Henderson, Fletcher

In the 1930s, Fletcher Henderson (1897-1952) helped define the swing era sound with his own band's performances and big band arrangements he wrote for Benny Goodman. Born in Georgia, James Fletcher Henderson was the son of two educators. Growing up, his mother taught him to play the piano. Henderson did not intend to pursue a career in music, opting instead to study chemistry and math at Atlanta University. His career aspirations were limited by racism in 1920s New York, and Henderson found work demonstrating songs for a music publishing company. In 1921, he moved to Black Swan records, where he served as a session pianist.

With the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, Henderson became the leader of his own band. In 1924, the orchestra landed a regular gig at New York City's Roseland Ballroom, where they stayed for ten years. That same year, Henderson hired Louis Armstrong to join the group. After musical director Don Redman departed in 1927, Henderson soon stepped into arranging duty. He proved to be gifted in this area, creating pieces that would usher in swing music's reign of popularity. Despite the band's high profile members, Henderson's business struggled, and he ended up selling some of his arrangements to Benny Goodman, who was starting his own band. Henderson was then forced to see the white bandleader reach a stratospheric level of success—using Henderson's arrangements of songs like "King Porter Stomp," "Sometimes I'm Happy" and "Wrappin' It Up"—that had eluded him. Though Goodman was up front about Henderson's contributions to his band, it was still a bitter pill for Henderson to swallow. In 1939, he became a staff arranger for Goodman.

In the 1940s, Henderson tried his hand at bandleading once more, though he maintained an association with Goodman, while also sending arrangements to other bands. Henderson retired after having a stroke in 1950, and died in New York City on December 29, 1952, at the age of 55.

 

ESSENTIALLY ELLINGTON 2016: COMPLETE EIGHT ARRANGEMENT SET

Essentially Ellington 2016; Jazz at Lincoln Center Library

Arranged by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Fletcher Henderson, and Horace Henderson

Eight Jazz Big Band Arrangements (One With Vocal)

Jazz at Lincoln Center

JLC-EE-1000

$350.00

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ESSENTIALLY ELLINGTON 2016: COMPLETE EIGHT ARRANGEMENT SET [DOWNLOAD]

Essentially Ellington 2016; Jazz at Lincoln Center Library

Arranged by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Fletcher Henderson, and Horace Henderson

Eight Jazz Big Band Arrangements (One With Vocal)

Jazz at Lincoln Center

JLC-EE-1000DL

$350.00

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BOLERO

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Transcribed by Myles Collins

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Lush Life Music

LL-1322

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CHICAGO

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Edited by Rob DuBoff and Jeffrey Sultanof

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Jazz Lines Publications

JLP-8338

$65.00

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CHICAGO [DOWNLOAD]

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Edited by Rob DuBoff and Jeffrey Sultanof

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Jazz Lines Publications

JLP-8338DL

$65.00

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DOWN BY THE OLD MILL STREAM

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Transcribed by Myles Collins

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Lush Life Music

LL-1319

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DOWN SOUTH CAMP MEETING

Professional Editions; As Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson; Transcribed by Douglas Rust

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Hal Leonard

HL-7011003

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DOWN SOUTH CAMP MEETING

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Transcribed by Alan Glasscock

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Lush Life Music

LL-1288

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FASCINATING RHYTHM

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Prepared by Rob DuBoff, Jeffrey Sultanof, and Dylan Canterbury

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Jazz Lines Publications

JLP-7800

$65.00

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FASCINATING RHYTHM [DOWNLOAD]

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Prepared by Rob DuBoff, Jeffrey Sultanof, and Dylan Canterbury

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Jazz Lines Publications

JLP-7800DL

$65.00

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HENDERSON STOMP, THE

Recorded by Fletcher Henderson

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Transcribed by Dylan Canterbury, Edited by Rob DuBoff and Jeffrey Sultanof

Jazz Little Big Band Arrangement

Jazz Lines Publications

JLP-7902

$50.00

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HENDERSON STOMP, THE [DOWNLOAD]

Recorded by Fletcher Henderson

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Transcribed by Dylan Canterbury, Edited by Rob DuBoff and Jeffrey Sultanof

Jazz Little Big Band Arrangement

Jazz Lines Publications

JLP-7902DL

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KING PORTER STOMP

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Prepared for Publication by Rob DuBoff, Dylan Canterbury, and Jeffrey Sultanof

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Jazz Lines Publications

JLP-7799

$65.00

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KING PORTER STOMP [DOWNLOAD]

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Prepared for Publication by Rob DuBoff, Dylan Canterbury, and Jeffrey Sultanof

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Jazz Lines Publications

JLP-7799DL

$65.00

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MY MELANCHOLY BABY

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Transcribed and Adapted by Myles Collins

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Lush Life Music

LL-1125

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SOMEBODY STOLE MY GAL

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Transcribed by Myles Collins

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Lush Life Music

LL-1282

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SOUTH OF THE BORDER

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Transcribed by Myles Collins

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Lush Life Music

LL-1127

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STEALIN' APPLES

As Performed by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson; Transcribed and Adapted by Myles Collins

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Lush Life Music

LL-1401

$65.00

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SWINGIN' DOWN THE LANE

As Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Transcribed by Myles Collins

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Lush life Music

LL-1242

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TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE

Recorded With Benny Goodman With Helen Forrest

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson; Transcribed by Myles Collins

Jazz Big Band Arrangement With Vocal

Lush Life Music

LL-2098

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WHEN BUDDHA SMILES

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Transcribed by Myles Collins

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Lush Life Music

LL-1103

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WRAPPIN' IT UP

Recorded by Benny Goodman

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Transcribed by Myles Collins

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Lush Life Music

LL-1279

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WRAPPIN' IT UP

Recorded by the Benny Goodman Orchestra

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Transcribed by Mark Lopeman

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Jazz at Lincoln Center

JLC-5098

$50.00

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WRAPPIN' IT UP [DOWNLOAD]

Recorded by the Benny Goodman Orchestra

Arranged by Fletcher Henderson, Transcribed by Mark Lopeman

Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Jazz at Lincoln Center

JLC-5098DL

$50.00

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