John Carl Hendricks (September 16, 1921 – November 22, 2017), known profess… Read Full Bio ↴John Carl Hendricks (September 16, 1921 – November 22, 2017), known professionally as Jon Hendricks, was an American jazz lyricist and singer. He is considered one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and replaces many instruments with vocalists (such as the big-band arrangements of Duke Ellington and Count Basie). Furthermore, he is considered one of the best practitioners of scat singing, which involves vocal jazz soloing. In 1957, he teamed with Dave Lambert and Annie Ross to form the legendary vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. For his work as a lyricist, jazz critic and historian Leonard Feather called him the "Poet Laureate of Jazz", while Time dubbed him the "James Joyce of Jive". Al Jarreau called him "pound-for-pound the best jazz singer on the planet—maybe that's ever been".
Born in 1921 in Newark, Ohio, Hendricks and his 14 siblings moved many times, following their father's assignments as an A.M.E. pastor, before settling permanently in Toledo. There, Hendricks began his singing career at the age of seven. He has said: "By the time I was 10, I was a local celebrity in Toledo. I had offers to go with Fats Waller when I was 12, and offers to go with Ted Lewis and be his shadow when I was 13. He had that song 'Me and My Shadow'. And he had this little Negro boy who was his shadow, that did everything he did. That was his act." As a teenager, Jon's first interest was in the drums, but before long he was singing on the radio regularly with another Toledo native, pianist Art Tatum. Jon met his first wife Colleen Moore in Toledo, Ohio. They were married and had 4 children, Jon Jr., Colleen, Eric and Michelle.
After serving in the Army during World War II, Hendricks went home to attend University of Toledo on the G.I. Bill as a pre-law major. Just when he was about to enter the graduate law program, the G.I. benefits ran out. Charlie Parker had, at a stop in Toledo two years prior, encouraged him to come to New York and look him up. Hendricks moved there and began his singing career.
In 1957, he teamed with Dave Lambert and Annie Ross to form the legendary vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross (LH&R). With Jon as lyricist, the trio perfected the art of vocalese and took it around the world, earning them the designation of the "Number One Vocal Group in the World" for five years in a row from Melody Maker magazine. Their multi-tracked album Sing a Song of Basie was one of the earliest examples of overdubbing. Hendricks typically wrote lyrics not just to melodies but to entire instrumental solos, a notable example being his take on Ben Webster's tenor saxophone solo on Ellington's original recording of "Cotton Tail", as featured on the album Lambert, Hendricks and Ross! (1960). His lyrics to Benny Golson's "I Remember Clifford" have been recorded by several other vocalists, including Dinah Washington, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, The Manhattan Transfer and Helen Merrill. After six years the trio disbanded for solo careers but not before leaving behind a catalog of legendary recordings, most of which have never gone out of print.
Countless singers cite the work of LH&R as an influence, including Van Morrison, Al Jarreau and Bobby McFerrin. The song "Yeh Yeh", for which Hendricks composed the lyrics, became a 1965 hit for British R&B-jazz singer Georgie Fame, who continues to record and perform Lambert, Hendricks & Ross compositions to this day. In 1966 Hendricks recorded "Fire in the City" with the Warlocks, who shortly after changed their name to the Grateful Dead.[4] Hendricks wrote lyrics for several Thelonious Monk songs, including "In Walked Bud", which he performed on Monk's 1968 album Underground.
For a performance at the 1960 Monterey Jazz Festival, he created and starred in a musical he called Evolution of the Blues Song, which featured such acclaimed singers as Jimmy Witherspoon, Hannah Dean, and "Big" Miller, as well as saxophonists Ben Webster and Pony Poindexter. The ensemble played not only Hendricks' words and music but also Percy Mayfield's classic "Please Send Me Someone to Love," the driving D. Love gospel song "That's Enough", and the blues evergreen, "C.C. Rider". In 1961, Columbia Records released an LP of the production and Hendricks later presented the show in San Francisco; at the Westwood Playhouse in Los Angeles, where it was produced by attorneys Burton Marks and Mark Green; and in New York City.
Pursuing a solo career, and after divorcing his first wife, Colleen, Hendricks moved his children to London, England, in 1968, partly so that his four children could receive a better education. While based there he toured Europe and Africa, performed frequently on British television and appeared in the 1971 British film Jazz Is Our Religion (which focuses on the photographs of Val Wilmer) as well as the French film Hommage à Cole Porter. His sold-out club dates drew fans such as the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Five years later the Hendricks family settled in Mill Valley, California, where Hendricks worked as the jazz critic for the San Francisco Chronicle and taught classes at California State University at Sonoma and the University of California at Berkeley. The piece he wrote for the stage about the history of jazz, Evolution of the Blues, ran for five years at the Off-Broadway Theatre in San Francisco and another year in Los Angeles. His television documentary Somewhere to Lay My Weary Head received Emmy, Iris and Peabody awards.
