Jon Hendricks

Jon Hendricks (1921–2017) was an acclaimed American jazz vocalist, lyricist, and composer, widely regarded as the “Father of Vocalese” — a distinctive style of jazz singing in which lyrics are written to existing instrumental solos. Renowned for his inventive wordplay, impeccable rhythm, and dynamic stage presence, Hendricks transformed vocal jazz into an expressive and intellectual art form. Over a career spanning more than seven decades, he contributed immensely to the global recognition of jazz as both a literary and musical tradition.

Early Life and Education

Jon Hendricks was born John Carl Hendricks on September 16, 1921, in Newark, Ohio, United States, one of 17 children in a family led by his father, the Reverend Alexander Hendricks, a pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Growing up in a religious and musically inclined household, he began singing in church choirs from the age of seven.
When his family moved to Toledo, Ohio, Hendricks met Art Tatum, the legendary jazz pianist who also hailed from the city. Tatum recognised his talent and became an early mentor, encouraging him to pursue music seriously.
Hendricks initially enrolled at The University of Toledo to study law, but his plans were disrupted by World War II, during which he served in the U.S. Army. After the war, he returned to music, immersing himself in the jazz scene that was flourishing across America in the late 1940s and 1950s.

Musical Beginnings and the Rise of Vocalese

In the post-war years, Hendricks began performing professionally, developing a unique approach to singing jazz. Drawing inspiration from the instrumental improvisations of artists like Charlie Parker and Lester Young, he pioneered vocalese, a technique in which singers apply words to instrumental jazz solos while maintaining the phrasing and rhythmic complexity of the original performance.
While Eddie Jefferson had earlier experimented with the form, Hendricks perfected and popularised it, imbuing it with lyrical wit, literary depth, and narrative structure.
His breakthrough came in the mid-1950s when he formed the vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross with Dave Lambert and Annie Ross. The group’s debut album, Sing a Song of Basie (1957), revolutionised jazz singing. They recreated the big-band arrangements of Count Basie using only their voices, layering harmonies and vocal instruments to produce an orchestral sound.
The album was a critical and commercial success, earning a Grammy Award and establishing the trio as innovators of modern vocal jazz.

Career Highlights and Collaborations

Following the success of Sing a Song of Basie, the trio released a series of influential albums, including:

• The Swingers! (1958)
• The Hottest New Group in Jazz (1959)
• High Flying (1961)*

Their repertoire featured Hendricks’s intricate and often humorous lyrics, which transformed complex instrumental solos into articulate stories about urban life, romance, and human eccentricities.
Hendricks’s writing was admired for its linguistic agility and rhythmic precision, capturing the spontaneity of bebop and swing with literary sophistication.
After Annie Ross left the group in 1962, Hendricks continued performing and recording under various configurations, including with Yolande Bavan and The Manhattan Transfer, a vocal group heavily influenced by his work.
As a lyricist and performer, Hendricks collaborated with some of the greatest names in jazz, including:

• Duke Ellington
• Count Basie
• Miles Davis
• Thelonious Monk
• Art Blakey
• Al Jarreau
• Manhattan Transfer

His lyrics for Thelonious Monk’s compositions, such as In Walked Bud and Rhythm-a-Ning, demonstrated his ability to translate intricate musical ideas into poetic and humorous text.

Artistic Style and Innovation

Jon Hendricks’s artistry was characterised by inventive vocal phrasing, rapid-fire scatting, and a deep understanding of jazz rhythm and harmony. He often treated his voice as a musical instrument, blending linguistic playfulness with improvisational fluency.
His approach to vocalese set a new standard for jazz lyricism, combining intellectual craftsmanship with emotional immediacy. Hendricks’s lyrics often told vivid stories — sometimes witty, sometimes philosophical — but always grounded in the pulse of jazz.
He was also a master performer whose stage charisma and sense of timing made his concerts engaging theatrical experiences. His ability to connect with audiences across linguistic and cultural boundaries contributed significantly to the international appeal of jazz.

Teaching and Later Career

In addition to performing, Jon Hendricks was a dedicated teacher and advocate for jazz education. He taught jazz studies at the University of Toledo and Stanford University, inspiring a new generation of singers and musicians to explore improvisation and vocal expression.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Hendricks continued to perform globally, often leading projects that revisited and reinterpreted his earlier work. His critically acclaimed album Freddie Freeloader (1990) and the vocal jazz cantata Evolution of the Blues Song showcased his versatility as both composer and storyteller.
He also collaborated with ensembles such as The New York Voices and Manhattan Transfer, keeping the tradition of vocalese alive in contemporary jazz.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his illustrious career, Jon Hendricks received numerous awards and honours, including:

• Grammy Award for Best Vocal Group (with Lambert, Hendricks & Ross).
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master Award (1993) — the highest honour in American jazz.
• American Jazz Masters Fellowship for his lifelong contribution to the art form.
• ASCAP Jazz Living Legend Award (2002).
• Induction into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame (2003).

Critics often ranked him among the greatest jazz lyricists and vocalists of all time, noting his profound influence on singers like Bobby McFerrin, Kurt Elling, and Al Jarreau.

Personal Life and Character

Hendricks married Judith Hendricks, with whom he had five children. He was known for his warmth, intellect, and humour — qualities reflected in his lyrics and performances. Despite the challenges of racial discrimination faced by many African-American musicians of his generation, he remained an advocate of cultural understanding and artistic freedom.
He lived much of his later life in Toledo, Ohio, continuing to write, perform, and mentor young artists well into his nineties.

Death and Legacy

Jon Hendricks passed away on November 22, 2017, in New York City at the age of 96. His death marked the end of an era in jazz vocalism, but his legacy continues to resonate deeply within the music world.
He is remembered as the artist who gave language to jazz, turning instrumental brilliance into poetic song. Through his wit, precision, and innovation, Hendricks redefined the role of the voice in jazz — not as an embellishment, but as a fully realised instrument of expression.

Influence

Jon Hendricks’s influence extends far beyond his recordings. He elevated jazz singing into a form of literary art, inspiring generations of performers to experiment with rhythm, storytelling, and improvisation. His legacy lives on through the continued popularity of vocalese, the enduring recordings of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, and the countless musicians who draw upon his pioneering vision.