. Copenhagen (2:55)
13. Shanghai Shuffle (2:47)
14. Naughty Man (3:15)
15. One Of These Days (2:59)
16. My Dream Man (2:54)
17. The Meanest Kind Of Blues (2:59)
18. Naughty Man (2:53)
19. How Come You Do Me Like You Do? (3:15)
20. Araby (3:00)
21. Everybody Loves My Baby (vocal) (3:08)
22. Everybody Loves My Baby (instr.) (3:07)
23. Naughty Man (2:42)
1924-25
01. Prince Of Wails (3:06)
02. Mandy Make Up Your Mind (3:04)
03. I'll See You In My Dreams (2:59)
04. Why Couldn't It Be Poor Little Me? (3:04)
05. Bye And Bye (2:59)
06. Play Me Slow (3:12)
07. Alabamy Bound (3:14)
08. Swanee Butterfly (3:16)
09. Poplar Street Blues (3:18)
10. 12th Street Blues (3:12)
11. Me Neenyah (My Little One) (3:08)
12. Memphins Bound (2:57)
13. When You Do What You Do (2:59)
14. I'll Take Her Back If She Wants To Come Back (3:05)
15. Money Blues (3:02)
16. Sugar Foots Stomp (2:53)
17. What-Cha-Call-'Em Blues (2:53)
18. I Miss My Swiss (2:58)
19. Alone At Last (3:06)
20. T.N.T. (2:51)
21. Carolina Stomp (3:12)
22. Sleepy Time Gal (3:03)
23. Then I'll Be Happy (3:00)
1925-26
01. Spanish Shawl (3:01)
02. Clap Hands! Here Comes Charley! (3:05)
03. Peaceful Valley (3:03)
04. Hay Foot, Straw Foot (2:53)
05. Nobody's Rose (3:00)
06. Pensacola (3:05)
07. Florida Stomp (2:59)
08. Get It Fixed (3:02)
09. Chinese Blues (3:14)
10. Panama (3:16)
11. Dinah (3:08)
12. I Want Somebody To Cheer Me Up (2:54)
13. I Want To See A Little More Of What I Saw In Arkansas (2:54)
14. Let Me Introduce You To My Rosie (3:04)
15. I Found A New Baby (3:13)
16. Nervous Charlie Stomp (3:11)
17. Black Horse Stomp (3:05)
18. Tampeekoe (2:59)
19. Hi-Diddle-Diddle (2:53)
20. Hard-To-Get Gertie (3:08)
21. Honeybunch (3:06)
22. When Spring Comes Peeping Through (3:11)
23. Dynamite (2:58)
1926-27
01. Jackass Blues (3:15)
02. Static Strut (3:06)
03. The Stampede (3:17)
04. Jackass Blues (3:12)
05. Off To Buffalo (2:51)
06. Brotherly Love (2:58)
07. Alabamy Stomp (3:11)
08. The Henderson Stomp (2:53)
09. The Chant (2:57)
10. Sweet Thing (3:12)
11. I Need Lovin' (3:13)
12. Clarinet Marmalade (2:50)
13. Hot Mustard (2:41)
14. Sweet Thing (3:07)
15. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home? (2:57)
16. Some Of These Days (3:00)
17. Have It Ready (2:48)
18. Ain't She Sweet? (2:57)
19. Snag It (3:11)
20. Rocky Mountain Blues (2:47)
21. Tozo! (2:57)
22. Stockholm Stomp (2:57)
23. Have It Ready (2:47)
1927
01. Shuffling Sadle (3:04)
02. Fidgety Feet (2:59)
03. Sensation (2:50)
04. Wabash Blues (3:02)
05. The Wang-Wang Blues (2:54)
06. St. Louis Shuffle (3:01)
07. Swamp BLues (2:59)
08. Off To Buffalo (2:55)
09. St. Louis Shuffle (2:53)
10. Variety Stomp (3:06)
11. P.D.Q. Blues (2:43)
12. Livery Stable Blues (2:51)
13. Whiteman Stomp (2:47)
14. I'm Coming Virginia (3:07)
15. Cornfed! (2:51)
16. Variety Stomp (3:05)
17. The St. Louis Blues (3:06)
18. Hop Off (3:21)
19. Rough House Blues (3:13)
20. Black Maria (2:51)
21. Goose Pimples (3:02)
22. Baltimore (3:06)
23. A Rythmic Dream (3:12)
24. Hop Off (2:55)
1927-31
01. Dear, On A Night Like This (2:48)
02. There's A Rickety Rackety Shack (By A Rickety Rockety Road) (3:12)
03. Sorry (3:08)
04. King Porter Stomp (2:54)
05. 'D' Natural Blues (3:26)
06. Oh, Baby! (2:48)
07. Feelin' Good (3:28)
08. I'm Feelin' Devilish (Oh By Golly Oh) (2:47)
09. Hop Off (2:47)
10. Old Black Joe's Blues (2:26)
11. Come On, Baby! (2:55)
12. Easy Money (3:06)
13. Freeze And Melt (3:07)
14. Raisin' The Roof (2:41)
15. Blazin' (2:57)
16. The Wang-Wang Blues (3:04)
17. Chinatown, My Chinatown (3:03)
18. Somebody Loves Me (3:03)
19. Keep A Song In Your Soul (3:21)
20. What Good Am I Without You? (3:20)
21. I've Found What I Wanted In You (3:21)
