John Coltrane Duke Ellington Johnny Williams Clark Terry Quentin Jackson Ray Brown Don Byas Raymond Fol Ben Webster Jimmy Woode Roy Eldridge Johnny Hodges Vic Dickenson Billy Strayhorn Sam Woodyard Cootie Williams Lawrence Brown Richie Powell Osie Johnson Wendell Marshall Flip Phillips Red Callender Joe Marshall Harry Carney Ray Nance Al McKibbon Sonny Greer Otto Hardwick Fred Guy Barney Bigard Hayes Alvis Harold Baker Al Sears Jimmy Hamilton Billy Taylor Sr. Emmett Berry J.C. Heard Jean Eldridge Al Hibbler Jimmy Blanton Louis Bellson Babe Clark Buddy Clark Call Cobbs Lloyd Trotman Rudy Williams Teddy Brannon Arthur Clarke Leroy Lovett Nelson Williams Barney Richmond Al Walker Leon LaFell Raymond Fal
After 23 years with Duke Ellington’s Orchestra, saxophonist Johnny Cornelius Hodges started his own band in March 1951. The band lasted until September 1955, when Johnny Hodges returned to his place as leader of the Duke’s reed section and participated in one of the many revivals of the history of the best big bands in the history of jazz.