Hendricks recorded several critically acclaimed albums on his own, some with his wife Judith and daughters Michele and Aria contributing. He collaborated with old friends The Manhattan Transfer for their seminal 1985 album, Vocalese, which won seven Grammy Awards. He has served on the Kennedy Center Honors committee under Presidents Carter, Reagan, and Clinton.
In 2000 Hendricks returned to his home town to teach at the University of Toledo, where he was appointed Distinguished Professor of Jazz Studies and received an honorary Doctorate of the Performing Arts. He was recently selected to be the first American jazz artist to lecture at the Sorbonne in Paris. His 15-voice group, the Jon Hendricks Vocalstra at the University of Toledo, performed at the Sorbonne in 2002. Hendricks has also written lyrics to some classical pieces including "On the Trail" from Ferde Grofe's Grand Canyon Suite. The Vocalstra premiered a vocalese version of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade" with the Toledo Symphony.
In the summer of 2003 Hendricks went on tour with the "Four Brothers", a quartet consisting of Hendricks, Kurt Elling, Mark Murphy and Kevin Mahogany. He has worked on setting words to and arranging Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto as well as on two books, teaching and touring with his Vocalstra. He has appeared in a film with Al Pacino, People I Know (2002), and also in White Men Can't Jump (1992).
In 2012, Hendricks appeared in the documentary film No One But Me, discussing his former bandmate and friend, Annie Ross. In 2015, Hendricks lost his second wife Judith to a brain tumor. His only living children are now Jon Jr., Michelle and Aria.
In 2017, Hendricks' full lyricization of the album Miles Ahead, including Miles Davis' solos and Gil Evans' orchestrations, was completed. It was premiered in New York by UK-based choir the London Vocal Project, with Hendricks in attendance, with a studio recording to follow.
Hendricks died on November 22, 2017 in Manhattan, New York City.
Born in 1921 in Newark, Ohio, Hendricks and his 14 siblings moved many times, following their father's assignments as an A.M.E. pastor, before settling permanently in Toledo. There, Hendricks began his singing career at the age of seven. He has said: "By the time I was 10, I was a local celebrity in Toledo. I had offers to go with Fats Waller when I was 12, and offers to go with Ted Lewis and be his shadow when I was 13. He had that song 'Me and My Shadow'. And he had this little Negro boy who was his shadow, that did everything he did. That was his act." As a teenager, Jon's first interest was in the drums, but before long he was singing on the radio regularly with another Toledo native, pianist Art Tatum. Jon met his first wife Colleen Moore in Toledo, Ohio. They were married and had 4 children, Jon Jr., Colleen, Eric and Michelle.
After serving in the Army during World War II, Hendricks went home to attend University of Toledo on the G.I. Bill as a pre-law major. Just when he was about to enter the graduate law program, the G.I. benefits ran out. Charlie Parker had, at a stop in Toledo two years prior, encouraged him to come to New York and look him up. Hendricks moved there and began his singing career.
In 1957, he teamed with Dave Lambert and Annie Ross to form the legendary vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross (LH&R). With Jon as lyricist, the trio perfected the art of vocalese and took it around the world, earning them the designation of the "Number One Vocal Group in the World" for five years in a row from Melody Maker magazine. Their multi-tracked album Sing a Song of Basie was one of the earliest examples of overdubbing. Hendricks typically wrote lyrics not just to melodies but to entire instrumental solos, a notable example being his take on Ben Webster's tenor saxophone solo on Ellington's original recording of "Cotton Tail", as featured on the album Lambert, Hendricks and Ross! (1960). His lyrics to Benny Golson's "I Remember Clifford" have been recorded by several other vocalists, including Dinah Washington, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, The Manhattan Transfer and Helen Merrill. After six years the trio disbanded for solo careers but not before leaving behind a catalog of legendary recordings, most of which have never gone out of print.
Countless singers cite the work of LH&R as an influence, including Van Morrison, Al Jarreau and Bobby McFerrin. The song "Yeh Yeh", for which Hendricks composed the lyrics, became a 1965 hit for British R&B-jazz singer Georgie Fame, who continues to record and perform Lambert, Hendricks & Ross compositions to this day. In 1966 Hendricks recorded "Fire in the City" with the Warlocks, who shortly after changed their name to the Grateful Dead.[4] Hendricks wrote lyrics for several Thelonious Monk songs, including "In Walked Bud", which he performed on Monk's 1968 album Underground.
