DUKE HENDERSON/ Complete Recordings

DUKE HENDERSON/ Complete Recordings

           

Despite his quite important numbers of recordings, Sylvester C. Henderson aka Big Duke aka Studs Henderson or more often Duke Henderson is largely undocumented. Very few (if none?) articles in magazines, few researches, only mentions in some books... the blues shouter doesn't seem to have raised a big interest among blues and R&B circles.

            Born in Liberty, Mo. 5th April 1924, Sylvester whereabouts are not known. The facts are that Henderson was living in the Los Angeles area during the 1940's, singing in cabarets with several bands as a blues shouter a la Big Joe Turner. Duke was introduced to the Apollo label by Jack McVea in 1945, waxing a number of sessions for the label, backed by the cream of West Coast jazz and R&B musicians of the era (Jack McVea, Mingus, Gene Phillips...). Despite their high quality, those recordings were not commercially successful and Duke will have to wait almost two years before entering again in a studio, this time for Modern Records and backed by the Al "Cake" Wichard Sextette. Those once again great 78s must have been selling better because Henderson would be back in the studios quite often during the subsequent years. He recorded regularly for some of the best indies West Coast labels like Downbeat, Swing Time, Specialty, Imperial and until a final session for Flair in 1953. On all those records, Henderson displays a very "big" voice, emulating Turner for the better with strength, subtlety and drive.

            During the early 1950's, Big Duke turned himself into religion, putting down his blues shouter past. Under the name of Brother Henderson, he started a ministerial career, being a pastor of Bethany Apostle Community Church, preaching Gospel on several radio stations. At the end of his life, he was running a small record shop from where he was operating the Proverb label.

            Sylvester Henderson died at his Pacoima, Ca. home on 9 April 1973.

            This short article is largely based on Kirk Silsbee's liner notes and the essential book Blues/ A regional experience by Eric LeBlanc & Bob Eagle. Thanks also to bluesjumper 33 for providing us some of the rarest tracks here. Despite my efforts, I was still missing three titles by Big Duke. Thanks a lot to Mike & Mike from Australia for providing those three extremely rare tracks!

                                                                       Gérard HERZHAFT

CD1:  

Duke Henderson, vcl; Karl Georgen tpt; Jewell Grant, a-sax; Lucky Thompson, t-sax; Gene Porter, clt; Gene Phillips, g; Wilbert Baranco, pno; Charlie Mingus, bs; Lee Young, dms. Los Angeles, 28 november 1945

01. Don't keep me waiting

02. Mama bear blues

03. S.H. blues

04. Not worth a dime

05. Fool hearted woman

06. H.D. blues (Hot Dog blues)

Duke Henderson, vcl; Teddy Buckner, pno; Happy Johnson, tb; Wild Bill Moore, t-sax; Wilbert Baranco, pno; Gene Phillips, g; John H, bs; Rabon Tarrant, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 4 december 1945

07. Let's get vootin'

08. Boogie man blues

09. Don't slam the door

10. Blues in the background I & II

11. Don't forget I'm a married man

12. Woman's blues I & II

13. Don't fall in love with me baby

14. Homecoming blues

Duke Henderson, vcl; Jesse Perdue, tpt; Marshall Royal, a-sax; Jack Mc Vea, t-sax/b-sax; Bob Mosley, pno; Gene Phillips, g; Frank Clarke, bs; Rabon Tarrant, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 5 december 1945

15. Oo wee baby oo wee

16. Get your kicks

17. Lottery blues

18. Wiggle wiggle woogie

Duke Henderson, vcl; Tiny Webb, g; George Mason, pno; Orville Austin, bs. Los Angeles, Ca. mai 1946

G.I. blues

Leona of L.A.
Three extremely rare tracks (tose two above + Louse in the hen house) are now here. Thanks a lot to Mike & Mike from Australia for sharing.

Duke Henderson, vcl; Al Wichard, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. december 1946

19. Did you ever love a woman?

20. His Majesty's boogie

Duke Henderson, vcl; Maxie Ward, tpt; Ralph Bowden, tb; King Perry, a-sax; Earl Payton, pno; Ike Brown, bs; Al Wichard, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. december 1947

21. Leona's boogie

22. 18th Vine Street boogie

23. I am the blues

24. San Quentin quail

Duke Henderson, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. november 1948

25. Get your mind outta the gutter

26. Blues in the morning

27. Old maid's prayer

28. Dr Duke boogie

CD2:

Duke Henderson, vcl; horns; Jay Mc Shann, pno; Bill Davis, bs; Al Wichard, dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 11 december 1948

29. Gravels in my pillow

30. Trouble in mind

31. In the evening

Duke Henderson, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 23 december 1948

32. Low down dog

33. Bewildered

34. Proposition baby

35. K.C. boogie

36. I'm not fooling

37. Stud's boogie

Louse in the hen house
A lot of thanks to Mike & Mike for providing this extremely rare track

Duke Henderson, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 2 march 1949

38. I hung my head and cried

Duke Henderson, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. june 1950

39. Rock me in your chair

40. Mama's clock stopped ticking

41. Situation blues

42. Worried and blue

Duke Henderson, vcl; Monroe Tucker, pno; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 6 december 1950

43. Live my own life I & II

44. Kinfolks

45. Ten days of agony

Duke Henderson, vcl; Pete Johnson, pno; bs; dms. Los Angeles, Ca. 1951

46. Hard luck women and strife

Duke Henderson, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 27 august 1952

47. Country girl

48. Lucy Brown

Duke Henderson, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1953

49. Hey Dr Kinsey

50. Hello baby

51. Beggin' and pleading

52. Baby beat it

After he gave up R&B:, he recoirded as Brother Henderson's Spiritual Lambs:ca. 1955

I Made Up My Mind / Pass Me Not 

 A lot of thanks to Mike & Mike and Marv Goldberg for their help