Johnny Dodds: Biography

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• Discography
• Biography
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• Barney Bigard
• Albert Nicholas
• Sidney Bechet
• Benny Goodman
• Jimmie Noone
• George Lewis
• Kenny Davern

• Kid Ory
• Lorenzo Tio
• Wilbur Sweatman

• Omer Simeon
• Frank Teschemacher
• Tommy Dorsey
• Johnny Mince
• Pee Wee Russell
• John Surman
• Clifford Hayes

• Frank Melrose
• L. Johnson
• Jimmy Blythe
• King Oliver
• Lil Armstrong
• Louis Armstrong
• Marty Bloom

Born:

Dec 31, 1969 in New Orleans, LA

Died:

Aug 8, 1940 in Chicago, IL

Genres:

Jazz Music, Classic Jazz Music

Decades Active:

1920's|1930's|1940's

Artistic Quality

High

Cultural Impact

High

Popularity

High

Ratings Guide

One of the alltime great clarinetists and arguably the most significant of the 1920s, Johnny Dodds (whose younger brother Baby Dodds was among the first important drummers) had a memorable tone in both the lower and upper registers, was a superb blues player, and held his own with Louis Armstrong (no mean feat) on his classic Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings. He did not start on clarinet until he was 17 but caught on fast, being mostly selftaught. Dodds was with Kid Ory's band during most of 19121919, played on riverboats with Fate Marable in 1917, and joined King Oliver in Chicago in 1921. During the next decade, he recorded with Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, and on his own heated sessions, often utilizing trumpeter Natty Dominique. He worked regularly at Kelly's Stables during 19241930. Although Dodds continued playing in Chicago during the 1930s, part of the time was spent running a cab company. The clarinetist led recording sessions in 1938 and 1940, but died just before the New Orleans revival movement began.

- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide