Fletcher Henderson was very important to early jazz as leader of the first great jazz big band, as an arranger and composer in the 1930s, and as a masterful talent scout. Between 1923-1939, quite an all-star cast of top young black jazz musicians passed through his orchestra, including trumpeters Louis Armstrong, Joe Smith, Tommy Ladnier, Rex Stewart, Bobby Stark, Cootie Williams, Red Allen, and Roy Eldridge; trombonists Charlie Green, Benny Morton, Jimmy Harrison, Sandy Williams, J.C. Higginbottham, and Dickie Wells; clarinetist Buster Bailey; tenors Coleman Hawkins (1924-1934), Ben Webster, Lester Young (whose brief stint was not recorded), and Chu Berry; altoists Benny Carter, Russell Procope, and Hilton Jefferson; bassists John Kirby and Israel Crosby; drummers Kaiser Marshall, Walter Johnson, and Sid Catlett; guest pianist Fats Waller; and such arrangers as Don Redman, Benny Carter, Edgar Sampson, and Fletcher's younger brother Horace Henderson. And yet, at the height of the swing era, Henderson's band was little-known.
Fletcher Henderson had a degree in chemistry and mathematics, but when he came to New York in 1920 with hopes of becoming a chemist, the only job he could find (due to the racism of the times) was as a song demonstrator with the Pace-Handy music company. Harry Pace soon founded the Black Swan label, and Henderson, a versatile but fairly basic pianist, became an important contributor behind the scenes, organizing bands and backing blues vocalists. Although he started recording as a leader in 1921, it was not until January 1924 that he put together his first permanent big band. Using Don Redman's innovative arrangements, he was soon at the top of his field. His early recordings (Henderson made many records during 1923-1924) tend to be both futuristic and awkward, with strong musicianship but staccato phrasing. However, after Louis Armstrong joined up in late 1924 and Don Redman started contributing more swinging arrangements, the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra had no close competitors artistically until the rise of Duke Ellington in 1927. By then, Henderson's band (after a period at the Club Alabam) was playing regularly at the Roseland Ballroom but, due to the bandleader being a very indifferent businessman, the all-star outfit recorded relatively little during its peak (1927-1930).
With the departure of Redman in 1927, and the end of interim periods when Benny Carter and Horace Henderson wrote the bulk of the arrangements, Fletcher himself developed into a top arranger by the early '30s. However, the Depression took its toll on the band, and the increased competition from other orchestras (along with some bad business decisions and the loss of Coleman Hawkins) resulted in Henderson breaking up the big band in early 1935. Starting in 1934, he began contributing versions of his better arrangements to Benny Goodman's new orchestra (including "King Porter Stomp," "Sometimes I'm Happy," and "Down South Camp Meeting"), and ironically Goodman's recordings were huge hits at a time when Fletcher Henderson's name was not known to the general public. In 1936, he put together a new orchestra and immediately had a hit in "Christopher Columbus," but after three years he had to disband again in 1939. Henderson worked as a staff arranger for Goodman and even played in B.G.'s Sextet for a few months (although his skills on the piano never did develop much). He struggled through the 1940s, leading occasional bands (including one in the mid-'40s that utilized some arrangements by the young Sun Ra). In 1950, Henderson had a fine sextet with Lucky Thompson, but later that year collapsed on the street aparently from a stroke. The incapacitation ended his career and led to his death in 1952. Virtually all of Fletcher Henderson's recordings as a leader (and many are quite exciting) are currently available on the Classics label and in more piecemeal fashion domestically.
Dinah
Fletcher Henderson Lyrics
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Gave me Dinah;
I'm the proudest one
Beneath the Dixie sun.
News is spreadin'
'Bout our weddin';
I hear church bells ringin',
Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!
Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!
But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean liner,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
Dinah,
Is there anyone finer
In the state of Carolina?
If there is and you know her,
Show her!
Dinah,
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
How I love to sit and gaze in
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Yet, every night,
My, how I shake with fright,
Because my Dinah might,
Change her mind about me!
But if Dinah,
Ever wandered to China,
I would hop an ocean!,
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
The lyrics of 'Dinah' by Fletcher Henderson follows the story of a man madly in love with a woman named Dinah. The song begins with the man expressing his gratitude to the state of Carolina for giving him Dinah, the woman he loves. As news spreads of their upcoming wedding, the man sings of his pride at being engaged to the most beautiful woman in Carolina. He sings of his excitement as he hears the church bells ringing and how his heart is filled with joy at the thought of spending the rest of his life with Dinah.
As the song progresses, the man sings of his love for Dinah and how he cannot stop gazing into her beautiful Dixie eyes. He confesses that every night he is filled with fear that Dinah might change her mind about him. Despite his fears, he declares that if Dinah ever leaves him to go to China, he would do anything to be with her again.
Overall, the song 'Dinah' by Fletcher Henderson is a timeless classic that celebrates the power of love and devotion. It is a beautiful tribute to the joy and happiness that comes with being in love with the person of your dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Carolina
The state of Carolina, in the southern United States.
Gave me Dinah;
I was given Dinah in Carolina; likely referring to meeting or marrying Dinah while in the state.
I'm the proudest one
I am extremely proud of having Dinah as my partner.
Beneath the Dixie sun.
In the Southern United States, where the sun shines bright, much like my happiness with Dinah.
News is spreadin'
People are talking about our relationship.
'Bout our weddin';
Specifically, they are talking about our wedding.
I hear church bells ringin',
I hear the bells of a church ringing, likely to celebrate our wedding.
Here's the song my heart keeps singin':
This is the song that expresses my feelings of love and happiness for Dinah.
Dinah,
Direct address to Dinah.
Is there anyone finer
Expressing how Dinah is incredibly beautiful and amazing.
In the state of Carolina?
Asking if anyone can match Dinah's qualities in the state of Carolina.
If there is and you know her,
Asking for someone to let me know if they find someone who matches or exceeds Dinah's qualities.
Show her!
Encouraging someone to introduce me to this hypothetical match to Dinah.
With her Dixie eyes blazin',
Describing Dinah's passionate and intense eyes, which are common in this region of the United States.
How I love to sit and gaze in
Expressing how much I enjoy staring intently into Dinah's eyes.
To the eyes of Dinah Lee!
Specifically admiring Dinah and showing her affection by mentioning her full name.
Yet, every night,
Despite how happy I am with Dinah, I worry about losing her.
My, how I shake with fright,
I become very scared with the thought of losing Dinah.
Because my Dinah might,
Expressing how I fear that Dinah may consider leaving me.
Change her mind about me!
Worrying about Dinah no longer wanting to be with me.
But if Dinah,
If Dinah were to leave or go elsewhere.
Ever wandered to China,
Using a far-off and unlikely location to express the distance that Dinah could go.
I would hop an ocean liner,
Expressing that I would do anything to be with Dinah, even travel across an entire ocean.
Just to be with Dinah Lee!
Reaffirming how much I love and care for Dinah and how far I would go to be with her.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Akst, Samuel M. Lewis, Joseph Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bob boscarato
Heinz I've never heard this version before. Thanks for uploading it.
cjgaddy
The HAWK blowing some Bass Sax! B. 11-21-2004, so 21yo here.