Jon Hendricks

Jon Hendricks

John Carl Hendricks (September 16, 1921 – November 22, 2017), known professionally as Jon Hendricks, was an American jazz lyricist and singer. He 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. He is considered one of the best practitioners of scat singing, which involves vocal jazz soloing. Jazz critic and historian Leonard Feather called him the "Poet Laureate of Jazz", while Time dubbed him the "James Joyce of Jive". Al Jarreau called him "pound-for-pound the best jazz singer on the planet—maybe that's ever been".

Birth and Death Data: Born September 16, 1921 (Newark), Died November 22, 2017 (Manhattan)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1955 - 1959

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, speaker

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Role
Decca	87939	5/12/1955	Cloudburst	Jon Hendricks	vocalist
Decca	87940	5/12/1955	Four brothers	Jon Hendricks	vocalist
Decca	87941	5/12/1955	Standing on the corner	Jon Hendricks	vocalist
Decca	89038	12/19/1955	Happy feet	Jon Hendricks	vocalist
Decca	89039	12/19/1955	Flyin' home	Jon Hendricks	vocalist
Decca	105626	9/12/1958	Manhattan	George Russell Orchestra	speaker
Decca	105627	11/24/1958	A helluva town	George Russell Orchestra	speaker
Decca	105628	11/24/1958	Manhattan-Rico	George Russell Orchestra	speaker
Decca	105629	3/24/1959	Big city blues	George Russell Orchestra	speaker
Decca	106127	3/24/1959	East side medley: Autumn in New York ; How about you	George Russell Orchestra	speaker

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hendricks, Jon," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/204422.

Hendricks, Jon. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/204422.

"Hendricks, Jon." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 November 2024.