Noted for his smooth transitions and being one of the first to recognize the talent of Louis Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson worked for W. C. Handy's company in New York in 1920 after being refused work in his chosen field (chemistry) because he was black. After working with many artists, most notably Ethel Waters, he formed his own groups where he frequently played piano and conducted while acting as arranger. He is generally credited with heavily influencing the style known as "big band," acting as arranger for the Benny Goodman Orchestra. He suffered a stroke in 1950.