Mike Henderson
Mike Henderson | |
---|---|
Birth name | Michael James Henderson |
Born | (1953-07-14)July 14, 1953 Independence, Missouri, U.S. |
Died | (aged 70) |
Genres | Country, blues, bluegrass |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, mandolin, fiddle, harmonica |
Years active | 1981–2023 |
Labels | RCA Nashville, Dead Reckoning |
Formerly of | The SteelDrivers |
Website | www |
Michael James Henderson (July 14, 1953 – September 22, 2023)[1][2] was an American singer-songwriter. In addition to his solo career, which included five studio albums, Henderson was a member of the country band The SteelDrivers from 2005 to 2011 and was a songwriting collaborator of his former SteelDrivers bandmate Chris Stapleton.
Biography
Early life and career
Henderson was born in Independence, Missouri, in 1953.[3][4] He was an original member of blues group the Bel Airs when they formed in Missouri in 1981.[5][6] They released an album, Need Me a Car, on Blind Pig Records in 1984.[5][7] Henderson left the band in 1985 and moved to Nashville.[5][8] The following year, he joined the roots rock band The Roosters.[8] He was also a member of spin-off band The Kingsnakes.[8] The Kingsnakes began playing weekly at the Bluebird Cafe in July 1986.[9] They shortened their name to The Snakes when they were signed by Curb Records.[9] An album, The Snakes, was released by Curb in 1989.[10]
In 1988, The Fabulous Thunderbirds covered "Powerful Stuff", a song Henderson had written for The Snakes, for the soundtrack to the film Cocktail.[8][11] Henderson later became a staff songwriter for EMI.[7] His songs have been recorded by the Dixie Chicks, Trisha Yearwood, Gary Allan and Patty Loveless, among others.[12][13] Henderson also found work in Nashville as a slide guitarist.[14] He played on albums by Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, Joy Lynn White and Kelly Willis.[8][13]
Country Music Made Me Do It
Henderson's demos drew the attention of country music label RCA Nashville.[7] RCA signed Henderson and released his solo debut album, Country Music Made Me Do It, in March 1994.[15] Bob Cannon of Entertainment Weekly gave the album an A− grade, writing that Henderson's "enthusiastic field holler and his guitar's riveting twang give off enough sparks to ignite [the songs]."[16] Dan Kening of the Chicago Tribune gave the album three and a half stars, saying that "Henderson downplays his guitar chops on his first solo album in favor of his songwriting and strong vocals and acquits himself admirably."[17] The album also received a favorable review from Peter Cronin of Billboard, who declared that "Henderson comes to the party with plenty of attitude and a distinctive point of view."[18]
The album's first single, "Hillbilly Jitters", peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.[4] When subsequent singles "The Want To" and "If the Jukebox Took Teardrops" failed to chart, Henderson was dropped by the label.[19] "If the Jukebox Took Teardrops" was later a minor chart hit for Danni Leigh in 1998.[20]
Edge of Night
After being dropped by RCA, Henderson founded the label Dead Reckoning Records with Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch, Tammy Rogers and Harry Stinson.[19] His second album, Edge of Night, was released by Dead Reckoning in January 1996.[7][21] The video for the first single, a cover of Eddy Clearwater's "I Wouldn't Lay My Guitar Down", was added by CMT in February 1996.[22] Tony Scherman of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B+ grade, writing that Henderson is "a good songwriter, even if he wears his influences a little too plainly."[23] Parry Gettelman of the Orlando Sentinel gave the album five stars, stating that Henderson's "strong, slightly sandpapery voice is as soulful as it is twangy."[24] Chet Flippo of Billboard also reviewed the album favorably, saying that "Henderson manages to sound at once world-weary and exuberant in a solid lineup of original material and country chestnuts."[25]
First Blood
Later in 1996, Henderson formed the blues band Mike Henderson & the Bluebloods with Reese Wynans on piano, Glenn Worf on bass and John Gardner on drums.[7][14] They released the album First Blood in October 1996 on Dead Reckoning.[26][27] Mark Knopfler wrote the album's liner notes.[28] Alanna Nash of Entertainment Weekly gave the album an A grade, writing that "First Blood's blistering, seamless blues covers prove [Henderson]'s a remarkable guitarist and frontman."[29] A review in People stated that "when the combination of piano, bass, drums and electric guitar is as neck-snappingly strong as it is on the Bluebloods' first album, you don't need other instruments, original compositions or even many original ideas to deliver a knockout blow."[30] Linda Ray of No Depression also gave the album a positive review, praising Henderson's "masterful guitar and vocals" and saying that "the way he plays that slide is likely illegal in several states."[28] The song "Pay Bo Diddley" received some radio airplay.[14]
Thicker Than Water
Mike Henderson & the Bluebloods released their second album, Thicker Than Water, in January 1999 with John Barlow Jarvis replacing Reese Wynans on piano.[31] Becky Byrkit of AllMusic gave the album four stars out of five, writing that "Henderson contributes a particularly clear vocal style with plenty of simultaneous character from both the blues and true-blue country music."[31] The album received a mixed review in People, which praised Jarvis' "richly layered, hard-driving solos" but compared Henderson's vocals to "the white-guy-trying-to-sound-soulful desperation of Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi in their Blues Brothers mode."[32] Ed Kopp of All About Jazz gave the album a positive review, saying that "leader Mike Henderson is a highly capable slide guitarist, harpist, and singer, but the guy who makes this CD extra special is John Jarvis."[33] Tim Steil of the Chicago Tribune also gave the album a favorable review, stating that "whether playing Hound Dog Taylor-ish slide, or blowing harp lines that would make Little Walter smile, Henderson deftly conjures the sound of '50s Chicago."[34]
Later career
Henderson toured with Mark Knopfler on his 2001 Sailing to Philadelphia Tour.[8][12] In 2008, Henderson was one of the founding members of bluegrass group The SteelDrivers.[35] He played mandolin, resophonic guitar and harmonica and co-wrote most of the band's original songs.[36] The SteelDrivers' 2010 album Reckless was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2011.[37] Henderson left The SteelDrivers in December 2011.[38]
Adele performed Henderson's song "If It Hadn't Been for Love" for her 2011 DVD Live at the Royal Albert Hall.[12]
Henderson continued to play weekly shows at the Bluebird Cafe with the Mike Henderson Band.[9][12]
Death
Mike Henderson died unexpectedly in his sleep on September 22, 2023, at the age of 70.[1][2][39]
Discography
Albums
Title | Released | Label | |
---|---|---|---|
| 2:31 | ||
2. | "The Want To" |
| 3:08 |
3. | "Hillbilly Jitters" |
| 3:37 |
4. | "Prisoner's Tears" |
| 3:16 |
5. | "Wishful Thinkin'" |
| 3:15 |
6. | "Country Music Made Me Do It" |
| 2:58 |
7. | "The Restless Kind" | Mike Henderson | 3:23 |
8. | "That Train Don't Stop Here Anymore" |
| 2:57 |
9. | "That's How I Remember You" |
| 2:43 |
10. | "If the Jukebox Took Teardrops" |
| 2:19 |
Total length: | 30:07 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "I Wouldn't Lay My Guitar Down" | Eddy Clearwater | 2:28 |
2. | "Wherever You Are" |
| 3:45 |
3. | "Nobody's Fault But Mine" | Traditional | 2:39 |
4. | "The Edge of Night" |
| 4:19 |
5. | "One Foot in the Honky Tonk" |
| 3:03 |
6. | "This May Be the Last Time" | Roebuck "Pops" Staples | 3:58 |
7. | "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care" | 2:27 | |
8. | "Honky Tonk Vacation (Tribute to Waylon)" |
| 2:53 |
9. | "This Property Is Condemned" |
| 3:53 |
10. | "Take Me Back and Try Me" | Ernest Tubb | 2:20 |
11. | "Drivin' Nails in My Coffin" | Jerry Irby | 2:42 |
Total length: | 34:27 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "When I Get Drunk" | (unknown artist) | 5:56 |
2. | "So Sad to Be Lonesome" | Sonny Boy Williamson II | 4:19 |
3. | "Hip Shakin'" | Joseph Benjamin Hutto | 4:04 |
4. | "Pony Blues" | Charley Patton | 5:46 |
5. | "Bloody Murder" | Otis Spann | 5:04 |
6. | "Pay Bo Diddley" |
| 5:07 |
7. | "When The Welfare Turns It's Back On You" |
| 4:56 |
8. | "Give Me Back My Wig" | Theodore Roosevelt Taylor | 4:18 |
9. | "How Many More Years" | Chester Burnett | 4:44 |
10. | "Mean Mistreater" | Elmore James | 4:28 |
Total length: | 48:42 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Keep What You've Got" | Stanley Lewis | 3:34 |
2. | "Wouldn't Lay My Guitar Down" | Edward Harrington | 3:14 |
3. | "Whiskey Store" |
| 3:35 |
4. | "I Need Me a Car" | Stanley Lewis | 4:24 |
5. | "Tears Like a River" |
| 4:30 |
6. | "Scared of That Child" | Sonny Boy Williamson II | 3:08 |
7. | "All My Money's Gone" |
| 4:39 |
8. | "Mister Downchild" | Sonny Boy Williamson II | 5:11 |
9. | "Angel of Mercy" |
| 5:29 |
10. | "Slow Your Motor Down" |
| 4:09 |
11. | "Uranium Rock" | Warren Smith | 3:41 |
12. | "My Country Sugar Mama" | Chester Arthur Burnett | 4:18 |
Total length: | 49:52 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "I Want To Know Why" | Mike Henderson | 4:28 |
2. | "Send You Back To Georgia" | Theodore Taylor | 4:22 |
3. | "It's Alright" | Theodore Taylor | 3:55 |
4. | "If You Think It's Hot Here" |
| 5:57 |
5. | "Weepin' And Moanin'" | Mike Henderson | 5:39 |
6. | "Mean Red Spider" | McKinley Morganfield | 4:48 |
7. | "Possession" | Robert Johnson | 6:37 |
8. | "Unseen Eye" | Sonny Boy Williamson II | 5:00 |
9. | "Matchbox" | Carl Perkins | 3:05 |
10. | "Gambling Blues" | Melvin Jackson | 5:37 |
11. | "Rock House Blues" | Mike Henderson | 2:02 |
Total length: | 51:30 |
Singles
Year | Single | Peak positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
US Country [40] | |||
1994 | "Hillbilly Jitters" | 69 | Country Music Made Me Do It |
"The Want To" | — | ||
"If the Jukebox Took Teardrops" | — | ||
1996 | "I Wouldn't Lay My Guitar Down" | — | Edge of Night |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
Music videos
Year | Video |
---|---|
1994 | "Hillbilly Jitters" |
1996 | "I Wouldn't Lay My Guitar Down" |
Awards and nominations
Year | Ceremony | Category | Recipient/Work | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Grammy Awards | Best Country Song | Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton – "Broken Halos" | Won | |
2018 | Country Music Association Awards | Song of the Year | Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton – "Broken Halos" | Won | |
2021 | Country Music Association Awards | Song of the Year | Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton – "Starting Over" | Won |
References
- ^ a b Thompson, Richard (September 29, 2023). "Mike Henderson passes". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ a b "Michael Henderson Obituary". The Kansas City Star. September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ Gray, Michael (1998). "Mike Henderson". In Kingsbury, Paul (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. p. 236. ISBN 978-0-19-977055-7. OCLC 707922721.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
- ^ a b c "The Bel Airs Bio". The Bel Airs. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Himes, Geoffrey (March 5, 1999). "MIKE HENDERSON & THE BLUEBLOODS "Thicker Than Water" Dead Reckoning". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Sherman, Jim (January 16, 1997). "Aw, Twern't Nuthin'". Houston Press. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "Mike Henderson Bio". Mike Henderson. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c "About | The Bluebird Cafe". Bluebird Cafe. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "The Snakes – The Snakes". AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Galipault, Gerry (January 10, 1999). "Mike Henderson & The Bluebloods swing the blues". Pause & Play. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Cooper, Peter (November 17, 2011). "Peter Cooper on Music: A mandolin player ZZ Top can love". The Tennessean. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ a b "Mike Henderson | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c Skelly, Richard. "Mike Henderson | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Country Music Made Me Do It – Mike Henderson". AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Cannon, Bob (May 6, 1994). "Country Music Made Me Do It Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Kening, Dan (May 12, 1994). "Mike Henderson Country Music Made Me Do It (RCA)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Cronin, Peter (March 26, 1994). "Album Reviews". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ a b Margasak, Peter (April 11, 1996). "Mike Henderson". Chicago Reader. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "29 Nights – Danni Leigh". AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Edge of Night – Mike Henderson". AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Billboard Video Monitor". Billboard. March 2, 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Scherman, Tony (January 19, 1996). "Edge of Night Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (January 26, 1996). "Mike Henderson". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Flippo, Chet (January 27, 1996). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "First Blood – Mike Henderson & The Bluebloods". AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Margasak, Peter (January 9, 1997). "Mike Henderson & the Bluebloods". Chicago Reader. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ a b Ray, Linda (March 1997). "Mike Henderson & The Bluebloods – First Blood". No Depression. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Nash, Alanna (October 18, 1996). "First Blood Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Picks and Pans Review: First Blood". People. December 9, 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ a b Byrkit, Becky. "Thicker Than Water – Mike Henderson & The Bluebloods". AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Thicker Than Water". People. January 25, 1999. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Kopp, Ed (August 1, 1999). "Mike Henderson and the Bluebloods: Thicker Than Water". All About Jazz. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Steil, Tom (January 17, 1999). "Mike Henderson and the Bluebloods Thicker Than Water". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Lupton, John (January 2008). "The SteelDrivers put blue in bluegrass". Country Standard Time. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ poet, j. "Reckless – SteelDrivers". AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Five artists under the radar at the Grammys". USA Today. February 7, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Lawless, John (December 21, 2011). "Mike Henderson moves on". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Hudak, Joseph (September 22, 2023). "Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton Co-Writer and the SteelDrivers Founder, Dead at 70". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ^ "Mike Henderson Album & Song Chart History – Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ "60th Annual GRAMMY Awards | 2017 | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ^ "2018 CMA Award Winners". The CMA Awards. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
- ^ "CMA Awards Past Winners & Nominees". CMA Awards. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
External links
- Official website
- Mike Henderson discography at Discogs
- Mike Henderson at IMDb
- v
- t
- e
- "There Goes My Everything" - Dallas Frazier (1967)
- "Honey" - Bobby Russell (1968)
- "The Carroll County Accident" - Bob Ferguson (1969)
- "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" - Kris Kristofferson (1970)
- "Easy Loving" - Freddie Hart (1971-2)
- "Behind Closed Doors" - Kenny O'Dell (1973)
- "Country Bumpkin" - Don Wayne (1974)
- "Back Home Again" - John Denver (1975)
- "Rhinestone Cowboy" - Larry Weiss (1976)
- "Lucille" Roger Bowling, Hal Bynum - (1977)
- "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" - Richard Leigh (1978)
- "The Gambler" - Don Schlitz (1979)
- "He Stopped Loving Her Today" - Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman (1980)
- "He Stopped Loving Her Today" - Bobby Braddock, Curly Putman (1981)
- "Always on My Mind" - Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, Mark James (1982-3)
- "Wind Beneath My Wings" - Larry Henley, Jeff Silbar (1984)
- "God Bless the U.S.A." - Lee Greenwood (1985)
- "On the Other Hand" - Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz (1986)
- "Forever and Ever, Amen - Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz (1987)
- "80's Ladies" - K. T. Oslin (1988)
- "Chiseled in Stone" - Max D. Barnes, Vern Gosdin (1989)
- "Where've You Been" - Don Henry, Jon Vezner (1990)
- "When I Call Your Name" - Tim DuBois, Vince Gill (1991)
- "Look at Us" - Vince Gill, Max D. Barnes (1992)
- "I Still Believe in You" - Vince Gill, John Barlow Jarvis (1993)
- "Chattahoochee" - Jim McBride, Alan Jackson (1994)
- "Independence Day" - Gretchen Peters (1995)
- "Go Rest High on That Mountain" - Vince Gill (1996)
- "Strawberry Wine" - Matraca Berg, Gary Harrison (1997)
- "Holes in the Floor of Heaven" - Billy Kirsch, Steve Wariner (1998)
- "This Kiss" - Beth Nielsen Chapman, Robin Lerner, Annie Roboff (1999)
- "I Hope You Dance" - Mark D. Sanders, Tia Sillers (2000)
- "Murder on Music Row" - Larry Cordle, Larry Shell (2001)
- "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" - Alan Jackson (2002)
- "Three Wooden Crosses" - Doug Johnson, Kim Williams (2003)
- "Live Like You Were Dying" - Tim Nichols, Craig Wiseman (2004)
- "Whiskey Lullaby" - Bill Anderson, Jon Randall (2005)
- "Believe" - Ronnie Dunn, Craig Wiseman (2006)
- "Give It Away" - Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson (2007)
- "Stay" - Jennifer Nettles (2008)
- "In Color" - Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto (2009)
- "The House That Built Me" - Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin (2010)
- "If I Die Young" - Kimberly Perry (2011)
- "Over You" - Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton (2012)
- "I Drive Your Truck" - Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary (2013)
- "Follow Your Arrow" - Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves (2014)
- "Girl Crush" - Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose (2015)
- "Humble and Kind" - Lori McKenna (2016)
- "Better Man" - Taylor Swift (2017)
- "Broken Halos" - Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton (2018)
- "Beautiful Crazy" - Luke Combs, Wyatt Durrette, Robert Williford (2019)
- "The Bones" - Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz (2020)
- "Starting Over" - Mike Henderson, Chris Stapleton (2021)
- "Buy Dirt" — Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins, Matt Jenkins (2022)
- "Fast Car" — Tracy Chapman (2023)