By Litchfield Performing Arts, a not-for-profit educational charity.

Bill Henderson 1926-2016

Date Posted: Apr 5, 2016

Mourning Bill Henderson, an amazing singer and beautiful human being. We were honored to present him not once but twice at the Litchfield Jazz Festival. Our hearts go out to his beautiful daughter and his whole family. Bill had just turned 90.

Bill Henderson, my favorite male vocalist, has passed away at the age of 90.  I first discovered Bill on The Art of the Song, a gorgeous album by Charlie Haden.  I listened to it over and over and decided I must track down the source of this moving and beautiful voice.I finally found it in the form of our own Matt Wilson.  Matt was the drummer on that recording and he told me he did not know where Bill was exactly but that every time he appeared in the Bay Area Bill appeared in the club. Problem solved.  I got in touch with Bill’s daughter who was also his manager.  He was 83 at the time and functionally blind but still singing as beautifully as ever. So we brought Bill to the festival and to share his pearls of wisdom with our campers, not once but twice.  And it was a thrill I will never forget. Check out his music for a heavenly experience.– Vita Muir

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