Haywood Henry: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Eddie Harris
• Dud Bascomb
• Lloyd Trotman
• James Brown/The JB's
• Joe Newman
• Ernie Hayes
• Mickey Baker

Born:

Jan 10, 1913 in Birmingham, AL

Died:

Sep 15, 1994 in New York, NY [The Bronx]

Genres:

Classical Music, Jazz Music, Jazz Music, East Coast Blues Music, Swing

Decades Active:

1940's|1950's|1960's|1970's|1980's|1990's

An unsung player, Haywood Henry was one of the finest baritonesaxophonists of the swing era; so good in fact that he occasionally substituted for Harry Carney with Duke Ellington's Orchestra. Henry started on clarinet (which he continued using as a double throughout his career) and tenor before focusing on the baritone. Henry played with the 'Bama Street Collegians in 1930 when he was attending Alabama State Teachers College, freelanced a bit and then officially joined the group in 1934 after coming to New York; they would soon be known as the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra. Henry was a fixture with Hawkins from 1934 into the early 1950's, taking occasional solos. In his postHawkins years, Henry played with Tiny Grimes, recorded with Julian Dash (1951), was with the Fletcher Henderson Reunion Band of 195758 and was busy recording over 1000 rock and roll records over a tenyear period (often with Mickey Baker), appearing anonymously on many hit records. Henry also worked with Wilbur DeParis in the early 1960's and later gigged with Max Kaminsky, Snub Mosley, Louis Metcalf, Earl Hines (196971), Broadway shows (including +Ain't Misbehavin'). Sy Oliver's Orchestra (197280) and the New York Jazz Repertory Company. Henry recorded with an Erskine Hawkins reunion group (1971) and was active into the late 1980's. As a leader, Haywood Henry recorded an album apiece for Davis (1957), Strand (early 1960's) and a definitive outing for Uptown (1983).

- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide