Home » Jazz Musicians » Jon Hendricks

Jon Hendricks

Jon Hendricks is an NEA Jazz Master

Jon Hendricks is not only one of the world's favorite jazz vocalists, but is widely considered to be the "Father of Vocalese", the greatest innovator of the art form. Vocalese is the art of setting lyrics to recorded jazz instrumental standards (such as the big band arrangements of Duke Ellington and Count Basie), then arranging voices to sing the parts of the instruments. Thus is created an entirely new form of the work, one that tells a lyrically interesting story while retaining the integrity of the music. Hendricks is the only person many jazz greats have allowed to lyricize their music, for no one writes hipper, wittier, or more touching words, while extracting from a tune the emotions intended by the composer, more sympathetically than Hendricks. For his work as a lyricist, jazz critic and historian Leonard Feather called him the "Poet Laureate of Jazz" while Time dubbed him the "James Joyce of Jive."

Born in 1921 in Newark, Ohio, young Jon and his fourteen siblings were moved many times, following their father's assignments as an A.M.E. pastor, before settling permanently in Toledo. As a teen Jon's first interest was in the drums, but before long he was singing on the radio regularly with another Toledo native, the extraordinary pianist Art Tatum.

After serving in the Army during WWII, Jon went home to attend University of Toledo as a Pre-law major, courtesy of the G.I. Bill. Just when he was about to enter the graduate law program, the G.I. benefits ran out, and he realized he'd have to chart a different course. Recalling that Charlie Parker had, at a stop in Toledo two years prior, encouraged him to come to New York and look him up, Hendricks moved there and began his singing career.

In 1957 he teamed with Dave Lambert and Annie Ross to form the legendary vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. With Jon as lyricist, the trio perfected the art of vocalese and took it around the world, earning them the designation of the "Number One Vocal Group in the World" for five years in a row from Melody Maker magazine. After six years the trio disbanded for solo careers, but not before leaving behind a catalog of legendary recordings, most of which have never gone out of print. Countless singers cite the work of LH&R as an influence, from the Manhattan Transfer to Al Jarreau to Bobby McFerrin.

Read more

Tags

2
Radio & Podcasts

The Color of Jazz: Part 1

Read "The Color of Jazz: Part 1" reviewed by Monk Rowe


Jazz is one of America's most original art forms. Its origins are well documented but controversy regarding ownership and race vs. skill persist. The opinions that matter most are offered by the practitioners. Jon Hendricks, Frank Foster, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, and Louie Bellson weigh in on the topic of jazz and race. ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Beginnings: Jon Hendricks, Sherrie Maricle, Dave Valentin and Ed Shaughnessy

Read "Beginnings: Jon Hendricks, Sherrie Maricle, Dave Valentin and Ed Shaughnessy" reviewed by Monk Rowe


It all starts somewhere, and often early on. Jazz Backstory begins with tales of childhood inspiration, moments that in retrospect, launched careers. Interviewees include Jon Hendricks. Sherrie Maricle, Dave Valentin and Ed Shaughnessy. ...

11
Building a Jazz Library

Jon Hendricks: An Essential Top Ten Albums

Read "Jon Hendricks: An Essential Top Ten Albums" reviewed by Peter Jones


Considering he reached the ripe old age of 37 before recording an album, Jon Hendricks' jazz legacy is remarkable. Although a singer, in his head he was more of an instrumentalist. When he improvised, he would imitate the tenor saxophone, the flute, the trombone, or the double-bass. His professional singing career lasted from 1932, when he was 11, to 2015 when, aged 94, he recorded some of his own lyrics to a collection of Thelonious Monk tunes (these recordings are ...

8
Book Review

This Is Bop: Jon Hendricks And The Art Of Vocal Jazz

Read "This Is Bop: Jon Hendricks And The Art Of Vocal Jazz" reviewed by Ian Patterson


This Is Bop: Jon Hendricks And The Art Of Vocal Jazz Peter Jones 263 Pages ISBN: 978 1 78179 874 4 Equinox Publishing 2020 Few are the jazz singers accorded the fanfare usually reserved for the music's great instrumentalists. Jon Hendricks was one, taking scat and vocalese to unprecedented heights. As author Peter Jones recounts—in what is the first biography of Hendricks—the singer's life was the stuff of movies. Born in poverty in ...

