1921-09-16 *On this date in 1921, Jon Hendricks was born. He is an African American singer and writer. From Newark, Ohio, as a youth sang with Art Tatum. He continued performing while a college student in Toledo, where he was advised by Charlie Parker to consider music as a career. He didnt invent vocalise, the literary art of writing lyrics to follow the musical path of a specific solo but he has long been its prime practitioner. Besides writing, he is a fine jazz singer. Whether singing lyrics or scat, he sings clearly, swings hard and is inventive. Hendricks moved to New York City in 1955, where he joined singer Dave Lambert to record a vocal for Woody Hermans Four Brothers. In 57 they formed a trio with Annie Ross during the recording of Sing A Song Of Basie. The trio lasted until 64, though Ross left the group for health reasons in 62 and was replaced by Yolande Bavan. Hendricks witty lyrics combined with the groups exuberance and swing made them a popular nightclub attraction. In 1960 Hendricks wrote and directed The Evolution Of The Blues Song for the Monterey Jazz Festival. After the trio broke up he continued performing with various other singers, and then immigrated to England in 68, basing himself there between tours of Europe and Africa. Returning to the States in 73, he settled in San Francisco, where he taught and wrote about jazz for the San Francisco Chronicle. After returning to San Francisco, Hendricks wrote about jazz for the San Francisco Chronicle, taught jazz and formed a group with his wife Judith, children Michelle and Eric and other singers (including for a time Bobby McFerrin) called the Hendricks Family that is active on a part-time basis up to the present time. Although he never recorded often enough, Hendricks did cut a classic album featuring McFerrin, George Benson, Al Jarreau and himself recreating all the solos in the original version of Freddie the Freeloader. He continues to perform often in the company of his wife and children, and rejoined Ross to tour and record in 99. In 2012, Hendricks appeared in the documentary film No One But Me discussion his singing partner Anne Ross. Reference: Jazz People by Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated, New York Copyright 1976 ISBN 0-8109-1152-3
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:12:40 +0000
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