Jerome Hendrix – more than just a name!

Thursday 22 January 2004

Jerome Hendrix – more than just a name!

You’d expect Jerome Hendrix to be sick of hearing it during an interview, but you just have to ask whether he is related to possibly the most influential guitarist known to mankind.

“Are your families associated at all?”

And with a full-bodied voice that hints at sweet sounding harmonies to come, Jerome Hendrix replies with a loose affirmative.

“Well, I’ve done a bit of research and we are possibly related. Let’s just say, there is nothing that proves otherwise at this stage!”

Jerome Hendrix and Co will perform at Gisborne’s Poverty Bay Club this Saturday 7 February 2004, from 8pm.

Armed with over 40 years experience singing soul, and rhythm and blues, Jerome Hendrix and his 6-strong soul band will bring the cool sounds of Harry Connick Jnr and the class of Frank Sinatra to Gisborne.

He warns local soul divas and big band fans they can also expect to hear the music of James Brown, Bill Withers, and Sly and the Family Stone.

“I’m really looking forward to being in Gisborne,” Hendrix said from his Auckland home earlier in the week. I came once with the Roger Fox Big Band but that was ten years ago so it’s time I visited again.”

Jerome, originally from San Francisco, California, began his career in New Zealand back in the eighties.

Since that time he has always performed in a big band, but he has also starred in a number of theatre productions, advertisements and more recently recorded background vocals for New Zealand pop teen idol Brooke Fraser.

It is Hendrix’ spirited and vivid tones you can hear in Fraser’s recent recording of her hit album Lifeline.

He says the recording contract happened by chance and he, nor the band, foresaw the sensation the performers’ combined sounds would create.

“We were asked if we would do some of the backing music and vocals on her latest album and none of us knew she would just go! Now we are just so proud of her.”

Back in the sixties and seventies Hendrix and a previous band opened for acts such as The Turtles, Buffalo Springfield, The Hollies and Jefferson Airplane.

Twice he and his band opened for Jimi Hendrix.

“We had no idea the caliber of the man. I mean we knew he was a great guitarist but we were just kids. He played his first song, Foxy Lady, and blew his amp.”

“I guess we should have sat down then and worked out if we were related!”

Get along to:
Jerome Hendrix and Co
The Dome Room, the Poverty Bay Club, 8pm
Ticket Sales: $25 for show and supper
Door sales only: $10.00

ENDS

© Scoop Media