22. My Gal Sal (3:30)
23. My Pretty Girl (3:23)
1931
1. Sweet And Hot
2. Clarinet Marmalade
3. Sugar Foot Stomp
4. Hot And Anxious
5. Comin' And Going
6. After You've Gone
7. Stardust
8. TIger Rag
9. Somebody Stole My Gal
10. I'm Crazy About My Baby (And My Baby's Crazy 'Bout Me)
11. Sugar Foot Stomp
12. Just Blues
13. Singin' The Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home)
14. Sugar Foot Stomp
15. Roll On Mississippi, Roll On
16. Moan, Your Moaners
17. Singin' The Blues ('Till My Daddy Comes Home)
18. Low Down On The Bayou
19. The House Of David Blues
20. Radio Rhythm
21. You Rascal, You
22. Oh, It Looks Like Rain
23. Sweet Music
1931-32
01. My Sweet Tooth Says I Wanna (But My Wisdom Tooth Says No) (3:09)
02. Malinda's Weddin' Day (2:44)
03. You Rascal, You (3:10)
04. Blue Rhythm (2:52)
05. Sugar Foot Stomp (2:58)
06. Low Down On The Bayou (3:01)
07. 12th Street Rag (3:03)
08. Millenberg Joys (2:43)
09. Singin' The Blues (3:07)
10. It's The Darndest Thing (2:54)
11. Blues In My Heart (3:24)
12. Sugar (3:01)
13. Business In F (3:14)
14. Strangers (3:22)
15. Take Me Away From The River (3:20)
16. Say That You Were Teasing Me (2:48)
17. Take A Picture Of The Moon (3:03)
18. I Wanna Count Sheep (Till The Cows Come Home) (3:04)
19. Poor Old Joe (2:59)
20. Cosa Loma Stomp (3:14)
21. Blue Moments (2:52)
22. How Am I Doin', Hey Hey (3:13)
23. Goodbye Blues (3:02)
1932-34
01. Honeysuckle Rose (3:13)
02. New King Porter Stomp (3:08)
03. Underneath The Harlem Moon (3:15)
04. Yeah Man! (2:56)
05. King Porter's Stomp (2:57)
06. Queer Notions (2:50)
07. Can You Take It? (2:51)
08. Queer Notions (2:34)
09. It's The Talk Of The Town (3:34)
10. Night Life (3:27)
11. Nagasaki (3:28)
12. Hocus Pocus (3:19)
13. Phantom Fantasie (3:16)
14. Harlem Madness (3:31)
15. Tidal Wave (3:04)
16. Limehouse Blues (2:40)
17. Shanghai Shuffle (3:05)
18. Big John's Special (2:51)
19. Happy As The Day Is Long (2:48)
20. Tidal Wave (3:06)
21. Down South Camp Meetin' (2:59)
22. Wrappin' It Up (2:44)
23. Memphis Blues (2:34)
1934-37
01. Wild Party (3:04)
02. Rug Cutter's Swing (3:04)
03. Hotter Than 'Ell (2:53)
04. Liza (All The Clouds 'll Roll Away) (2:39)
05. Christopher Columbus (3:04)
06. Big Chief De Sota (3:02)
07. Blue Lou (3:09)
08. Stealin' Apples (3:01)
09. I'm A Fool For Loving You (2:41)
10. Moonrise On The Lowlands (2:46)
11. I'll Always Be In Love With You (3:04)
12. Jangled Nerves (2:38)
13. Where Theres You There's Me (2:29)
14. Do You Or Don't You Love Me? (3:04)
15. Grand Terrace Rhythm (2:44)
16. Riffin' (2:25)
17. Mary Had A Little Lamb (2:51)
18. Shoe Shine Boy (3:35)
19. Sing, Sing, Sing (2:35)
20. Until Today (2:34)
21. Knock, Knock Who's There? (2:59)
22. Jim Town Blues (2:46)
23. You Can Depend On Me (3:32)
24. What Will I Tell My Heart? (3:30)
1937-38
1. It's Wearin' Me Down (2:54)
2. Slumming On Park Avenue (2:30)
3. Rhythm Of The Tambourine (2:41)
4. Stampede (3:09)
5. Back In Your Own Backyard (2:34)
6. Rose Room (In Sunny Roseland) (3:01)
7. Great Caesar's Ghost (2:24)
8. If You Ever Should Leave (3:02)
9. Posin' (2:47)
10. All God's Chillun Got Rhythm (2:43)
11. Chris and His Gang (3:04)
12. Let 'Er Go (2:27)
13. Worried Over You (3:15)
14. What's Your Story (What's Your Jive) (2:37)
15. Trees (3:04)
16. If It's The Last Thing I Do (2:48)
17. Sing Your Sinners (2:44)
18. You're In Love With Love (3:07)
19. Stealin' Apples (3:03)
20. Don't Let The Rhythm Go To Your Head (2:31)
21. (I've Been) Saving Myself For You (2:52)
22. There's Rain In My Eyes (2:39)
23. What Do You Hear From The Mob In Scotland? (2:59)
24. It's The Litlle Things That Count (2:38)
25. Moten Stomp (2:44)
