Born the ninth child and seventh son of Rev. and Mrs. A. B. Hendricks in Newark, Ohio, on September 16, 1921, Jon Hendricks began his singing career in his father's church with his mother because, as he puts it, "My father couldn't carry a tune in a bucket."

In high school in Toledo, Ohio, Jon wrote, produced and starred in "Scotts-A-Poppin'", the yearly revue at Scott High School while performing three evenings a week on local radio as featured lead singer with a group known as "The Swing Buddies", all the while maintaining a straight "A" average scholastically.

During military service in England, he staged and starred in numerous revues for American and British military personnel, some of which he wrote. Following honorable discharge in December, 1946, Jon enrolled as a pre-law student in the University of Toledo where he maintained the highest possible scholastic average, 3.5, while playing drums and singing seven nights a week.

One night, Charlie Parker, the legendary alto saxophonist, came through Toledo and met Jon, having heard about him from fellow Toledoan, family friend and neighbor, Art Tatum, who once accompanied Jon. Parker convinced Jon that he should come to New York, "pay his dues" and conquer the big city, all of which Jon did in due course beginning with his recording of Cloudburst with Dave Lambert which Britisher Don Lang (ne Gordon Langhorne) made number one in England, including Sing A Song Of Basie, which launched Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, easily the most remarkable vocal group in music history, and culminating with Yeh-Yeh which another Britisher, Georgie Fame, made number one all over the world.

Now appearing in cabaret as a single attraction, Jon Hendricks has garnered well-deserved rave reviews wherever he has appeared. His act can only be described as extraordinary. He has appeared at the Royal Albert Hall on a concert with Donovan and his appearance was a sensation. Mick Jagger of the "Rolling Stones" has called Jon "definitely an influence on me". Peter O'Toole has called Jon "absolutely A-1". Tony Bennett has called Jon "one of my five favorite vocalists". The key word to describe Jon Hendricks - performer - is "Entertainer", and this he is in every sense of the word.

As a writer, Jon Hendricks is perhaps even more extraordinary than as a performer. He wrote I Want You To Be My Baby which made a star of Lillian Briggs; Sermonette, the first big record for Della Reese, Social Call which introduced Ernestine Anderson, and the English lyric to Desafinado which launched the Bossa Nova craze and made a star of Pat Thomas and was recorded by more artists than any other song of its year. His Yeh-Yeh made Clive Powell into pop star Georgie Fame. His I'll Die Happy won the Cashbox award as the best rhythm and blues recording of 1957 as recorded by Louis Jordan.

His lyri cs for the group of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross set the style for lyric writing for years to come. Peggy Lee has called Jon's lyric to Li'l Darlin' "the best lyric I ever heard in my life", and Peggy is herself a lyricist.

In September, 1961, Jon wrote, produced, staged, directed and narrated his Evolution Of The Blues at the Monterey Festival with Miriam Makeba, Odetta, Jimmy Witherspoon, Miss Hannah Dean, "Big" Miller and the Gildo Mahones Trio, and (unscheduled) Pony Poindexter. Nine thousand people sat in 92 degrees in the shade for two hours without a break, and at the end rose as one and applauded a full 20 minutes!

Recently, when Andy Williams did his TV special, "Love, Andy", the theme was a song entitled Love Makes The World Go 'Round, composed by ... Jon Hendricks.

In 1995, Jon Hendricks joined Telarc Jazz with Boppin' at the Blue Note (CD-83320). Recorded live at the Blue Note in New York, this release featured Wynton Marsalis' scatting debut.