Hodes was born in Nikolaev, in the Russian Empire (now
Mykolaiv, Ukraine). He remained an educator and writer in jazz. He toured the UK in 1987, recording with drummer John Petters. In 1988, he visited Ireland to appear at the
Cork Jazz Festival with Petters and
Wild Bill Davison. A tour, the Legends of American Dixieland, followed in May 1989 with the same line-up. Other musicians he played and recorded with included
Louis Armstrong,
Wingy Manone,
Gene Krupa,
Muggsy Spanier,
Joe Marsala,
Mezz Mezzrow,
Sidney Bechet,
Kenny Davern,
Albert Nicholas,
Wild Bill Davison,
Barney Bigard, and
Vic Dickenson. In 1998, he was inducted into the
Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.
Ethan Iverson wrote an article on Hodes, "Selections from the Gutter", which includes a transcription of Hodes's first 78, "Ross Tavern Boogie". Hodes died in March 1993, in
Harvey, Illinois, at the age of 88. ==Quotation==