John Hardee (December 20, 1918 – May 18, 1984) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist whose time in jazz's major leagues was brief but memorable.
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Trummy Young (left), John Hardee, and guitarist Tiny Grimes (right) |
Hardee was born in Corsicana, Texas into a musical family. His uncle Ashford played trombone on a few recordings by the Curtis Mosby band in the late twenties. John’s cousin, trumpet player Stanley Hardee, cut a few tracks with Eddie Fennel and Charles “Sugar Lou” Morgan’s orchestra in Dalls.
John Hardee first played piano but took up the sax at the age of 13. He began playing with various local bands, including Dan Carter’s which also featured Hot Lips page and Tyree Glenn for a while. When Hardee heard the first records of Cab Callaway, he was attracted by Chu Berry’s style. Hardee incorporated some of his ideas but nevertheless had his own style.
John Hardee first played piano but took up the sax at the age of 13. He began playing with various local bands, including Dan Carter’s which also featured Hot Lips page and Tyree Glenn for a while. When Hardee heard the first records of Cab Callaway, he was attracted by Chu Berry’s style. Hardee incorporated some of his ideas but nevertheless had his own style.
The thick-toned tenor played in a college orchestra and then went on tour with Don Albert’s band for some six months but returned to college which he finished in 1941. Hardee was stationed near New York during his service and had the chance to jam with local groups. After his discharge he settled in Harlem and played regularly with Tiny Grimes in 1946/47. 
At the time, the tenorist made a small number of unforgettable sessions, either under his own name or as a sideman including eight records for Blue Note; other songs have been released by Savoy and Spotlite. Hardee then formed his own quartet but found it difficult to find well-paid engagements. As a sideman he played
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with Clyde Bernhardt, Cousin Joe, Russell Procope, Earl Bostic, Billy Kyle, Helen Humes, Billy Taylor, and Lucky Millinder.
Together with his wife he decided to return to Texas in early 1950. Hardee worked as a director of a high school band but continued to play on weekends at clubs in Wichita Falls and Dallas. In 1955 he moved to Dallas where he taught at Oliver Wendell Holmes High School until his retirement in 1976.
In 1959, he played saxophone on Dallas R&B group The Nightcaps' LP Wine, Wine, Wine. He was credited as "John Hardtimes" but was not a member of the group.In 1975 he played at the Nice Jazz Festival in France and recorded an LP, "A Little Blue" for the French Black & Blue label on the 26th July 1975 in Antibes, but more or less quit playing after he returned to Texas. The great saxophonist died in Dallas, Texas, on May 18. 1984 (aged 65).
(Edited mainly from liner notes by Anatol Schenker for Classics).