Fletcher Henderson and his Orchestra - I'll See You In My Dreams (1925) video free download

Fletcher Hamilton Henderson, Jr. (Dec.18, 1897 - Dec.28, 1952) was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. He was often known as "Smack" Henderson.

Fletcher Henderson was born in Cuthbert, Georgia. He attended Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated in 1920, where he was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter organization established for African Americans. After graduation, he moved to New York City to attend Columbia University for a master's degree in chemistry. However, he found his job prospects in chemistry to be very restricted due to his race, and turned to music for a living.

His band circa 1925 included Howard Scott, Coleman Hawkins (who started with Henderson in 1923 playing the low tuba parts on bass saxophone and quickly moved to tenor and a leading solo role), Louis Armstrong, Charlie Dixon, Kaiser Marshall, Buster Bailey, Elmer Chambers, Charlie Green, Ralph Escudero and Don Redman.

In 1922 he formed his own band, which was resident first at the Club Alabam then at the Roseland, and quickly became known as the best Afro-American band in New York. For a time his ideas of arrangement were heavily influenced by those of Paul Whiteman, but when Louis Armstrong joined his orchestra in 1924 Henderson realized there could be a much richer potential for jazz band orchestration. Henderson's band also boasted the formidable arranging talents of Don Redman (from 1922 to 1927). (It should be noted that Henderson actually did few, if any, arrangements in the 1920s; most of the best 'hot' sides were arranged by Don Redman or Benny Carter (after 1927). As an arranger, Henderson came into his own in the mid-1930s.

In 1925, along with fellow composer Henry Troy, he wrote "Gin House Blues", recorded by Bessie Smith and Nina Simone amongst others.

Fletcher Henderson and his Orchestra - I'll See You In My Dreams (1925)