Michael Henderson

Michael Henderson built a notable career spanning both bass performance and vocal work. Early in the 1960s he relocated from Yazoo City, Mississippi, to Detroit, where he established himself as a session musician. At age thirteen he supplied bass lines for the Fantastic Four, Detroit Emeralds, Billy Preston, and additional Motown artists during 1964 and 1965. Subsequent road work took him alongside Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin, after which he became a member of Miles Davis’s band for seven years of recording and touring.

An introduction to drummer and producer Norman Connors prompted Henderson to offer several original compositions. Connors included “Valentine Love” on the Saturday Night Special album, pairing Henderson vocally with Jean Carne; the track marked Henderson’s first appearance as a singer and climbed to number ten on the R&B chart. He also penned “We Both Need Each Other” and “You Are My Starship” for the same project, the latter reaching number four.

Those recordings secured Henderson a solo contract with Buddah in 1976. Three years later he scored his initial Top Ten R&B single, “Take Me I’m Yours.” He remained with the label through 1983, achieving his strongest showing in 1980 when “Wide Receiver” also peaked at number four. A move to EMI followed in 1986.

Henderson contributed the duet “Can’t We Fall in Love Again” to Phyllis Hyman’s album, shared vocal sessions with Bobby Womack and Johnnie Taylor, and produced the Dramatics. He further played a role in launching Cherrelle, who lived next door to him during the late 1970s; she provided background vocals and toured with him for four years. Henderson died in Dallas, Georgia, on July 19, 2022, at age seventy-one after treatment for cancer.