For a performance at the 1960 Monterey Jazz Festival, he created and starred in a musical he called Evolution of the Blues Song, which featured such acclaimed singers as Jimmy Witherspoon, Hannah Dean, and "Big" Miller, as well as saxophonists Ben Webster and Pony Poindexter. The ensemble played not only Hendricks' words and music but also Percy Mayfield's classic "Please Send Me Someone to Love," the driving D. Love gospel song "That's Enough", and the blues evergreen, "C.C. Rider". In 1961, Columbia Records released an LP of the production and Hendricks later presented the show in San Francisco; at the Westwood Playhouse in Los Angeles, where it was produced by attorneys Burton Marks and Mark Green; and in New York City.
Pursuing a solo career, and after divorcing his first wife, Colleen, Hendricks moved his children to London, England, in 1968, partly so that his four children could receive a better education. While based there he toured Europe and Africa, performed frequently on British television and appeared in the 1971 British film Jazz Is Our Religion (which focuses on the photographs of Val Wilmer) as well as the French film Hommage à Cole Porter. His sold-out club dates drew fans such as the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Five years later the Hendricks family settled in Mill Valley, California, where Hendricks worked as the jazz critic for the San Francisco Chronicle and taught classes at California State University at Sonoma and the University of California at Berkeley. The piece he wrote for the stage about the history of jazz, Evolution of the Blues, ran for five years at the Off-Broadway Theatre in San Francisco and another year in Los Angeles. His television documentary Somewhere to Lay My Weary Head received Emmy, Iris and Peabody awards.
Hendricks recorded several critically acclaimed albums on his own, some with his wife Judith and daughters Michele and Aria contributing. He collaborated with old friends The Manhattan Transfer for their seminal 1985 album, Vocalese, which won seven Grammy Awards. He has served on the Kennedy Center Honors committee under Presidents Carter, Reagan, and Clinton.
In 2000 Hendricks returned to his home town to teach at the University of Toledo, where he was appointed Distinguished Professor of Jazz Studies and received an honorary Doctorate of the Performing Arts. He was recently selected to be the first American jazz artist to lecture at the Sorbonne in Paris. His 15-voice group, the Jon Hendricks Vocalstra at the University of Toledo, performed at the Sorbonne in 2002. Hendricks has also written lyrics to some classical pieces including "On the Trail" from Ferde Grofe's Grand Canyon Suite. The Vocalstra premiered a vocalese version of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade" with the Toledo Symphony.
In the summer of 2003 Hendricks went on tour with the "Four Brothers", a quartet consisting of Hendricks, Kurt Elling, Mark Murphy and Kevin Mahogany. He has worked on setting words to and arranging Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto as well as on two books, teaching and touring with his Vocalstra. He has appeared in a film with Al Pacino, People I Know (2002), and also in White Men Can't Jump (1992).
In 2012, Hendricks appeared in the documentary film No One But Me, discussing his former bandmate and friend, Annie Ross. In 2015, Hendricks lost his second wife Judith to a brain tumor. His only living children are now Jon Jr., Michelle and Aria.
In 2017, Hendricks' full lyricization of the album Miles Ahead, including Miles Davis' solos and Gil Evans' orchestrations, was completed. It was premiered in New York by UK-based choir the London Vocal Project, with Hendricks in attendance, with a studio recording to follow.
Hendricks died on November 22, 2017 in Manhattan, New York City.
Watermelon Man
Jon Hendricks Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Watermelon Man' by these artists:
Albert King Live Instrumental Written by Herbie Hancock…
B.B. King On her way to work one morning Down the path along…
Big Mama Thornton Hey! Watermelon Man Hey you with the red truck- Watermelo…
Dave I See that watermelon Smiling through the fence I wish that …
Gloria Lynne Uh-huh, watermelon man Uhhhh, watermelon man Cause he got th…
Gun Club See the Watermelon Man ah' come see the Watermelon Man ah'…
Herbie Hancock (instrumental) Album notes: Head Hunters is an album by Herb…
Julie London Watermelon Man Julie London Julie london Ooooh, watermelon …
King Curtis On her way to work one morning Down the path along…
Maroon Town Musical excursion trip of a lifetime I won't take my time…
Mongo Santamaria & Tito Puente Watermelon man Watermelon man Watermelon man Watermelon man…
Oscar Brown Jr. Watermelon man Heyo, Heyo, Get your watermelon, Heyo, Water…
Peter-Convent-Band I See that watermelon Smiling through the fence I wish that …
Poncho Sanchez & Mongo Santamaria Watermelon man Watermelon man Watermelon man Watermelon man…
Poppy Ajudha He′s living day to day He knows freedom is on its…
Sam & Dave I See that watermelon Smiling through the fence I wish that …
santamaria mongo Watermelon man Watermelon man Watermelon man Watermelon…
The Gun Club See the Watermelon Man ah' come see the Watermelon Man ah'…
The Manfreds Hey, watermelon man Hey, watermelon man Give me one that rat…
Willis Alan Ramsey Home I don’t want your pork chops I don’t want…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Jon Hendricks:
Almost Like Being In Love What a day this has been! What a rare mood I'm…
Corcovado Quiet nights 'n quiet stars, quiet chords from my guitar Flo…
Get Me to the Church on Time A few more hours, that's all the time I got A…
Here Is That Rainy Day Maybe I should have saved those left over dreams Funny, but…
I Wonder What's Become Of Sally I wonder what's become of Sally, That old gal of mine. The…
Love in Peace What a day this has been! What a rare mood I'm…
Love In Peace - O Amor Em Paz I have loved I have loved it cannot be denied As none…
Quiet Nights Quiet nights 'n quiet stars, quiet chords from my guitar Fl…
Rosa Morena Rosa, morena! Onde vais morena Rosa? Com essa rosa no cabelo…
Shiny Stockings Shiny Stockings (Jon Hendricks/ Frank Foster) I walk with my…
Sing Sing Sing Sing, sing, sing, sing everybody start to sing like dee…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
You And I When you just give love And never get love You'd better let…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Jazmín Villafaña
Hey, wa-ter-melon man. Watermelon man!
