1897
Henderson comes from a middle-class, educated family; he attains a degree in maths and chemistry at Atlanta University, and in 1920 moves to New York in the hapless pursuit of a career as a chemist, although his colour is likely to hold him back.

1924-1930s
Henderson, a skilled musician as well as chemist, moves sideways and leads the band at the Club Alabam, thereafterat New York's Roseland. His soloists include Coleman Hawkins, Buster Bailey and, until 1925, Louis Armstrong. The band is tight and well drilled, and he has the ability to enlist capable musicians, but his hold on discipline is not so great, and one by one his top musicians are stolen from him. The music is of substance, but its popular rhythms ward off any accusation that it is in any sense academic, and his band rivals that of Ellington's. The arrangements, his own and those of Don Redman (until 1927 when he leaves to join McKinney's Cotton Pickers) and Benny Carter (who made some classic arrangements for Henderson in 1930-32), become more sophisticated, although Hawkins feels it has lost its spontaneity and leaves the band in 1934.

1921
After working as a song demonstrator for a publishing company, he becomes a recording manager for the black record label Black Swan, and within a few years has gained a reputation for his sensitive recording of blues singers like Bessie Smith. His administrative abilities are noted as well.

1928
Fletcher Henderson is involved in a car accident, and this dulls his energies and abilities to organise the band.

1940s
Henderson runs bands in New York and Chicago, but the workload is too great and, never a great pianist, he becomes better known as an arranger, especially for Benny Goodman.

1950-52
Henderson suffers a stroke in 1950; Benny Goodman promotes his name and raises funds with benefit concerts. Henderson dies in 1952.