Nona Hendryx
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Nona Hendryx | |
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![]() Nona Hendryx performing at the Bowery Poetry Club as part of the Captain Beefheart tribute Best Batch Yet (June 7, 2011) | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Nona Bernis Hendryx |
Born | Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. | October 9, 1944
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 1961-present |
Labels |
Nona Bernis Hendryx[4] (born October 9, 1944) is an American vocalist, record producer, songwriter, musician, and author. Hendryx is known for her work as a solo artist as well as for being one-third of the trio Labelle, who had a hit with "Lady Marmalade".[5] In 1977, Hendryx released her self-titled debut solo album, a commercial failure that resulted in Hendryx being released from her recording contract. In the early 1980s, Hendryx sang with experimental funk group Material, achieving the hit "Busting Out".
Material produced her second album, Nona (1983), containing the modest Top 30 R&B and Dance charts hit "Keep It Confidential". The album cut "Transformation" became a Hendryx signature song. In 1985, Hendryx wrote and recorded the Grammy nominated song "Rock This House" with Keith Richards from her fourth solo album The Heat (1985).[6] Hendryx went on to record the theme for Moving Violations and "I Sweat (Going Through the Motions)," a commercial hit for Hendryx from the Jamie Lee Curtis film Perfect. She also took part in the Artists United Against Apartheid project with the international hit, "Sun City", from the album of the same title. Hendryx's 1987 single "Why Should I Cry?", from her fifth album became a Top 10 R&B chart hit. She recorded "Transparent" from the 1988 Eddie Murphy vehicle, Coming to America. Hendryx received an Emmy nomination as a composer of People: A Musical Celebration in 1996 for Outstanding Music and Lyrics.[7]
She has also appeared on the third season of The L Word. Her music has ranged from soul, funk, and R&B to hard rock, new wave, and new-age. She stated in an interview that her family's last name was originally spelled with an 'i' and that she is a distant cousin of guitarist Jimi Hendrix.[8]
Biography
Early career
Hendryx, who is of African American heritage, was born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1944. There, she met fellow New Jersey native Sarah Dash and later met Philadelphia-born singer Patricia Holte (Patti LaBelle). After a short-lived tenure as a member of the Del-Capris, Hendryx and Dash formed a singing group with Holte (once the lead singer of a girl group in Philadelphia called The Ordettes). In 1961, Cindy Birdsong, from Camden, New Jersey, became the fourth member of the group, who became the Bluebelles and signed their first deal with Newtown Records.
After the release of their debut hit, 1962's "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman", their name altered again to Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles.
Labelle
For the next three years, the group struggled to compete against the changing musical landscape for which their
Beginning with the Moon Shadow album, Hendryx became the chief songwriter for most of the group's records while LaBelle and Dash occasionally wrote their own material. After successfully opening for The Rolling Stones during the group's American tour in 1973, the group released Pressure Cookin', where they once again adopted a new look as "glam rock, space-age divas". As a songwriter, Hendryx subsequently wrote powerful ballads ("You Turn Me On" and "Nightbird" from Nightbirds, "Going Down Makes Me Shiver" from Labelle's final album, Chameleon), and a wealth of more uptempo numbers ("Space Children," "Messin' with My Mind," "Gypsy Moths," and "Who's Watching the Watcher"). Her themes were unconventional, diverse, and often experimental. Her composition "A Man in a Trenchcoat (Voodoo)" from Chameleon also marked Hendryx's first time singing lead vocal on an album. In 1974, the group hit gold with the release of Nightbirds following the release of the smash hit "Lady Marmalade". In her memoir Don't Block the Blessings, Labelle frontwoman Patti LaBelle attributed the band's 1976 breakup to musical and personal tensions within the group. Labelle, Dash, and Hendryx all embarked on solo careers; Wickham stayed on with Hendryx to manage her solo career.
Solo career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Nona_Hendryx_01B.jpg/220px-Nona_Hendryx_01B.jpg)
In 1977, Hendryx released her first solo album, a self-titled collection. A blend of soul and hard rock, it contained notable tracks such as her cover of "Winning" and the ballad "Leaving Here Today". It quickly disappeared from the shelves, and Hendryx was dropped from Epic. Subsequently, she recorded four singles for Arista (London), which also did not achieve chart success. She did find success doing session work during this period, most notably providing background vocals for Talking Heads and touring with them, appearing first at the major Heatwave festival in August 1980. She contributed to Dusty Springfield's album It Begins Again in 1978 (the first of Springfield's multiple attempts at a comeback) by writing the song "Checkmate".
In the early 1980s, Hendryx fronted her own progressive
In the mid-1980s, Hendryx was recruited by RCA to record songs for various soundtracks, including the theme for Moving Violations; "I Sweat (Going Through the Motions)," a commercial hit for Hendryx from the Jamie Lee Curtis film Perfect; and "Transparent" from the Eddie Murphy vehicle, Coming to America. Her album The Art of Defense was released in 1984.
In 1985, Hendryx wrote and recorded "Rock This House" with
In the same year, she also took part in the
and many others. This was one of the greatest and strongest protest songs against South Africa's Apartheid during those days.Her biggest commercial success came with 1987's single "Why Should I Cry?", a top 5 R&B hit which also reached No. 58 on the Billboard 100. The accompanying album, Female Trouble, boasted an impressive list of contributors, including Dan Hartman (who also served as a producer), Peter Gabriel, Prince ("Baby Go Go"), George Clinton, David Van Tieghem and Mavis Staples.[13][14] Around this time, she became a member of the Black Rock Coalition, founded by Vernon Reid of Living Colour.
Hendryx took a detour from commercial music with Skin Diver, a
In addition to the duet-album You Have to Cry Sometime with Billy Vera in 1992 and a couple of compilation-only tracks, Hendryx has recorded more than five albums worth of music, but she has been unable to release any of it due to lack of interest from major and independent record labels. Her Epic, RCA and EMI albums have been out of print and only recently attracted the attention of specialist reissue labels, but a greatest hits album titled Transformation was released in 1999 by Razor & Tie. Her 1977 debut solo album was issued for the first time on CD by the T-Bird imprint of the UK reissue label Cherry Red in the fall of 2010. UK R&B reissue label Funky Town Grooves released The Heat on CD in late 2011, which included three bonus tracks. Funky Town Grooves announced plans to release both Nona and The Art of Defense in early 2012.[citation needed] Each CD is to include seven bonus tracks.
Hendryx also dabbled in acting. She wrote and performed the theme for Landlord Blues (1987), while also having a small part in the film as attorney Sally Viscuso. She played herself in the late-1990s Pam Grier series Linc's, and at the end of the show, accompanied herself on the piano for "Lift Every Voice". Most recently, she appeared in the third season of The L Word, which closed with Grier, Hendryx, and the trio BETTY singing a cover of the Hendryx track "Transformation".
Hendryx has been involved in many musical collaborations, both for her vocals and her songwriting. One of her early collaborations was with
In the beginning of the current decade, Hendryx was asked to appear on two of Paul Haslinger's albums. She sang lead vocals for two tracks "Higher Purpose" and "Beginning to End", featured on the soundtrack for the Showtime series Sleeper Cell.
Later career and Labelle reunions
Hendryx still tours and has written music for the theatre, songs for the play with music
Hendryx formed Rhythmbank, her own record label with Bob Banks, in 2005. They signed and released several EPs and albums, the Showtime series Sleeper Cell, and a gospel album by protégé Najiyah Threatt.
Since the breakup of Labelle, Patti, Sarah, and Nona have reunited on occasion. These reunions include Patti LaBelle's "Live in New York" video, the dance hit "Turn It Out" from the soundtrack To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995), and two television specials.[16] In January 2006, Labelle again reunited to record "Dear Rosa," a tribute to civil rights leader Rosa Parks. Labelle also performed the theme song for the soundtrack for the film Preaching to the Choir, with Nona being the composer of the film's soundtrack. In late 2008, Labelle released their comeback album Back to Now,[10] and went on a successful concert tour that carried through the spring of 2009.[17]
Speaking in April 2009 to noted UK soul/R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul, Hendryx discussed the background to Labelle reuniting for Back to Now: "Well, there were lots of ongoing times when we'd discussed doing it. And a lot of it was really down to the fact that the fans were DEMANDING that we did it! But, rather than just going back and doing what we'd done in the past, we did want to be able to make an album of new music before coming back out together. And it was really once we'd recorded the song 'Dear Rosa', together that Patti finally became convinced that yes, we should make a new record and then go out and tour behind it. So I'd say basically our reunion was down to two things – pressure from the fans; plus Patti hearing a sound again that she loved and hadn't heard for many years."[18]
Hendryx has written a children's book titled The Brownies.
