John Hardee

John Hardee, Famous Door, NYC, ca. July 1947

John Hardee (December 20, 1918 in Corsicana, Texas – May 18, 1984 in Dallas, Texas) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Hardee toured with Don Albert in 1937-38 while he was still in college; he graduated in 1941. He directed a local Texas school band and served in the Army during World War II. In 1946 he played with Tiny Grimes and then recorded as a bandleader for Blue Note between 1946 and 1948, issuing eight releases. Later in the 1940s and early 1950s he played with Clyde Bernhardt, Cousin Joe, Russell Procope, Earl Bostic, Billy Kyle, Helen Humes, Billy Taylor, and Lucky Millinder. In the 1950s he essentially retired from music and became a schoolteacher. In 1959, he played sax on Dallas R&B group The Nightcaps' LP "Wine,Wine,Wine" (Vandan Records); he was credited as "John Hardtimes" but was not actually a member of the group.

References

• Scott Yanow, John Hardee at Allmusic