Ernie Henry

Ernie Henry
Ernie Henry playing in Tadd Dameron's band
Ernie Henry playing in Tadd Dameron's band
Background information
Born(1926-09-03)September 3, 1926
DiedDecember 29, 1957(1957-12-29) (aged 31)
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentSaxophone
Years active1948–1957
LabelsRiverside

Ernie Henry (born Ernest Albert Henry,[1] September 3, 1926 – December 29, 1957) was an American jazz saxophonist.[2]

Henry played in the late 1940s with Tadd Dameron, Fats Navarro, Charlie Ventura, Max Roach,[2] and was a key member of Dizzy Gillespie's big band.[3] Between 1950 and 1951, Henry performed in the band of Illinois Jacquet while seeking freelance performance opportunities.[4] After a few years in the shadows, he returned to play with Thelonious Monk (1956), Charles Mingus, Kenny Dorham, Kenny Drew, Wynton Kelly, Wilbur Ware, Art Taylor, Philly Joe Jones and Gillespie again (1956–57). He recorded three albums as a leader for the Riverside label shortly before his death at the end of 1957.[2]

He died of a heroin overdose, aged 31.[5]

  1. ^ Accardi, James; Evensmo, Jan (2021). The Altosax of Ernest Albert Henry "Ernie" (PDF). JazzArcheology.com. p. 11. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 199. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  3. ^ Gribetz, Sid. "Jazz Profiles - Ernie Henry". WKCR 89.9 FM. Columbia University. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  4. ^ Keepnews, Orrin. "Ernie Henry – Presenting Ernie Henry (1957)". The Jazz Tome - Liner Notes, Reviews, and Ephemera. thejazztome.info. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  5. ^ Schaal, Hans-Jürgen (2023). "Ernie Henry - Unjustly Forgotten". Fidelity Magazine. No. 11 October. Fidelity Media. Retrieved June 27, 2024.