Michael Henderson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Henderson
Performing in 1971
Background information
Birth name	Michael Earl Henderson
Born	(1951-07-07)July 7, 1951 Yazoo City, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	July 19, 2022(2022-07-19) (aged 71) Dallas, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	R&B, jazz, funk, soul, pop
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Vocals, bass
Years active	1970–2022
Labels	Buddah Records, Arista, EMI-Capitol
Associated acts	Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Ray Parker Jr., Jean Carn, Norman Connors

Michael Earl Henderson (July 7, 1951 – July 19, 2022) was an American bass guitarist and vocalist. He was known for his work with Miles Davis in the early 1970s and on early fusion albums such as Jack Johnson, Live-Evil, and Agharta, along with a series of his own R&B/soul hits and others featuring him on vocals, particularly the Norman Connors-produced hit "You Are My Starship" in 1976 and other songs in the mid to late-1970s.

Early life

Michael Earl Henderson was born on July 7, 1951, in Yazoo City, Mississippi. In the early 1960s he moved to Detroit, playing as a session musician.

Career

Henderson was one of the first notable bass guitarists of the fusion era as well as being one of the most influential jazz and soul musicians of the past 40 years. In addition to Davis, he played and recorded with Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, the Dramatics, among many others.

Before working with Davis, Henderson had been touring with Stevie Wonder, whom he met at the Regal Theater in Chicago while warming up for a gig. ....." After almost seven years with Davis, Henderson focused on songwriting and singing in a solo career that produced many hit songs and albums for Buddah Records until his retirement in 1986. Although known primarily for ballads, he was an influential funk player whose riffs and songs have been widely covered. He is also known for his ballad vocalizing on several Norman Connors hit recordings, including "You Are My Starship" and "Valentine Love", performed with Jean Carn.

Personal life and death

At the time of his death, Henderson was in a relationship with DaMia Satterfield, and separated from his wife, Adelia Thompson. He had three children, and lived in the Atlanta suburb of Dallas, Georgia, where he died from cancer on July 19, 2022, aged 71.

Solo discography

Singing at Sunset Junction Festival in Los Angeles, 2008

Studio albums

Singles

Collaborations

With Miles Davis

• The Cellar Door Sessions (1970)
• A Tribute to Jack Johnson (1971)
• Live-Evil (1971)
• On the Corner (1972)
• In Concert: Live at Philharmonic Hall (1973)
• Big Fun (1974)
• Get Up with It (1974)
• Agharta (1976)
• Pangaea (1975)
• Dark Magus (1977)
• The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions (Columbia Legacy, 2003)
• The Complete On the Corner Sessions (Columbia Legacy, 2007)
• Miles Davis at Newport 1955–1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4 (Columbia Legacy, 2015)

With Stevie Wonder

• Live at the Talk of the Town (1970)

With The Dramatics

• Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get (1971)