BILL HENDERSON WITH OSCAR PETERSON TRIO

Biography

Bill Henderson, born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1926, began performing as a singer and dancer at the age of four. After serving in the Army during World War II, he returned to Chicago and established himself in the local jazz scene, performing with the Ramsey Lewis Trio and gaining recognition for his rich, expressive voice. His big break came in 1958 when he recorded a vocal version of Horace Silver’s 'Señor Blues' for Blue Note Records, which became one of the label’s top-selling singles and cemented his reputation as a leading jazz vocalist.

Throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, Henderson recorded for Vee-Jay Records and collaborated with some of the most prominent names in jazz, including Oscar Peterson, with whom he recorded the acclaimed 1963 album 'Bill Henderson with the Oscar Peterson Trio.' This album, featuring Oscar Peterson (piano), Ray Brown (bass), and Ed Thigpen (drums), is considered a classic of vocal jazz. Henderson also worked with Art Blakey, Count Basie, and Jimmy Smith, and performed at major venues and festivals such as the Playboy Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, and Lincoln Center. In addition to his musical career, Henderson became a successful actor, appearing in numerous television shows and films while continuing to perform and record jazz into his later years.

Henderson’s musical style blended blues, ballads, and swing, drawing comparisons to Joe Williams and Ernie Andrews but always marked by his own distinctive personality and interpretive depth. His legacy endures through his influential recordings and his impact on generations of jazz vocalists, as well as his contributions to both music and acting.

Fun Facts

• Bill Henderson's recording of 'Señor Blues' remains one of Blue Note Records' biggest-selling singles.
• He was a regular performer at the Playboy Club and other major jazz venues, including the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center.
• Henderson had a parallel career as a character actor, appearing in films like 'City Slickers' and 'White Men Can't Jump' and TV shows such as 'Happy Days' and 'ER.'
• His 1963 album with the Oscar Peterson Trio is widely regarded as a vocal jazz classic and has been reissued multiple times.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Ramsey Lewis - Early collaborator and influence during Henderson's formative years in Chicago jazz clubs (Performances at Stelzer Lounge; 'Bill Henderson Sings' album) [1950s]
• Horace Silver - Provided Henderson with his breakout recording opportunity and stylistic influence (Single 'Señor Blues') [1957-1958]

Key Collaborators

• Oscar Peterson Trio (Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Ed Thigpen) - Recorded a landmark vocal jazz album together (Album 'Bill Henderson with the Oscar Peterson Trio') [1963]
• Count Basie Orchestra - Joined as a vocalist, performed and recorded live (Live in Concert with the Count Basie Band) [1965-1967]
• Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers - Toured Japan together (Live performances) [Early 1960s]
• Jimmy Smith - Recorded singles together for Blue Note ('Ain't No Use', 'Angel Eyes', 'Ain't That Love', 'Willow Weep for Me') [1958]
• Charlie Haden - Shared vocal duties on a Verve album (The Art of the Song) [1999]

Artists Influenced

• Joe Williams - Contemporaries; Henderson's style is often compared to Williams, influencing the tradition of jazz baritones (General influence on vocal jazz tradition) [1960s-1990s]
• Ernie Andrews - Shared stylistic lineage and mutual influence in jazz singing (General influence on jazz vocalists) [1960s-2000s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Blue And Sentimental (Oscar Peterson Plays Count Basie)
2. A Foggy Day (Oscar Peterson Plays The George Gershwin Song Book)
3. Cocktails For Two (Verve Jazz Masters 34: Coleman Hawkins)
4. Mumbles (Oscar Peterson's Finest Hour)
5. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning (Jazz 'Round Midnight)
6. Sunday (Ben Webster's Finest Hour)
7. John Hardy's Wife (Oscar Peterson Plays The Duke Ellington Song Book)
8. A Foggy Day (Cosmopolite: The Oscar Peterson Verve Sessions)
9. Love Is Here To Stay (Oscar Peterson Plays The George Gershwin Song Book)
10. When Your Lover Has Gone (Ben Webster Meets Oscar Peterson)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia