Biography
Because “John Henry” is a very common name, there are multiple musicians and musical figures with this name, spanning different eras and genres. Available web sources point to at least one historically significant Welsh musician active in the late 19th–early 20th century, as well as several contemporary American artists and performers using the name “John Henry” in rock, jazz, and related styles.[1][2][8][9] None of these can be reliably matched to the specific Spotify profile you referenced (genres unknown, low popularity), so attributing a single, unified biography to “JOHN HENRY” as a Spotify artist would risk conflating several different people.
One clearly documented historical musician named John Henry (1859–1914) was a Welsh baritone singer, composer, and conductor born at Portmadoc (now Porthmadog), Caernarfonshire, Wales.[1] Raised in a musical family, he joined the Caernarvon Volunteers band and astonishingly became its conductor at around age thirteen.[1] By seventeen he was successfully competing as a baritone soloist, and at twenty‑one he entered the Royal College of Music in London, later establishing himself as a singing teacher in London and then Liverpool.[1] He composed popular Welsh songs such as “Teyrn y Dydd,” “Galwad y Tywysog,” “Cân y Bugail,” “Cenwch im yr hen Ganiadau,” and “Gwlad y Delyn,” along with part‑songs like “Nos Ystorm,” the cantata “Olga,” and the opera “Caradog.”[1] Henry also performed as a soloist in major choral‑orchestral works including “The Messiah,” “Elijah,” and “Samson,” and remained active in the musical life of Liverpool until his death there on 14 January 1914.[1]
Given the absence of clear linkage between this historical Welsh musician and the anonymous, low‑metadata Spotify profile, as well as the existence of several unrelated modern artists named John Henry, a precise, Spotify‑specific biographical narrative cannot be produced without guessing. The information provided below therefore focuses on the well‑documented Welsh musician John Henry (1859–1914) only, and does not claim to describe the Spotify artist you found unless that profile can be independently verified as referring to the same person.
Fun Facts
- John Henry was appointed conductor of the Caernarvon Volunteers band when he was only about thirteen years old, an unusually young age to lead an ensemble.[1]
- Before formal study in London, he was already an award‑winning baritone soloist in competitions by the time he was seventeen.[1]
- After studying at the Royal College of Music in London, he built a dual career as a performer and as a respected teacher of singing in both London and Liverpool.[1]
- He composed not only songs but also a cantata titled “Olga” and an opera titled “Caradog,” contributing to Welsh vocal and stage repertoire.[1]
Musical Connections
Discography
Top Tracks
- The Laws of Time (The Lost Chapters)
- The Laws of Time (The Laws of Time)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
JOHN HENRY has been played 2 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 8, 2025 | 15:45 | CANNED HEAT BLUESfrom BIG ROAD BLUES | Blues Eclecticw/ Andrew Grafe | |
| Nov 17, 2025 | 14:11 | AGAINST MY WILLfrom AND THIS IS FREE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CHICAGO'S LEGENDARY MAXW | Blues Eclecticw/ Andrew Grafe |