1. John Carl Hendricks, known professionally as Jon Hendricks, was an American jazz lyricist and singer.
27 Facts About Jon Hendricks
1. 2.
Jon Hendricks is one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and replaces many instruments with vocalists, such as the big-band arrangements of Duke Ellington and Count Basie.
3.
The house was often full of visiting jazz musicians, for whom Jon Hendricks's mother provided meals.
4.
Jon Hendricks began his singing career at the age of seven.
5.
Jon Hendricks received his early musical training from piano prodigy Art Tatum, and the two of them began appearing together around town.
6.
Jon Hendricks continued performing around Toledo and Detroit until he was drafted into the US Army.
7.
Jon Hendricks met his first wife Colleen "Connie" Moore in Toledo.
8.
One night in 1950, Jon Hendricks got up and scatted at a Charlie Parker gig in Toledo.
9.
Jon Hendricks moved his family there two years later and resumed his singing career.
10.
Jon Hendricks typically wrote lyrics not just to melodies but to entire instrumental solos, a notable example being his take on Ben Webster's tenor saxophone solo on Duke Ellington's original recording of "Cotton Tail", as featured on the album Lambert, Jon Hendricks and Ross Sing Ellington.
11.
In 1966 Jon Hendricks recorded "Fire in the City" with the Warlocks, who shortly after changed their name to the Grateful Dead.
12.
Jon Hendricks wrote lyrics for several Thelonious Monk songs, including "In Walked Bud", which he performed on Monk's 1968 album Underground.
13.
In 1961, Columbia Records released an LP of the production and Jon Hendricks later presented the show at the On Broadway Theater in San Francisco, where it ran for five years, and at the Westwood Playhouse in Los Angeles, where it was produced by attorneys Burton Marks and Mark Green.
14.
Jon Hendricks's album Tell Me the Truth was produced by Ben Sidran.
15.
Jon Hendricks collaborated with old friends The Manhattan Transfer for their seminal 1985 album, Vocalese, which won seven Grammy Awards.
16.
Jon Hendricks served on the Kennedy Center Honors committee under presidents Carter, Reagan, and Clinton.
17.
In 2000 Jon Hendricks returned to his home town to teach at the University of Toledo, where he was appointed Distinguished Professor of Jazz Studies and received an honorary Doctorate of the Performing Arts.
18.
Jon Hendricks was selected to be the first American jazz artist to lecture at the Sorbonne in Paris.
19.
Jon Hendricks wrote lyrics to some classical pieces including "On the Trail" from Ferde Grofe's Grand Canyon Suite.
20.
Jon Hendricks worked on setting words to and arranging Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto as well as on two books, teaching and touring with his Vocalstra.
21.
Jon Hendricks wrote lyrics to Gershwin's Piano Prelude No 1 for the a cappella ensemble Pieces of 8's 2004 album Across the Blue Meridian.
22.
Jon Hendricks appeared in cameo roles in the films People I Know and White Men Can't Jump.
23.
In 2012, Jon Hendricks appeared in the documentary film No One But Me, discussing his former bandmate and friend, Annie Ross.
24.
In 2015, Jon Hendricks lost his second wife Judith to a brain tumor.
25.
Jon Hendricks appeared on three tracks from the 2016 release of the JC Hopkins Biggish Band titled "Meet Me at Minton's".
26.
Jon Hendricks died on November 22,2017, in Manhattan, New York City, aged 96.
27.
Jon Hendricks was recognized with an NEA Jazz Master award in 1993, multiple Grammy Awards, and in 2004, he was honored in France with the Legion of Honour.