Jimmy Henderson: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Louis Jordan
• Hank Haslett
• Mifflin Branford
• Herbie Miles

• Tiny Grimes
• Lester Melrose
• Ernie Price
• Chuck Barksdale
• The Mills Brothers
• Austin Powell

• The Cats & the Fiddle

Died:

Jan 1, 1940

Genres:

Jazz Music, Swing

Decades Active:

1930's|1940's

"I Miss You So" is an example of a song that is more famous than its author, Jimmy Henderson. He also happens to be the singer on one of the first recordings of the ditty, the title of which would not be a statement made in regard to the flow of songwriting royalties coming from subsequent activity regarding the copyright. As a member of the group called the Cats the Fiddle, Henderson enjoyed a wave of popularity, but the group eventually developed into a subject of discussion for nostalgia specialists only. In the meantime, "I Miss You So" continues to be treated to interpretations by dozens of popular singers, from Paul Anka to Charlie Rich.

Henderson's career as a performer, playing the tiple (a small, 12string Spanish guitar) and guitar as well as singing, was directly inspired by the members of the Mills Brothers. Austin Powell founded the group in 1937, with Henderson weighing in as one of the original members. While lumped in with many similarsounding harmony vocal groups from the period, the Cats the Fiddle were actually one of very few that didn't need to bring in outside musicians to provide a band accompaniment. In terms of being a selfcontained unit, this was a bit more like a rock combo than a vocal group. The aforementioned hit song of longing was one of the group's bigger early hits upon its original release in 1940. Sadly, Henderson can't be said to have basked in the success of his vocal on this number instead, he was tossed into the hospital with meningitis right after the side hit the streets. He died later that year.

- Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide