As the saying goes, everybody knows Johnny Hodges - at least in these learned circles - so I guess there's not much that needs to be said here. He was one of my all-time favourite musicians. He had perhaps the most beautiful tone in jazz, and perhaps the most immediately recognizable. He was perhaps Duke Ellington's most important player. Today he would have been 100.
And it makes me sad that I have the flu and can't be in Herräng to help celebrate him properly. Oh well. Here's to John Cornelius Hodges, a.k.a. Rabbit, a.k.a. Jeep. Cheers!
Happy Birthday Johnny Hodges!
Moderators: Mr Awesomer, JesseMiner, CafeSavoy
I played my tribute last night. Thanks for the reminder.
As anothe ranecdotal tale of how little dancers pay attention, I announced his 100th birthday before the song and noted that the next song featured him as a tribute; and then after the song I simply said "Happy Birthday, Johnny." A bunch of people looked puzzled and asked around, "Who's Johnny?!?" thinking it might be someone who had missed the weekly birthday dance an hour eariler. I had to re-announce it to clarify. And even then, I doubt half the room noticed any of it.
As anothe ranecdotal tale of how little dancers pay attention, I announced his 100th birthday before the song and noted that the next song featured him as a tribute; and then after the song I simply said "Happy Birthday, Johnny." A bunch of people looked puzzled and asked around, "Who's Johnny?!?" thinking it might be someone who had missed the weekly birthday dance an hour eariler. I had to re-announce it to clarify. And even then, I doubt half the room noticed any of it.