5
Radio & Podcasts

Downhearted Blues and Music in the Air

Read "Downhearted Blues and Music in the Air" reviewed by Mary Foster Conklin


Happy 90th birthday to alto saxophonist Vi Redd, who opens the broadcast, along with Downhearted Blues from fellow Libra Lovie Austin. In the third hour, some hurricane inspired music followed by tributes to John Coltrane, Jon Hendricks and Leonard Cohen with a reminder from Willie Nelson to stay “Young at Heart." Playlist Vi Redd “Lady Soul" from Lady Soul (Rhino Atlantic) 00:00 Catherine Russell “You've Got Me Under Your Thumb" from Bring It Back (Jazz Village) 04:50 ...

1,006
Profile

Jon Hendricks: Vocal Ease

Read "Jon Hendricks: Vocal Ease" reviewed by Greg Thomas


This article was first published at All About Jazz on April 18, 2008. Scat and vocalese master Jon Hendricks and his wife Judith have maintained a residence at Gateway Plaza in Battery Park City for a quarter century. Their high-rise apartment overlooks the Hudson River going north. From the living room window you see the Battery Park City promenade directly below and the New Jersey shoreline across the river. The view is so expansive that the petite size ...

127
Interview

Jon Hendricks: Still Creative, Still Outspoken

Read "Jon Hendricks: Still Creative, Still Outspoken" reviewed by Gregg Akkerman


Jon Hendricks is still swinging madly and looking forward to upcoming projects--not only in New York, but all over Europe. Having interviewed the creator of vocalese once before, he was the first name I thought of when considering the maiden edition of this Jazz on the 90th Floor column (the name comes from the lyric to Cole Porter's “Down in the Depths" by the way). When I realized Hendricks is 90 years old, the match was too much to resist. ...

Read more articles
1

Obituary

Jon Hendricks, George Avakian: RIP

Jon Hendricks, George Avakian: RIP

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

We can be thankful today that Jon Hendricks and George Avakian made so many important contributions to jazz during their long lives. Both died in New York yesterday. Hendricks was 96. Avakian was 98. Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert and Annie Ross formed the vocal group Lambert, Hendricks and Ross for their album Sing A Song Of Basie album in 1958. Expanding the possibilities of a craft that had been pioneered by Eddie Jefferson and King Pleasure, Hendricks married words to ...

1

Obituary

Jon Hendricks (1921-2017)

Jon Hendricks (1921-2017)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Jon Hendricks, a singer, songwriter and lyricist who pioneered vocalese—the art of crafting words to famed jazz solos—and was a co-founder of the vocal group Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, died November 22. He was 96. Jon died on the same day as producer George Avakian. I interviewed Jon in 2009 for JazzWax. Here is my complete interview with him: Jon Hendricks' pure sense of swing, poetic word-play and conversational vocalese remain unmatched. Truth be told, Jon' s splendid contribution to ...

1

Performance / Tour

Jazz Drama Program Honors Jon Hendricks & Cobi Narita On October 14 at the DiMenna Center in New York City

Jazz Drama Program Honors Jon Hendricks & Cobi Narita On October 14 at the DiMenna Center in  New York City

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Hosted by Good Morning America News Anchor Ron Claiborne Good Morning America news anchor and music fan Ron Claiborne will host a gala evening honoring vocalese original Jon Hendricks once dubbed the “James Joyce of Jazz" by Time magazine, and producer Cobi Narita who founded and led both the Universal Jazz Coalition and New York Women's Jazz Festival for several decades. The event takes place Wednesday, October 14, from 7-9pm at the DiMenna Center, 450 West 37th Street in midtown ...

