After graduation, Henderson moved to
New York City with the intention of attending
Columbia University for a master's degree in chemistry. However, there is no evidence that he actually enrolled. He did land a part-time job as a lab assistant in a downtown
Manhattan chemistry firm, but this only lasted a year. In New York City, Henderson shared an apartment with a pianist who worked as a musician in a
riverboat orchestra. When his roommate was too sick to perform, Henderson substituted, and this soon led to a job as a full-time replacement. In late 1920, he found work as a song demonstrator with the Pace and Handy Music Co. Henderson toured with the Black Swan Troubadours featuring
Ethel Waters from October 1921 to July 1922. After hearing cornetist
Louis Armstrong (then around 20 years old) in
New Orleans while on tour in April 1922, Henderson sent him an offer, but Armstrong refused because Henderson would not hire
Zutty Singleton as well. Henderson's activities up to the end of 1923 were mainly recording dates for Black Swan and other labels. is sitting on the floor to the extreme left with
Louis Armstrong above him to the right.
Don Redman is at the extreme right. In July 1924, the band began a brief engagement at the
Roseland Ballroom. Although only meant to stay for a few months, Armstrong played in the band for only a year, Henderson's band boasted the formidable arranging talents of Don Redman. Henderson developed his arranging skills from 1931 to the mid-1930s. During the 1930s, he recorded for Columbia,
Crown (as "Connie's Inn Orchestra"),
ARC (
Melotone, Perfect, Oriole, Vocalion),
Bluebird,
Victor, and
Decca. Starting in the early 1920s, he recorded popular hits and jazz tunes. In 1924, he and his band recorded 80 sides. His version of the pop tune "I Can't Get the One I Want", recorded about June 19, 1924, was issued on at least 23 labels. In addition to Armstrong, lead trumpeters included
Henry "Red" Allen,
Joe Smith,
Rex Stewart,
Tommy Ladnier,
Doc Cheatham and
Roy Eldridge. Lead saxophonists included
Coleman Hawkins,
Buster Bailey,
Benny Carter and
Chu Berry.
Sun Ra also worked as an arranger during the 1940s, during Henderson's engagement at the
Club DeLisa in Chicago. Other jazz musicians who also played with Henderson included trumpeter
Cootie Williams and trombonist
Benny Morton.
Benny Goodman In 1935, Goodman's Orchestra was selected as a house band for the
NBC radio program ''
Let's Dance''. Since Goodman needed new charts every week for the show, his brother-in-law John Hammond suggested that he purchase some from Henderson. The singer
Helen Ward also stated that Henderson was delighted to hear the Goodman Orchestra realize his creations with such impeccable musicianship. In 1939, Henderson disbanded his band and joined Goodman's, He died in New York City in 1952, 11 days after his 55th birthday. Henderson created a band that was capable of playing dance music and complex arrangements.
Louis Metcalf said: "The sight of Fletcher Henderson's men playing behind music stands brought on a learning-to-read-music kick in Harlem which hadn't cared before it. There were two years of real concentration. Everybody greeted you with 'How's studying? A museum was established in Henderson's memory in his native Cuthbert, Georgia. ==Discography==