Jon Hendricks(1921-2017)
- Actor
- Composer
- Writer
A Law student and part-time drummer in the early 1940s, Jon's life
changed when Charlie Parker heard him scat and urged him to dedicate himself
to singing. His career crystalized in the late 50s with the formation
of vocal jazz trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. Their first album, Sing
a Song of Basie, was a masterpiece of Vocalese (the technique of taking
an existing jazz piece or improvised solo and setting lyrics to it).
The first group to combine vocalese lyrics with tight independent vocal
harmonies, their 50s and 60s recordings have a style and groove still
unmatched. After the breakup of LH&R Jon went on with his solo act,
wrote for Broadway and continued to lyricise and arrange tunes for
himself and pop groups like the Manhattan Transfer (whose 1980s
Vocalese album is lyricised by and dedicated to him). Back on the
singing scene since the early 80s with a vocal quartet, Jon Hendricks
and Friends are still performing, and still hot. If Ella Fitzgerald is the
Queen of scat, Jon Hendricks is King.
