Fletcher Henderson

Biography

Legendary composer ("Down South Camp Meeting"), pianist, conductor, accompanist and arranger, educated at Atlanta University. He came to New York in 1920, was pianist with the W.C. Handy orchestra, and then joined Black Swan Records. He toured as accompanist to Ethel Waters, and led his own band in night clubs and theaters and made many records. His arranging duties included the orchestras of Isham Jones, the Dorsey Brothers, and Benny Goodman. He joined the Goodman band as pianist in 1939 and re-formed the orchestra in 1944, then began arranging in 1946. He composed the stage score for "The Jazz Train" (Bop City, New York), and also led the orchestra, and later his own sextet (from 1950). Joining ASCAP in 1948, his other popular-song and instrumental compositions include "Stampede", "It's Wearing Me Down", "No, Baby, No", "Wrapping It Up'', and "Bumble Bee Stomp".