On May 27, 2010, Hendryx performed selections from Skindiver, a sci-fi musical she is co-writing with Charles Randolph-Wright. The surprise show was at Busboys and Poets in Washington DC and sponsored by Arena Stage. Hendryx & Wright presented two late-night staged readings of Skindiver at Arena Stage in 2011.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/BBY_all_1.png/220px-BBY_all_1.png)
In September 2012, Hendryx's digital-only album, Mutatis Mutandis, received a CD release. To promote the album, Hendryx appeared on the BBC's Later... with Jools Holland on 28 November 2012, where she performed two tracks, Let's Give Love A Try, and Temple Of Heaven (the latter only being available to watch online via BBC iPlayer). In February 2013, she appeared as a special guest as part of The World of Captain Beefheart, a tribute concert arranged by Dutch radio presenter, Co de Kloet, and featuring Gary Lucas with the 60 piece Metropole Orchestra.
Hendryx released several singles in 2016, including a collaboration with American DJ and production duo, Soul Clap, which resulted in the single, Shine (This Is It). Shine (This Is It) was included on Soul Clap's self-titled album in October 2016, and an EP featuring different remixes of the track was released the following year. Hendryx also collaborated with guitarist, Gary Lucas, that same year, which resulted in the album, The World of Captain Beefheart, a collection of cover versions of songs by avant-garde artist Captain Beefheart.
In February 2018, Hendryx released an EP, Keep Funkin, which was produced by Soul Clap, and featured contributions from Nile Rogers and Jason Miles. Hendryx also contributed vocals to another track, "Peel Back", produced by FSQ, which was included as a bonus track on digital versions of the Keep Funkin EP (as well as FSQ's own album in 2020).
Personal life and activism
Hendryx has been living in the
Hendryx is a gay-rights activist; in summer 2008, she joined
Discography
Albums
- Nona Hendryx, 1977, Epic
- Nona, 1983, RCA Records (R&B No. 25, Pop No. 83)
- The Art of Defense, 1984, RCA (Pop No. 167)
- The Heat, 1985, RCA
- Female Trouble, 1987, EMI (R&B No. 30, Pop No. 96)
- Skin Diver 1989, Private Music
- You Have to Cry Sometime (with Billy Vera), 1992, Shanachie Records
- It's Time (with Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnics), 2011, Katalyst Entertainment
- Mutatis Mutandis, 2012, Righteous Babe Records
- The World of Captain Beefheart (with Gary Lucas), 2017, Knitting Factory Records[9]
Compilations
- Transformation – The Best of Nona Hendryx 1999, Razor & Tie
- Rough & Tough 2001, EMI (Basically, a repackaged version of 1987's "Female Trouble" album with 2 extended/dance mixes added)
Singles and EPs
- "Everybody Wants to Be Somebody", 1977, Epic
- "You're the Only One That I Ever Needed", 1979, Arista Records
- "Love It", 1979, Arista
- "Snakes Alive", 1979, Arista
- "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart", 1980, Barclay
- "Busting Out", 1980, Island Records
- "Holiday", 1980, Island Records
- "Do What You Wanna Do", 1982, Metropolis
- "Do What You Wanna Do", 1982, Hot Tracks Remix, 1983
- "Keep It Confidential", 1983, RCA (R&B No. 22, Club No. 25, Pop No. 91) (written by Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Kent, Ellen Foley)
- "Keep It Confidential", 1983, Hot Tracks Remix, 1983 (written by Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Kent, Ellen Foley)
- "Transformation", 1983, RCA (R&B No. 40)
- "B-Boys", 1983, RCA (Club No. 25)
- "I Sweat (Going Through The Motions)", 1984, RCA (R&B No. 28)
- "To the Bone", 1984, RCA
- "Heart of a Woman", 1984, RCA
- "If Looks Could Kill (D.O.A.)", 1985, RCA (R&B No. 71)
- "Sun City", 1985, Manhattan Records (Ireland No. 8, Australia No. 4, New Zealand No. 4)
