Ernie Henry

Ernie Henry (born Ernest Albert Henry, September 3, 1926 – December 29, 1957) was an American jazz saxophonist.

Henry played in the late 1940s with Tadd Dameron, Fats Navarro, Charlie Ventura, Max Roach, and was a key member of Dizzy Gillespie's big band. Between 1950 and 1951, Henry performed in the band of Illinois Jacquet while seeking freelance performance opportunities. After a few years in the shadows, he returned to play with Thelonious Monk (1956), Charles Mingus, Kenny Dorham, Kenny Drew, Wynton Kelly, Wilbur Ware, Art Taylor, Philly Joe Jones and Gillespie again (1956–57). He recorded three albums as a leader for the Riverside label shortly before his death at the end of 1957.

He died of a heroin overdose, aged 31.

Discography

 * Presenting Ernie Henry (Riverside, 1956)
 * Seven Standards and a Blues (Riverside, 1957)
 * Last Chorus (Riverside, 1957)
 * 2 Horns / 2 Rhythm (Riverside, 1957) with Kenny Dorham

As sideman
With Matthew Gee With Dizzy Gillespie With Thelonious Monk With James Moody With Fats Navarro
 * Jazz by Gee (Riverside, 1956)
 * The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (Bluebird, 1937–1949 [1995]
 * Gene Norman Presents Dizzy Gillespie in Concert (GNP Crescendo, 1948)
 * Dizzy in Greece (Verve, 1957)
 * Birks' Works (Verve, 1957)
 * Dizzy Gillespie at Newport (Verve, 1957)
 * Brilliant Corners (Riverside, 1957)
 * James Moody and his Modernists (Blue Note 1952)
 * Memorial Album (Blue Note 1951 later released on 12 inch LP in 1956 as The Fabulous Fats Navarro)
 * Memorial (Savoy 1955)