Jon Hendricks distinguished himself as a master of vocalese through his rare gift for fitting intelligible lyrics to even the most intricate jazz improvisations captured on record, a talent matched by his pivotal role in the celebrated vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. Raised in Toledo, Ohio, he first sang on local radio broadcasts. Following military service from 1942 to 1946, he pursued legal studies before turning fully to jazz. He initially performed on drums, then concentrated on writing lyrics and singing. In 1952 Louis Jordan recorded his composition “I Want You to Be My Baby.” His own recording debut came in 1957 with “Four Brothers” and “Cloudburst,” accompanied by the Dave Lambert Singers. He soon joined forces with Dave Lambert and Annie Ross to create their signature vocal ensemble, beginning with overdubbed recreations of Count Basie arrangements. The group, later known as Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, continued until 1964; after 1962 Yolande Bavan replaced Annie Ross. Widely regarded as unsurpassed among jazz vocal groups, they shaped subsequent ensembles including the Manhattan Transfer.
In 1960 Hendricks wrote and staged the production Evolution of the Blues for the Monterey Jazz Festival, reviving it repeatedly over the following two decades. He resided and performed in Europe from 1968 to 1973. Upon returning to San Francisco he contributed jazz criticism to The San Francisco Chronicle, instructed students in the idiom, and assembled the Hendricks Family, a vocal ensemble that included his wife Judith, their children Michelle and Eric, and, for a period, Bobby McFerrin; the unit appeared intermittently for many years. Although his discography remained relatively modest, he produced a notable Denon album on which he joined McFerrin, George Benson, and Al Jarreau to recreate every solo from the original recording of “Freddie the Freeloader.” Across his career he also led sessions for World Pacific, Columbia, Smash, Reprise, Arista, and Telarc. Jon Hendricks passed away in Manhattan on November 22, 2017, at the age of 96.
