Otto Hardwick

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Otto Hardwicke (May 31 1904 - August 5 1970) was a saxophone player. He got his start with Duke Ellington in 1919.

Biography

Otto Hardwicke, nicknamed Toby, started on string bass at the age of 14, then moved to C-melody sax and finally settled on alto saxophone. He joined Duke Ellington's first band in Washington, D. C. in 1919. Hardwicke also worked for Elmer Snowden at Murray's Casino.

In 1923, Ellington, Hardwick, banjoist Elmer Snowden, trumpeter Arthur Whetsel, and drummer Sonny Greer had success as the Washingtonians in New York. After a disagreement over money, Snowden was forced out of the band and Duke Ellington was elected as the new leader.

They were booked at at a Times Square nightspot called the Kentucky Club for three years where they met Irving Mills, who produced and published Ellington's music.

Otto Hardwicke occasionally doubled violin and string bass in the 1920s, but specialised on alto sax. He also played clarinet, baritone and soprano sax.

Hardwick eleft the Duke Ellington band in 1928 to visit Europe, where he played with Noble Sissle, Sidney Bechet and Nekka Shaw's Orchestra, and led his own orchestra before returning to New York in 1929.

He had a brief stint with Chick Webb (1929), then led own band at the Hot Feet Club, with Fats Waller leading the rhythm section (1930), led at Small's before rejoining Duke Ellington in the spring of 1932, following a brief stint with Elmer Snowden.

He played lead alto on several Ellington numbers from 1932 to 1946 but he was rarely heard as a soloist because Johnny Hodges got all of the alto solos.

He remained with Duke until May 1946.

He left the Ellington band in 1946 because of differences over of Hardwick’s girlfriend. Hardwick went on to freelance for a short time in the following year, and then retired from music.

According to author James Lincoln Collier in his biography of Duke Ellington, “In a Sentimental Mood,” “Sophisticated Lady,” and “Prelude to a Kiss,” are adaptations of Hardwick melodies.

External links

• http://www.basssax.com/ottohardwick.htm

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Last updated on Tuesday January 22, 2008 at 01:34:54 PST (GMT -0800)
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