Jon Hendricks

Jon Hendricks was a highly influential American jazz singer and lyricist, renowned for his role in vocal jazz and the development of the "vocalese" style—adding lyrics to jazz improvisations and instrumental solos. Often called the "Founding Father of Vocal Jazz," he collaborated with many jazz greats like Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald. Hendricks's innovative storytelling through song and his mastery of complex vocal arrangements helped elevate jazz vocal art, making him a pivotal figure in 20th-century jazz music.