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Aleta Hodge: Bio & Author's Statement
Aleta Hodge was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the shadow of the Indiana Avenue
jazz corridor that spawned the careers of Freddie Hubbard, Wes Montgomery and
Slide Hampton, among many others. At Shortridge High School, she followed in the
footsteps of noted writers Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Dan Wakefield, and Harry Radliffe as a
correspondent for the Daily Echo, at that time the only daily high school publication
in the U.S. She continued her path toward becoming a writer at Stanford University,
authoring essays and papers.
Listening to her aunt's jazz record collection at the age of four, Aleta sang along to Ella
Fitzgerald and Harry Belafonte, and has since combined her passion for writing and jazz
in creating a book series on the life and music of Noble Sissle Sr., and on the historic
Indiana Avenue Jazz scene in Indianapolis. Aleta was a playwright for the 2023 production
of The Perfect Storm, presented at the Indianapolis' District Theatre. At Stanford University,
Aleta participated in the Stanford-Kyoto University student exchange program activities
and enjoyed Nigerian culture courses.
After her first book in the series, Indiana Avenue - Life and Musical Journey from 1915
to 2015, Aleta presented live shows, Indiana Avenue Jazz. Attendees of all ages
enjoyed the program and shared their curiosity about one musician in the book, Noble
Sissle, Sr., a native son of Indy. They asked, "How did a Black man achieve great fame
in the early 1900s?" "How did he overcome racism, discrimination, and racial injustice?"
Enjoy Noble Sissle, Sr.'s musical journey!
Books:
2024: The Robust Life and Music of Noble Sissle, Sr.
2018: Indiana Avenue – Life and Musical Journey from 1915 to 2015
Live Storyteller Presentations:
2024 IU Health Wellness Symposium, 100th Tribute to J. J. Johnson
2024 Eskenazi Health Music Program, 100th Tribute to J. J. Johnson
2023 Historian, PBS documentary, Wes Bound, 100th Tribute to Wes
Montgomery,
https://indianapublicmedi.org/wesmontgomery/
2023 Center for Performing Arts, Carmel, IN, Indiana Avenue Jazz™
Education:
· BS, Stanford University
· MBA, Indiana University Kelley School of Business
· Diversity Scholar, National Trust for Historic Preservation
· Certified Playwright, The District Theatre, Indianapolis