Richard Henderson

Artist Information

Biography

Richard Henderson: Roots re-interpreted.

Over the past few years, there has been a dramatic resurgence in roots music and many musicians have taken up the acoustic lap steel guitar. There are, however, remarkably few solo lap steel guitarists. Richard Henderson is one of those few. As a journeyman of the Toronto music scene, he has developed a characteristic edgy style based on the traditions of the blues, country and rock ‘n’ roll. And the result is compelling: old standards take on a new, distinctive interpretation and original material is, well, even more original. Attesting to that, Richard was named Instrumentalist of the Year for 2010 at the Durham Region Music Awards, showcased at the 2011 International Blues Summit in Toronto and the 2011 Ontario Council of Folk Festivals in Niagara Falls, and was named First Runner Up in The Toronto Blues Society's 2011 Talent Search.

The acoustic lap steel guitar is an interesting and uncommon instrument. It was first developed in Hawaii in the 19th century and was the direct ancestor of both the dobro, played in traditional Americana music, and the pedal steel guitar. It was also instrumental in the development of the slide guitar blues styles played in the southern United States beginning in the early part of the 20th century. Richard's performances give a unique perspective on the convergence of the historical development and the continuing evolution of acoustic roots music.

Recently, Richard has teamed up with long-time friend and percussionist, Rico Stern, on the cajon. Discerning audiences and casual listeners alike are captivated by the unique combination of the Peruvian cajon and the Hawaiian lap steel guitar and are intrigued to listen to, watch and participate in the performances. The unplugged sound of the lap steel/cajon duo has added a unique offering to festivals such as Toronto’s Winterfolk, and to intimate clubs and large venues alike.

The acoustic lap steel guitar and the cajon, both unusual instruments, complement each other perfectly, with the distinctive slide of the lap steel and the beat of the cajon weaving through an eclectic mix of gospel, country, blues and vintage rock ’n’ roll. The result, while evocative of roots and folk traditions, is transformational; leading to a vibrant reconstruction of roots music.

Have steel. Will travel.

[Depending on the circumstances and the venue, Richard performs as a solo artist, as a duo, or as a three-piece acoustic or electric band. Examples of the various configurations can be heard on the audio page.]

Instrumentation

Richard Henderson plays 6 string acoustic Kona and Weissenborn guitars.

Discography

Richard’s first solo CD, “Seventh Day: Acoustic Lap Steel Guitar”, has aired on over 60 radio stations in Canada and Europe and has received critical acclaim here at home and overseas (see "Press"). “Seventh Day” documents the evolution of traditional roots music from the 20th century into the 21st, all rather unconventionally adapted for the acoustic lap steel guitar. We hear the metamorphosis of gospel, country, and blues into early rock 'n' roll- thematically underpinned by a handful of original songs. The CD highlights Richard’s solo work, although, on a couple of tracks he does get a little help from his friends Suzie Vinnick and Carlos del Junco, both multiple Maple Blues Award winners.

Here are some media comments:

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"Congratulations on a fine recording. I wish you all the best with it."

Holger Petersen
President, Stony Plain Records and host of CBC's Saturday Night Blues

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"Hi Richard,

I just checked out some of your stuff on Sonicbids. It would be great if you could send a copy of the CD to the station. It will definitely see air time!"

John Hoevenaars
"The Blues Never Die!!"
CHRW 94.9FM

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"This is an enjoyable album, performed with fine musicianship and good taste."

Bruce Iglauer
founder and head of Alligator Records

To buy a copy of Seventh Day, go to http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hendersonrichard

Links

• MySpace
• Facebook
• Buy Seventh Day at

Audio

• (DUO: Lap Steel and Cajon) Your Papa Don't Know
  Listen  
• (DUO: Lap Steel and Cajon) Life During Wartime
  Listen  
• (BAND) Life During Wartime
  Listen  
• (BAND) Lucky Seven
  Listen  
• (SOLO) I Just Want To Make Love To You
  Listen  
• (SOLO) Little Red Rooster
  Listen  
• (SOLO) Nadine
  Listen  
• (SOLO) Seventh Day
  Listen  
• (SOLO) You Can't Catch Me
  Listen  
• (SOLO) Who Do You Love
  Listen  

Lyrics

• (DUO: Lap Steel and Cajon) Your Papa Don't Know
• (DUO: Lap Steel and Cajon) Life During Wartime
• (BAND) Lucky Seven
• (SOLO) I Just Want To Make Love To You
• Seventh Day

Video

Hallelujah

Gimme Shelter

Photo Gallery

Press

• "On the cutting edge of country and blues music"! Maverick Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  Richard Henderson SEVENTH DAY: ACOUSTIC LAP STEEL GUITAR Self-released **** Veteran Canadian guita...Richard Henderson SEVENTH DAY: ACOUSTIC LAP STEEL GUITAR Self-released ****
  Veteran Canadian guitarist Henderson has been spearheading the acoustic lap steel for several years now and unlike most players, he doesn’t use any other instruments or accompaniment, both at his live gigs and on this excellent album. So what you have is mainly his inventive use of sliding steel on guitar strings behind his own vocals with additional backing vocals courtesy of Jeff Rogers, Natalie Rogers and Suzie Vinnick. The songs are mainly blues classics from the likes of Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Fred McDowell. There’s also a neat rendition of Hank Williams’ Honky Tonk Blues and some Henderson originals including Judgment Day, with Jeff Rogers adding some mandolin and Natalie Rogers on bodrahn and Seventh Day, featuring Carlos del Junco’s harmonica.
  
  

• "Richard Henderson's performance on lap steel is masterful"!
  

  AltCountryForum.nl December, 2010

• "Altogether a fine acoustic disc and one well worth acquiring". [+ Show ]
  

  MapleBlues Magazine Richard Henderson Seventh Day Pic’ndor Richard Henderson lives in Port Pe...MapleBlues Magazine
  
  Richard Henderson Seventh Day Pic’ndor
  
  Richard Henderson lives in Port Perry
  now but he’s a veteran of the club scene, having
  played with Mike McKenna, Gary Kendall,
  Al Lerman and Howard Ross. His specialty
  is solo acoustic lap steel guitar. On Seventh Day
  he includes several originals but for the bulk of
  the program he re-interprets a number of blues
  standards. Chuck Berry’s “You Can’t Catch
  Me” & “Nadine” are not really blues standards
  I guess but they certainly do get re-interpreted
  on solo lap steel. The others are not quite so
  radically different. I like his originals quite a lot,
  and not just because his vocals are more relaxed.
  “Judgement Day” benefits mightily from having
  a bass player along with mandolin, a bodhrán
  & backing vocals. “Whiskey Annie” is a brisk
  uptempo song, with Suzie Vinnick on backing
  vocals. Fred McDowell’s “You Gotta Move” and
  Robert Wilkins’ “Prodigal Son” get particularly
  good performances. “Your Papa Don’t Know”
  is a band performance and all the better for it.
  The title song has Suzie back as well as Carlos
  del Junco on harmonica. He also guests on “I’m
  Ready”, to great effect. “Don’t Tell Me’ is a
  more traditional blues but has a very good tune.
  Altogether a fine acoustic disc and one well worth
  acquiring. His web site is www.myspace.com/
  richardhendersonsteelguitar.
  
  John Valenteyn, John’s Blues Picks, MapleBlues
  Magazine (The Toronto Blues Society), March 2010
  
  See full review at page 8 of http://torontobluessociety.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/1003MapleBlues_web.pdf
  

• "Richard Henderson...Pure Class!" [+ Show ]
  

  Rootsville, Blues and Roots On The Internet, excerpted and translated from Dutch:"Richard Henderson'...Rootsville, Blues and Roots On The Internet, excerpted and translated from Dutch:"Richard Henderson's masterful use of the acoustic lap steel guitar leads to fascinating and compelling results. Richard Henderson...Pure Class!"

• "Richard Henderson treats the listener to a wonderful musical experience on this solo acoustic album." [+ Show ]
  

  AltCountryForum (Translated from Dutch) Every year, I find a CD in my year end list that I overlooke...AltCountryForum (Translated from Dutch) Every year, I find a CD in my year end list that I overlooked for some reason and I think, wow, this one's a beauty. A good example is the CD "Seventh Day" by Canadian steel guitar virtuoso Richard Henderson, a CD that was released at the beginning of the year but I entirely missed. With the acoustic steel guitar flat on his lap and his tonebar gliding over the strings, Richard produces exceptional results. The notes fly to your ears on his solo debut album. Richard's vocals are edgy: sometimes grinding and raw, sometimes poignant and emotional. Intense blues covers such as Bo Didley's Who Do You Love, I'm A King Bee by Slim Harpo, and Prodigal Son by Robert Wilkins are interspersed with some excellent original songs. Besides Henderson's sultry vocals and solid lap steel playing, the album contains only minimal musical ornamentation with the occasional washboard, mandolin or ripping harp. "Seventh Day" is a very organic, minimally produced recording and Henderson keeps my attention with sophisticated arrangements and clever rhythm changes. Richard Henderson treats the listener to a wonderful musical experience on this solo acoustic album.

Setlist

The following is a representative sample of some of the songs that I perform.

Judgment Day (original)
Your Papa Don't Know (original)
7th Day (original)
Whiskey Annie (original)
Don't Tell Me (original)
8 Cylinder Blues (original)
Black Horse (original)
Life During Wartime
Gimme Shelter
Folsom Prison
Walking On The Moon
Watching The Detectives
We Gotta Get Outta This Place
Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Layla
Crossroads
Wild Night
You Can't Catch Me
Nadine
Honky Tonk Blues
Summertime Blues
Under The Boardwalk
Highway 61 Revisited
Like A Rolling Stone
Hey Mr. Tambourine Man
You Gotta Move
Prodigal Son
I'm Ready
I Just Want To Make Love To You
Who Do You Love
You Can't Judge A Book
King Bee
Little Red Rooster
What A Shame
Down Home Girl
Route 66
You Can't Always Get What You Want
They Call Me The Breeze
Statesboro Blues
I Ain't Got You
Hip Shake
Keep On Rockin' In The Free World
Refugee
Should I Stay Or Should I Go
Slip Slidin' Away

Basic Requirements

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