Bobby Henderson (musician)

Bobby Henderson ( * April 16, 1910 in New York City; † December 9, 1969 ibid; actually Robert Bolden Henderson ) was an American jazz pianist and trumpeter of the swing. He accompanied Billie Holiday at the beginning of her career.

Life and work

Bobby Henderson began playing the piano at the age of nine, had as a teenager studied with Fats Waller and had early exposure to night clubs. A training as an accountant, he broke off to become a professional musician. He began his career in Washington, DC, then went with the orchestra of Joe Neville on tour. In New York he worked with Stanley Payne and clubs in the impresario Jerry Preston, the Pod 's and Jerry's. There he met the young Billie Holiday know who had their first performances as a singer there. Henderson accompanied her on the piano and was until 1934 with her betrothed .. He played in New York often done in clubs of 52nd Street as the onyx and the Famous Door.

During the Second World War he joined the trumpet and played in an Army band. After his release, he worked in a jazz club in Albany (NY ) under the name Jody Bolden or Jody Henderson. In 1957 he had through the agency of John Hammond made ​​an appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival and took in the same year for Hammonds series Jazz Showcase on the record label Vanguard Records solo album Handful of Keys - Bobby Henderson Plays Fats Waller and others on. In 1969, he took for Hammond still an album that was later published as A Home in the Clouds.

Teddy Wilson, with the Billie Holiday in 1933 made ​​their first recordings, Henderson praised as a truly excellent rhythm player.

Auswahldiskographie

• Bobby Henderson / Sir Charles Thompson / Ray Bryant - Key One Up ( Vanguard, 1954-58 )