Representative Albums: "His Complete Vee-Jay Recordings, Vol. 1," "Bill Henderson/Oscar Peterson Trio," "Complete Vee Jay Recordings, Vol. 2"
Representative Songs: "I've Got a Crush on You," "A Sleepin' Bee," "Royal Garden Blues"
Biography
Bill Henderson sings blues, ballads, and swing tunes in the tradition of Joe Williams and Ernie Andrews, but with his own personality. He started singing professionally in 1952, performed in Chicago with Ramsey Lewis, moved to New York, and started recording as a leader in 1958. He had a hit with "Senor Blues" (recorded with Horace Silver), and Jimmy Smith's trio backed Henderson on one date. During his period on Vee-Jay (1959-1961), his sidemen included Ramsey Lewis, Booker Little, Yusef Lateef, and Eddie Harris and, in 1963, Henderson was featured on a full album (for MGM) accompanied by the Oscar Peterson Trio. Although he made one further record in 1965 (for Verve) and was with Count Basie during 1965-1966, Bill Henderson never really received the fame that his talents deserved. He settled in Los Angeles, worked as an actor, and occasionally led a group containing both pianist Dave MacKay and pianist/vocalist Joyce Collins. Henderson (who recorded a couple of albums for Discovery in the 1970s, but very little since) performs regularly in the Los Angeles area and remains in prime form. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Career Highlights: Bye Bye Blues, Smiling Fish & Goat On Fire
First Major Screen Credit: Bye Bye Blues (1989)
Biography
African-American actor Bill Henderson may not be the same Bill Henderson listed in the British Attack on the Iron Coast (1968), but he definitely did appear in Mother, Jugs and Speed (1976), Inside Moves (1980) and Smart Alec (1986). Those who have catalogued the many failed TV series of Tim Conway will recall Henderson as Mello, blind nightclub pianist in 1983's Ace Crawford Private Eye. At least Ace Crawford made it to the airwaves; 1987's Kingpins, a comedy set in a bowling alley which featured Henderson in a supporting role, never got past the pilot stage. Bill Henderson's most prominent recent screen performance was as one of several "dude" participants of a cattle drive (he's the father in the father-son team) in the 1991 Billy Crystal comedy City Slickers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
