Nona Hendryx facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nona Hendryx
Hendryx performing at the Bowery Poetry Club as part of the Captain Beefheart tribute Best Batch Yet (June 7, 2011)
Background information
Birth name	Nona Bernis Hendryx
Born	(1944-10-09) October 9, 1944 (age 80) Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Funk soul pop R&B hard rock funk rock new wave new-age
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter record producer
Instruments	Vocals piano guitar
Years active	1961–present
Labels	ZE Epic Arista RCA Private Music EMI Righteous Babe
Associated acts	Labelle Material Talking Heads Jean Beauvoir

Nona Bernis Hendryx, born on October 9, 1944, is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer. She is famous for her solo music and for being one of the three members of the group Labelle. This group had a huge hit song called "Lady Marmalade".

Nona released her first solo album in 1977. Later, in the early 1980s, she sang with the funk group Material. They had a popular song called "Busting Out". Material also helped produce her second album, Nona (1983). This album featured the song "Keep It Confidential," which became a hit on the R&B and Dance charts. Another song from that album, "Transformation," became one of Nona's most well-known songs.

In 1985, Nona Hendryx wrote and recorded "Rock This House" with Keith Richards. This song was nominated for a Grammy Award. She also recorded songs for movies like Moving Violations and Perfect. Nona joined the Artists United Against Apartheid project. They released the international hit song "Sun City" to protest against unfair laws in South Africa. Her 1987 song "Why Should I Cry?" became a Top 10 R&B hit. Nona also received an Emmy nomination in 1996 for her music and lyrics. Her music style includes soul, funk, R&B, hard rock, and new wave. She is a distant cousin of the famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix.

Nona Hendryx's Music Journey

Starting Out in Music

Nona Hendryx was born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1944. There, she met Sarah Dash and later Patricia Holte (Patti LaBelle). Nona and Sarah formed a singing group with Patti. In 1961, Cindy Birdsong joined them, and they became known as The Bluebelles. They signed their first record deal.

Their first hit was "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman" in 1962. After this, their name changed to Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. Nona's voice was a deep, husky alto. The group became famous for their powerful live shows. They often sang classic songs like "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "Over The Rainbow". The group competed with other popular girl groups of the time. In 1967, Cindy Birdsong left to join The Supremes. Years later, the Bluebelles reunited when they won an award in 1999.

Becoming Labelle

For the next three years, the group found it hard to fit in with new music trends. Their old "girl group" sound was not as popular. In 1971, they moved to England, where they had many fans. Following advice from Vicki Wickham, they changed their name to Labelle. They also changed their look, swapping fancy dresses for jeans and Afro hairstyles.

They released new albums like Labelle (1971) and Moon Shadow (1972). These albums included songs about political topics, which was new for an all-female Black group. Nona became the main songwriter for most of Labelle's songs. Her songs were often unique and experimental. In 1974, the group became very successful with their album Nightbirds. This album included their huge hit song "Lady Marmalade".

The group broke up in 1976 due to musical differences. Patti, Sarah, and Nona all started their own solo careers.

Nona's Solo Career Highlights

Nona Hendryx appearing at 2009 Pop Conference, Experience Music Project, Seattle, Washington. (April 6, 2009)

In 1977, Nona released her first solo album. It was a mix of soul and hard rock. This album did not sell well, but Nona kept making music. She also sang background vocals for other artists, including Talking Heads.

In the early 1980s, Nona led her own rock group called Zero Cool. At the same time, she sang with the funk group Material. They had a big dance club hit with "Busting Out". Material also produced her second album, Nona, in 1983. This album had a modern dance sound. The song "Keep It Confidential" became a hit on the R&B charts. The song "Transformation" became one of Nona's most famous songs. Many other artists helped on her album, including Laurie Anderson and Patti LaBelle.

In the mid-1980s, Nona recorded songs for movie soundtracks. These included the theme for Moving Violations and "I Sweat (Going Through the Motions)" from the movie Perfect. Her album The Art of Defense was released in 1984.

In 1985, Nona wrote and recorded "Rock This House" with Keith Richards. This song was nominated for a Grammy Award. That same year, she joined the Artists United Against Apartheid project. She sang on the song "Sun City" with many famous artists like Bruce Springsteen and Bono. This song was a strong protest against unfair laws in South Africa.

Her biggest solo hit was "Why Should I Cry?" in 1987. It reached the top 5 on the R&B charts. Her album Female Trouble featured many great musicians. Around this time, she joined the Black Rock Coalition, a group that supports Black rock musicians.

Nona also explored new age music with her album Skin Diver. Critics liked it, and the song "Women Who Fly" was later covered by Jefferson Starship.

Nona has continued to record music and collaborate with many artists. She has written songs for Dusty Springfield and produced albums for others. She has also appeared in films and TV shows. In the show The L Word, she appeared as herself and sang her song "Transformation."

