Bruce A. Henry
vocals
Born in West Point, Mississippi, home of Howling Wolf, Bruce A. Henry was singing publicly by the age of 5 in his Baptist church on the West side of Chicago. Henry’s musical education as a child included immersion in the work of Count Basie and Duke Ellington, favorites of his father (a pianist who was his first musical mentor). Although Henry was classically trained at the Chicago Conservatory of Music, his love for improvisation proved to be a stronger calling. Influenced by Nina Simone, Al Jarreau and John Coltrane, to name a few, Henry’s journey has resulted in an eclectic style of vocals and composition.
Henry possesses a three-and-one-half octave range, a pure voice with versatility and depth that few can match. His passion for an ever-expanding vision, both musically and personally, is the heart of his artistic vision. His music has taken him to five continents, garnering a large following in France and Asia. His voice and compositions have been heard on a Worldwide Radio Live Concert on the BBC as well as notable movie soundtracks. Henry has performed on such exotic and legendary stages as the Havana Conservatory of Music, the Klezmer Festival in Israel, Le Bilboquet in Paris, The Whitbread in London, the Coconut Grove in Miami, the Waldorf Astoria in New York City and the Grand Wailea in Maui. He has also performed with Doc Severinsen, The Sounds of Blackness and Bobby McFerrin and opened for the likes of Roberta Flack, Natalie Cole and Stephan Grappelli, Ramsey Lewis and Chris Botti.
Henry is a highly sought-after performer in Chicago jazz venues and churches of all denominations. Despite his frenetic performing and recording schedule, he is a committed educator and give the inspirations presentation “Evolution of African American Music.”