Ernie Henry

{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}

{{Short description|American jazz saxophonist (1926–1957)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Ernie Henry

| image = Ernie Henry.jpg

| caption = Ernie Henry playing in Tadd Dameron's band

| birth_name =

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1926|09|03}}

| death_date = {{nowrap|{{Death date and age|1957|12|29|1926|09|03}}}}

| instrument = Saxophone

| genre = Jazz

| occupation = Musician

| years_active = 1948–1957

| label = Riverside

| website =

}}

Ernie Henry (born Ernest Albert Henry,{{cite book |last1=Accardi |first1=James |last2=Evensmo |first2=Jan |title=The Altosax of Ernest Albert Henry "Ernie" |date=2021 |publisher=JazzArcheology.com |pages=11 |url=http://www.jazzarcheology.com/artists/ernie_henry.pdf |access-date=27 June 2024}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Gribetz |first1=Sid |title=Jazz Profiles - Ernie Henry |url=https://www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr/story/jazz-profiles-ernie-henry |website=WKCR 89.9 FM |publisher=Columbia University |access-date=27 June 2024}} Between 1950 and 1951, Henry performed in the band of Illinois Jacquet while seeking freelance performance opportunities.{{cite web |last1=Keepnews |first1=Orrin |title=Ernie Henry – Presenting Ernie Henry (1957) |url=https://thejazztome.info/ernie-henry-presenting-ernie-henry/ |website=The Jazz Tome - Liner Notes, Reviews, and Ephemera |publisher=thejazztome.info |access-date=27 June 2024}} Henry later 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.{{cite book|title=The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-580-8|page=199}}

Henry died in his sleep, aged 31. A heroin overdose was alleged,{{cite news |last1=Schaal |first1=Hans-Jürgen |title=Ernie Henry - Unjustly Forgotten |url=https://www.fidelity-magazine.com/ernie-henry/ |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=Fidelity Magazine |issue=11 October |publisher=Fidelity Media |date=2023}} but it is known that he suffered from unusually high blood pressure{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Tony |title=Ernie Henry: The Last Sessions |url=https://www.jazzwise.com/review/ernie-henry-the-last-sessions |access-date=3 December 2024 |work=JazzWise |issue=May |publisher=MA Education & Music Ltd |date=2012}} and suffered ill health.