Joe HendersonR&B and gospel singer
Joe Henderson joined the 27 club on October 24, 1964. The cause of death is recorded as: Heart attack
Joe Henderson's interest in music began at an early age, influenced by his parents and older brother James T., who had a vast record collection. He listened to musicians like Lester Young, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, and Charlie Parker, as advised by local drummer John Jarette. Henderson started playing the saxophone under the tutelage of Herbert Murphy in high school and further developed his skills at Wayne State University under renowned teacher Larry Teal. By age 18, he was active on the Detroit jazz scene and studied music at Kentucky State College.
In 1960, Henderson joined the U.S. Army and spent two years stationed in various places, including Fort Benning and Paris, where he met Kenny Drew and Kenny Clarke. Upon his discharge in 1962, Henderson moved to New York and met trumpeter Kenny Dorham. He soon joined Horace Silver's band, providing a seminal solo on the jukebox hit "Song for My Father." After leaving Silver's band, Henderson resumed freelancing and co-led a big band with Dorham. His arrangements for the band went unrecorded until the release of Joe Henderson Big Band (Verve) in 1996.
From 1963 to 1968, Henderson appeared on nearly 30 albums for Blue Note, including five released under his name. His recordings ranged from relatively conservative hard-bop sessions like Page One (1963) to more explorative sessions such as Inner Urge and Mode for Joe (1966). He also played a prominent role in many landmark albums under other leaders for the label, including Horace Silver's Song for My Father, Herbie Hancock's The Prisoner, Lee Morgan's The Sidewinder, and others.
Joe Henderson is considered one of the great jazz tenor saxophonists, known for his virtuosic playing and distinctive sound. He influenced generations of musicians with his fusion of hard-bop, bebop, R&B, Latin, and avant-garde influences. His recordings with Blue Note remain essential listening in the jazz canon. Henderson continued to perform and record throughout the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, collaborating with artists like McCoy Tyner, Woody Shaw, and Freddie Hubbard. He passed away on June 30, 2001.