In 1923, Ellington, Hardwick, Snowden, trumpeter Arthur Whetsel, and drummer Sonny Greer had success as the Washingtonians in New York City. After a disagreement over money, Snowden was forced out of the band and Duke Ellington was elected as the new leader.
They were booked at a Times Square nightspot called the Kentucky Club for three years where they met Irving Mills, who produced and published Ellington's music.
He had a brief stint with Chick Webb (1929),[1] then led his own band at the Hot Feet Club, with Fats Waller leading the rhythm section (1930), led at Small's before rejoining Duke Ellington in the spring of 1932, following a brief stint with Elmer Snowden.
He played lead alto on most Ellington numbers from 1932 to 1946,[1] but he was rarely heard as a soloist because Johnny Hodges performed many of the alto solos. Exceptions are: "Black and Tan Fantasy", "In a Sentimental Mood" and "Sophisticated Lady". Hardwick, with his creamy tone, was almost always the lead alto in the reed section of the Ellington orchestra except in some situations where Ellington required the more cutting tone of Johnny Hodges' alto to set the tone of the ensemble. After Hardwick's departure (and replacement by Russell Procope) it soon became the norm for Johnny Hodges to take the ensemble lead as well as taking the lion's share of the solos on alto sax.
Hardwick remained with Ellington until May 1946,[1] when he left the band because of Ellington's dislike of Hardwick’s girlfriend. Hardwick became a freelance for a short time in the following year, and then retired from music.[1]
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