Johnny Dodds facts for kids

Johnny Dodds (born April 12, 1892 – died August 8, 1940) was an American jazz musician. He was famous for playing the clarinet and alto saxophone. Johnny Dodds lived in New Orleans and later in Chicago.

He is best known for his recordings with his own bands. He also played with famous musicians like Joe "King" Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Lovie Austin, and Louis Armstrong. Johnny Dodds was the older brother of Warren "Baby" Dodds, who was one of the first important jazz drummers. The brothers even played together in a band called the New Orleans Bootblacks in 1926. Johnny Dodds is a very important person in jazz history. Many people consider him the best clarinet player of his time. He was even added to the Jazz Hall of Fame after he passed away. People have called him a "prime architect" of the Jazz Age, meaning he helped create the sound of jazz music during that time.

Early Life and Music Career

Johnny Dodds was born in Waveland, Mississippi. Music was a big part of his family life. His father and uncle played the violin. His sister played a melodeon, which is like a small accordion. When he was a teenager, Johnny sang tenor in his family's music group.

Johnny moved to New Orleans when he was young. There, he learned to play the clarinet from teachers like Lorenzo Tio and Charlie McCurdy. He played with bands led by Frankie Duson, Kid Ory, and Joe "King" Oliver.

Johnny Dodds later moved to Chicago. He played with Oliver's Creole Jazz Band and made his first recordings with them in 1923. After Oliver's band broke up in 1924, Dodds became the main clarinet player and bandleader at a famous club called Kelly's Stables. He worked there regularly from 1924 to 1930.

He recorded with many small groups in Chicago. These included Louis Armstrong's famous Hot Five and Hot Seven bands. He also played with Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers. Johnny Dodds also made many recordings under his own name, with his band called Johnny Dodds' Black Bottom Stompers. These recordings were made between 1927 and 1929 for different record companies.

Johnny Dodds became a big star in the Chicago jazz scene during the 1920s. However, his career slowed down a lot during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people lost their jobs and money. He also had some health problems. Because of this, he didn't record much music for most of the 1930s. He only recorded two more times before he passed away. Johnny Dodds died from a heart attack in August 1940 in Chicago. He was buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Blue Island, Illinois.

His Influence on Jazz

Johnny Dodds was known for being a very professional and skilled musician. His playing style was full of feeling and had a strong blues sound. He had a big impact on other clarinet players who came after him.

One famous musician, Benny Goodman, said that no one could play the clarinet with a better sound than Dodds. Johnny Dodds was honored for his contributions to music. He was inducted into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1987.

Brothers in Music

Johnny Dodds and his younger brother, Baby Dodds, were both talented musicians. Baby Dodds was a drummer. When they were young, Johnny received a clarinet, but Baby didn't get a drum. This made Baby feel a little jealous of his older brother.

Later, when Joe Oliver hired Baby to join his band, Johnny saw how much Baby's drumming skills had grown. They started to work together more often. Even though they sometimes had disagreements, they grew closer as brothers and musicians. Baby Dodds was very sad when his brother Johnny passed away.

Images for kids

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  Dodds' grave at Lincoln Cemetery

See also

In Spanish: Johnny Dodds para niños