- "I Need Love", 1985, RCA (R&B No. 68)
- "Baby Go-Go", 1987, EMI (R&B No. 60)
- "Why Should I Cry?", 1987, EMI, (R&B No. 5, Club No. 6, Pop No. 58, UK No. 60[23])
- "Winds of Change (Mandela to Mandela)", 1987, EMI
- "SkinDiver", 1989, Private Music Records
- "Women Who Fly", 1989, Private Music Records
- "Urgently in Love", (with Billy Crawford), 1998
- "It's a Party", (with Bounty Killer), 1998
- "The Ballad of Rush Limbaugh", 2010
- "The Tea Party", 2011
- "In Praise of Older Men (Father, Brother, Lover, Son)", 2016
- "Walk with Me", 2016
- "Shine (This Is It) (With Soul Clap)", 2016
- "Shine (This Is It) (With Soul Clap) (EP)", 2017
- "Keep Funkin'", 2018, Soul Clap Records
Filmography
Film
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1978, Cameo in finale, (MCA film)
- Heartbreakers, 1984 (song "Transformation")
- Landlord Blues, 1987, composer (musical score), vocalist (title track), acting (as attorney "Sally Viscuso")
- Gospa, (Composer) 1995, (MCA film)
- Preaching to the Choir, a.k.a. On the One, 2006, (Composer)
Television
- People: A Musical Celebration, (composer), 1996
- The L Word, season 3 episode 8 (as herself), 2006
Theater
- Blue, (Composer), 2001
- The Who's Tommy ("The Acid Queen"), 2008, Ricardo Montalbán Theatre
Radio
- Playback '78, (interview) 1978, (radio)
- Interchords, (interview) 1978, (radio)
References
- ^ ISBN 0-7432-9201-4.
- ^ ISBN 9780975978702.
- ISSN 0021-5996.
- ^ "Nona Hendryx | SecondHandSongs". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ Lee, Bill (2008). "Voulez-Vous Fonk-ay Avec Moi? LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade"". Bass Player. 19 (4): 72–73.
- ^ "Nona Hendryx". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ "Nona Hendryx". emmys.com. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "Nona Hendryx: Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts.com. August 7, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
- ^ a b "Nona Hendryx". Discogs (in German). Retrieved May 2, 2019.
- ^ a b Giltz, Michael; creator, ContributorBookFilter (January 15, 2009). "Exclusive: Labelle's Nona Hendryx Speaks Out!". HuffPost. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
{{cite web}}
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has generic name (help) - ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
- ^ "Nona Hendryx". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ "HENDRYX'S STAR RIDING ON 'FEMALE TROUBLE'". Los Angeles Times. April 28, 1987. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ Audio Track. Billboard. November 22, 1986.
- ^ McAdams, Janine (1989). "Nona Hendryx Plumbs Emotional Depths on 'Skin Diver'". Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 40. p. 42.
- ^ Mitchell, Gail (October 18, 2008). "Music: R&B - Ladies Night". Billboard: The International Newsweekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment. Vol. 120, no. 42. p. 42.
- ^ Nathan, David (December 23, 2008). "Feature - Labelle: The Return of Silver Soul". Blues & Soul.
- ^ Lewis, Pete. Nona Hendryx/Labelle interview, Blues & Soul, May 2009.
- ^ "Bette Midler and Nona Hendryx first met in a gay bathhouse". New York Post. September 18, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ Cashmere, Paul (June 16, 2013). "Vicki Wickham Awarded OBE". Noise11.com. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
- ^ "The Nona Hendryx Experience - Brief Article - Interview Advocate, The". March 26, 2007. Archived from the original on March 26, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ Fitzharris, Dustin. "Belles of the Ball", Bay Windows, 29 October 2008.
- ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
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