Hey, wa-ter-melon man. Watermelon man!
[Verse 1]
Bring me one that rattles when you lug it
One that's red and juicy when you plug it
Do you understand, wa-ter-melon man?
Yeah!
[Hook]
Hey, Wa-ter-melon man. Watermelon man!
Hey, Wa-ter-melon man. Watermelon man!
[Verse 2]
Hot and bothered, need a little cooling
When I hear your call I start to drooling
Do you understand, wa-ter-melon man?
[Ad-lib]
Ah get down now! Tell it like it T-I-Is. Y’know what I mean
Watermelon cool your head!
[Bridge]
So sweet, so cool and so red
So green and so nice
Cool you down, just like ice
Take a taste, and see why
If you hot, or dry, just take a slice. Eat your fill
Cool you down! Yes it will
[Ad-lib]
Yes it will! Honeydew do too
But not like watermelon do, y’know what I mean
[Hook]
Hey, Wa-ter-melon man. Watermelon man!
Hey, Wa-ter-melon man. Watermelon man!
[Verse 3]
Hot and bothered, need a little cooling
When I hear your call, I start to drooling
Do you understand, wa-ter-melon man?
[Outro]
Aw, down to the rind! (Watermelon man)
Take out all the seeds! (Watermelon man)
Save the rind for cucumbers. (Watermelon man)
Make some pickles. (Watermelon man)
Waaaaa-ter melllll-on man!
Liliana Véronique Saundrine Sontheim
I love that song 🙂❤
Jazmín Villafaña
Hey, wa-ter-melon man. Watermelon man!
Hey, wa-ter-melon man. Watermelon man!
[Verse 1]
Bring me one that rattles when you lug it
One that's red and juicy when you plug it
Do you understand, wa-ter-melon man?
Yeah!
[Hook]
Hey, Wa-ter-melon man. Watermelon man!
Hey, Wa-ter-melon man. Watermelon man!
[Verse 2]
Hot and bothered, need a little cooling
When I hear your call I start to drooling
Do you understand, wa-ter-melon man?
[Ad-lib]
Ah get down now! Tell it like it T-I-Is. Y’know what I mean
Watermelon cool your head!
[Bridge]
So sweet, so cool and so red
So green and so nice
Cool you down, just like ice
Take a taste, and see why
If you hot, or dry, just take a slice. Eat your fill
Cool you down! Yes it will
[Ad-lib]
Yes it will! Honeydew do too
But not like watermelon do, y’know what I mean
[Hook]
Hey, Wa-ter-melon man. Watermelon man!
Hey, Wa-ter-melon man. Watermelon man!
[Verse 3]
Hot and bothered, need a little cooling
When I hear your call, I start to drooling
Do you understand, wa-ter-melon man?
[Outro]
Aw, down to the rind! (Watermelon man)
Take out all the seeds! (Watermelon man)
Save the rind for cucumbers. (Watermelon man)
Make some pickles. (Watermelon man)
Waaaaa-ter melllll-on man!
Carine
Jazmín Villafaña thank you
CriticalListener
He obviously loves the song, he's having such fun with it! Thank you for posting!
victor ojeda
Que temazooooo
Paul Rouhan
Thank you for putting the FUN in Monday! Live on, brother John!
Ksenia B
BEST!!!!!!!
Catherine Tirand
C'est un Madison en plus!
Rafael
Music in the vein.
Rafael
Music in the vein