Johnny Dodds

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Johnny Dodds
Born(1892-04-12)April 12, 1892
Dixieland
  • Jazz
    • Occupation(s)Musician
    Instrument(s)Clarinet, saxophone

    Johnny Dodds (

    Jazz Hall of Fame.[6] He has been described as "a prime architect in the creation of the Jazz Age."[5]

    Biography

    Dodds was born in

    Warren "Baby" Dodds.[2] He was known for his serious and reserved manner as well as his "funky blues playing," which earned him the nickname "toilet."[7]

    He moved to New Orleans in his youth and studied the clarinet with

    Hot Seven and Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers. He also recorded prolifically under his own name, Johnny Dodds' Black Bottom Stompers, between 1927 and 1929 for Paramount, Brunswick/Vocalion, and Victor. He became a big star on the Chicago jazz scene of the 1920s, but his career precipitously declined with the Great Depression.[13] Although his career gradually recovered,[5] he did not record for most of the 1930s, affected by ill-health; he recorded only two sessions—January 21, 1938, and June 5, 1940—both for Decca. On August 8, 1940, Dodds died of a stroke in his Chicago home[14] and was buried at Lincoln Cemetery
    in Blue Island, Illinois.

    Dodds' grave at Lincoln Cemetery

    Known for his professionalism and virtuosity as a musician and his heartfelt, heavily blues-laden style, Dodds was an important influence on later clarinetists, such as Benny Goodman,[15] who stated that no one ever surpassed Dodds in achieving a finer tone with the clarinet.[15] The tone was probably caused by the use of double embouchure (lower and upper lips over the mouthpiece) in combination with a very hard reed (a thin piece of wood resting against the mouthpiece) according to CDK Cook in the Syncophated Times May 10, 2020. Dodds was inducted into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1987.[6]

    Sibling rivalry

    Several accounts suggest the Dodds brothers did not always get along. When the brothers were young children, Johnny received a clarinet from his father while Baby did not get a drum even though he asked for one.[16] In The Baby Dodds Story, Baby Dodds discusses his jealousy of his older brother when they were children. As they grew up, Johnny refused to let Baby play music with him because Baby was a heavy drinker and Johnny did not drink. When Joe Oliver hired Baby to join his band and Johnny realized how much Baby's talent as a drummer had grown, Johnny changed his mind.[17] Although they continued to argue about Baby's excessive drinking, they grew closer as brothers and musicians. Baby was greatly affected by his brother's death.[18]

    Discography

    Releases featuring Johnny Dodds include the following.[6]

    • Johnny Dodds, Vol. 1, Riverside RLP-1015.
    • Johnny Dodds, Vol. 2, Riverside RLP-1002.
    • Johnny Dodds (1923), Best of Jazz 4014.
    • Chicago Mess Around, Milestone M-2011.
    • Johnny Dodds and Kid Ory, Columbia 16004.
    • Blue Clarinet Stomp, Bluebird 2293–2.
    • Sweet Side Chicago Jazz, MCA MCAD-42326
    • In the Alley, Riverside RLP-12135.
    • 1923–1940, Best of Jazz 4014.
    • Wild Man Blues: 24 Clarinet Classics, ASV/Living Era 5252.
    • Great Original Performances 1923–1929, Louisiana Red Hot 622.
    • Myth of New Orleans, Giants of Jazz 53077.
    • The Complete Johnny Dodds, RCA 741110/111.
    • King of New Orleans Clarinet (1926-1938) Brunswick BL-58016.
    • Sixteen Rare Recordings, RCA PV-558.
    • Johnny Dodds & Tiny Parkham, Paramount 261201.
    • Dixieland Jug Blowers, Victor 261211.
    • Johnny Dodds & Tiny Parkham, Paramount 270401.
    • Johnny Dodds Trio, Vocalion 270421.
    • Dodds Black Bottom Stompers, Vocalion 270422.
    • Dodds Black Bottom Stompers, Vocalion 271008.
    • Johnny Dodds Trio, Victor 280705.
    • Johnny Dodds' Washboard Band, Victor 280796.
    • Johnny Dodds' Orchestra, Victor 290116.
    • Johnny Dodds' Orchestra, Victor 290130.
    • Johnny Dodds' Orchestra, Victor 290207.
    • Johnny Dodds' Trio, Victor 290207.
    • Johnny Dodds' Orchestra, Victor 290207.
    • Johnny Dodds' Chicago Boys, Decca 380121.
    • Johnny Dodds' Orchestra, Decca 400605.

    References

    1. ^ Some sources cite Alabama or Louisiana.
    2. ^ a b c Lambert 1961, p. 3.
    3. ^ a b c d e Dicaire 2003, p. 39.
    4. ^ Lambert 1961, p. 27.
    5. ^ a b c Dicaire 2003, p. 40.
    6. ^ a b c Dicaire 2003, p. 42.
    7. ISBN 978-0-393-06582-4
      .
    8. ^ Lambert 1961, p. 4.
    9. ^ Lambert 1961, p. 5.
    10. ^ Lambert 1961, p. 6.
    11. ISBN 978-0-393-06582-4
      .
    12. ^ Lambert 1961, p. 9.
    13. ^ Dicaire 2003, pp. 39–40.
    14. ^ Spencer, Frederick J. (2002). Jazz and Death: Medical Profiles of Jazz Greats. University Press of Mississippi.
    15. ^ a b Lambert 1961, p. 16.
    16. ^ "Warren 'Baby' Dodds". The Percussive Arts Society. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
    17. ^ Dodds & Gara 1992, pp. 33–34.
    18. ^ Dodds & Gara 1992, p. 68.

    Bibliography

    External links

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