1

Award / Grant

Louis Armstrong Center For Music & Medicine To Honor Jon Hendricks With 2012 What A Wonderful World Award On Sept 24

Louis Armstrong Center For Music & Medicine To Honor Jon Hendricks With 2012 What A Wonderful World Award On Sept 24

Source: Carol Rubiano

Four individuals of distinction –Jon Hendricks, Louis Harrison, MD, Ilene Harrison, RN, and Deena Harburg – are the recipients of the 2012 What A Wonderful World Award, announced Joanne Loewy, DA, MT-BC, LCAT, Director, The Louis Armstrong Center for Music & Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center. The honorees will be feted at a special cocktail reception to be held on Monday, September 24 at Beth Israel’s Phillips Ambulatory Care Center’s Nerken Family Atrium, 10 Union Square East in Manhattan. Dancer/choreographer ...

45

Website

Jazz on the 90th Floor Debuts at All About Jazz with Jon Hendricks Interview

Jazz on the 90th Floor Debuts at All About Jazz with Jon Hendricks Interview

Source: All About Jazz

A legend of vocal jazz and the creator of the vocalese style of putting words to classic jazz music, singer Jon Hendricks has always been unafraid to speak his mind, even when contradicting conventional thought. For the debut of his new AAJ column, Jazz on the 90th Floor, Dr. Gregg Akkerman speaks with the nonagenarian singer about vocalese interpretations of Miles Davis, singing slow ballads...and his thoughts on the authorship of one of jazz's most often-covered standards that will come ...

593

TV / Film

Jazz It Up! Episode 10, Season 2: Christian McBride Big Band, Eric Person Trio, Jon Hendricks, Robin D.G. Kelley, Vintage Oscar Peterson

Jazz It Up! Episode 10, Season 2: Christian McBride Big Band, Eric Person Trio, Jon Hendricks, Robin D.G. Kelley, Vintage Oscar Peterson

Source: Michael Ricci

One of the hardest working men in jazz, bassist Christian McBride, leads a big band at the Iridium in New York City for the last episode of season 2 of Jazz it Up! In the first of two feature songs, tenor saxophonist Todd Williams caresses a blues as McBride co-signs on bass and voice; during the second, McBride's uptempo composition “The Shade of the Cedar Tree," the big band lifts the groove high, as McBride relates details about his upcoming ...

253

TV / Film

Life of Jazz Great Jon Hendricks During WWII Subject of Documentary Making U.S. Debut at the Riverside Theatre

Life of Jazz Great Jon Hendricks During WWII Subject of Documentary Making U.S. Debut at the Riverside Theatre

Source: Michael Ricci

DOCUMENTARY DETAILING RACISM/DISCRIMINATION FACED BY WORLD RENOWNED JAZZ MUSICIAN JON HENDRICKS AS WWII SOLDIER TO MAKE U.S. DEBUT AT THE AFRICAN DIASPORA FILM FESTIVAL AT THE RIVERSIDE THEATRE

Currently 87, Hendricks to be on-hand Following Screening for Q&A with Audience

A documentary entitled Blues March: Soldier Jon Hendricks -- detailing the life of current jazz great Jon Hendricks during WWII -- will make its US debut at the African Diaspora Film Festival on Thursday, December 3, 8:30 p.m. at The ...

209

140

Interview

Interview: Jon Hendricks (Part 2)

Interview: Jon Hendricks (Part 2)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Jon Hendricks thinks like a saxophonist curled up in a bass drum. His sense of timing has always been rooted in his early skills on the snare and cymbals. His gift for wordplay comes from curiosity and a deep passion for literature. And his swing? Well, that's a New York thing--an early 1950s marinade of uncertain ingredients that includes interactions with showboats, corner hipsters, bop braggarts and nocturnal nihilists.

When I saw Jon at the ASCAP Wall of Fame Awards ...

111

Interview

Interview: Jon Hendricks (Part 1)

Interview: Jon Hendricks (Part 1)

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Jon Hendricks' pure sense of swing, poetic word-play and conversational vocalese remain unmatched. Truth be told, Jon' s splendid contribution to jazz has never been fully acknowledged or appreciated. Jon not only has written the words to dozens of songs based on famous jazz solos, he also has perfectly captured their infectious intent by singing every nuance of the original instrumentals. Which requires enormous skill, sensitivity and depth. If you wave off Jon's gifts as nothing more than a vocal ...

Photos

Music

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.