Leroy Henderson

Leroy Henderson

Artiste, Contributeur

* En anglais uniquement

Virtually nothing is actually known about blues singer Leroy Henderson -- not to be confused with the jazz drummer of the same name. He was based in St. Louis during the 1930s and probably before, and was sufficiently talented to attract the attention of Vocalion Records, for which he recorded four sides in 1935, "Deep Sea Blues," "Good Scuffler Blues," "Low Mellow Man Blues," and "Good Grinder Blues," of which the best (and best known) is "Good Scuffler Blues." Henderson's style of music was somewhat similar to that of Charley Patton, but his talents as a singer evidently didn't translate well to the recorded medium -- his best work, an expressive, high-voiced performance on "Good Scuffler Blues" shows him almost outclassed by his accompanists (which, in fairness, include Peetie Wheatstraw, Casey Bill Weldon, and possibly Charley Jordan, plus an uncredited pianist). He seems to have disappeared from music after the 1930s, and his four sides are most often reissued -- most notably by Document Records and Mamlish Records, in context with Wheatstraw or Jordan. ~ Bruce Eder

Genres