Jon Hendricks, a jazz singer whose compelling scat-style renditions and lyricizing of instrumental standards earned him the nickname "the James Joyce of jive," has died in New York, his family said. He was 96.

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Singer Jon Hendricks, ’poet laureate of jazz’, dies at 96

November 24, 2017 - 09:00

Jon Hendricks, a jazz singer whose compelling scat-style renditions and lyricizing of instrumental standards earned him the nickname "the James Joyce of jive," has died in New York, his family said. He was 96.

Jon Hendricks, a jazz singer whose compelling scat-style renditions and lyricizing of instrumental standards earned him the nickname "the James Joyce of jive", has died in New York. - Photo JazzTimes
Viet Nam News

NEW YORK — Jon Hendricks, a jazz singer whose compelling scat-style renditions and lyricizing of instrumental standards earned him the nickname "the James Joyce of jive", has died in New York, his family said. He was 96.

No cause of death was given.

Performers from trumpeter Wynton Marsalis to composer/playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda offered warm tributes on social media to a musician Downbeat magazine called "one of the most important vocalists in jazz history." 

Known in the 1950s and 1960s for his role in the popular vocal trio Hendricks, Lambert & Ross, he was considered a master of the art of scatting, rhythmically putting nonsense words -- "Skap-a-dap-a-doodily-bap" -- to driving and intricate jazz tunes. 

Hendricks was also considered a pioneer of "vocalese", writing lyrics for instrumental songs, including standards like Desifinado and Along Came Betty.

The winner of multiple Grammy awards, he was sometimes called the "poet laureate of jazz". AFP

 

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