Later Career and Labelle Reunions

Nona Hendryx still performs and writes music for theater. She also formed her own record label, Rhythmbank, in 2005.

The members of Labelle have reunited several times since their breakup. They performed together for Patti LaBelle's video "Live in New York." They also recorded the dance hit "Turn It Out" for a movie soundtrack in 1995. In 2006, Labelle reunited to record "Dear Rosa," a song honoring civil rights leader Rosa Parks. Nona also composed the music for the film Preaching to the Choir.

In late 2008, Labelle released a new album called Back to Now. They then went on a successful concert tour in 2009. Nona explained that fans really wanted them to reunite. She also said that Patti LaBelle was convinced to make a new record after hearing the song "Dear Rosa."

Nona Hendryx has also written a children's book called The Brownies. In 2012, she released her digital album Mutatis Mutandis on CD. She appeared on the TV show Later... with Jools Holland to promote it. She also performed in a tribute concert for Captain Beefheart with the Metropole Orchestra.

In 2016, Nona released new songs, including "Shine (This Is It)" with the DJ duo Soul Clap. She also released an album of Captain Beefheart cover songs with guitarist Gary Lucas. In 2018, Nona released an EP called Keep Funkin', produced by Soul Clap, with help from Nile Rodgers.

Nona's Life and Activism

Nona Hendryx has lived in New York City since the 1970s. She is an activist for equal rights. In 2008, she joined Cyndi Lauper on her True Colors Tour. This tour helped raise awareness about fairness and support for the LGBT community.

Nona Hendryx's Music Albums

Albums

• Nona Hendryx, 1977, Epic
• Nona, 1983, RCA Records
• The Art of Defense, 1984, RCA
• The Heat, 1985, RCA
• Female Trouble, 1987, EMI
• Skin Diver 1989, Private Music
• You Have to Cry Sometime (with Billy Vera), 1992, Shanachie Records
• It's Time (with Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnics), 2011, Katalyst Entertainment
• Mutatis Mutandis, 2012, Righteous Babe Records
• The World of Captain Beefheart (with Gary Lucas), 2017, Knitting Factory Records

Compilations

• Transformation – The Best of Nona Hendryx 1999, Razor & Tie
• Rough & Tough 2001, EMI

Singles and EPs

• "Everybody Wants to Be Somebody", 1977, Epic
• "You're the Only One That I Ever Needed", 1979, Arista Records
• "Love It", 1979, Arista
• "Snakes Alive", 1979, Arista
• "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart", 1980, Barclay
• "Busting Out", 1980, Island Records
• "Holiday", 1980, Island Records
• "Do What You Wanna Do", 1982, Metropolis
• "Keep It Confidential", 1983, RCA
• "Transformation", 1983, RCA
• "B-Boys", 1983, RCA
• "I Sweat (Going Through The Motions)", 1984, RCA
• "To the Bone", 1984, RCA
• "Heart of a Woman", 1984, RCA
• "If Looks Could Kill (D.O.A.)", 1985, RCA
• "Sun City", 1985, Manhattan Records
• "I Need Love", 1985, RCA
• "Baby Go-Go", 1987, EMI
• "Why Should I Cry?", 1987, EMI
• "Winds of Change (Mandela to Mandela)", 1987, EMI
• "SkinDiver", 1989, Private Music Records
• "Women Who Fly", 1989, Private Music Records
• "Urgently in Love", (with Billy Crawford), 1998
• "It's a Party", (with Bounty Killer), 1998
• "The Ballad of Rush Limbaugh", 2010
• "The Tea Party", 2011
• "In Praise of Older Men (Father, Brother, Lover, Son)", 2016
• "Walk with Me", 2016
• "Shine (This Is It) (With Soul Clap)", 2016
• "Shine (This Is It) (With Soul Clap) (EP)", 2017
• "Keep Funkin'", 2018, Soul Clap Records

Nona Hendryx in Film and TV

Film

• Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1978, a small role in the ending
• Heartbreakers, 1984 (song "Transformation")
• Landlord Blues, 1987, she wrote the music and sang the title song, also acted as attorney "Sally Viscuso"
• Gospa, 1995, she composed music for this film
• Preaching to the Choir, a.k.a. On the One, 2006, she composed music for this film

Television

• People: A Musical Celebration, 1996, she composed music for this show
• The L Word, season 3 episode 8, 2006, she appeared as herself

Theater

• Blue, 2001, she composed music for this play
• The Who's Tommy ("The Acid Queen"), 2008, she performed in this musical

Radio

• Playback '78, 1978, an interview
• Interchords, 1978, an interview

Images for kids

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  Hendryx with Gary Lucas, Nina Persson and others at the Best Batch Yet tribute to Captain Beefheart