| Katherine Henderson | |
| Birth Date: | June 23, 1909 |
| Birth Place: | St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
| Death Place: | St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
| Instrument: | Vocals |
| Genre: | Classic female blues |
| Occupation: | Singer |
| Years Active: | 1920s–1940s |
| Label: | Brunswick, QRS |
| Associated Acts: | Clarence Williams |
Katherine Henderson (June 23, 1909[1] – September 1, 2002) was an American classic female blues singer.[2] Most of her recording sessions took place in Long Island City, New York City, in October and November 1928.[3]
Henderson was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the niece of Eva Taylor and Clarence Williams.
As a child, she performed in minstrel shows and on the vaudeville circuit.[1] In the late 1920s, she recorded around ten songs, which were issued by Brunswick Records and QRS Records. In 1927, she starred in Bottomland, an ill-fated New York–based stage musical written by Williams.[4] The show included the song "Take Your Black Bottom Dance Outside", which Henderson recorded.[5] In 1928, she married John Jackson.[6]
Henderson continued performing until 1944, long after her recording career was over.[7] [6]
According to Derrick Stewart-Baxter, Henderson's vocal style was marred by "more than a suspicion of ham", as "she put her material across in a rather lachrymose manner".[8]
She was unrelated to Fletcher, Horace, Edmonia, and Rosa Henderson.
| Year | A-side (Songwriter) | B-side (Songwriter) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | "Baltimore"[9] (Danni Healy, Irving Kahal, Jimmy McHugh) | "Take Your Black Bottom Dance Outside" (Clarence Williams, Eddie Green) | Accompanied by Clarence Williams's Blue Five |
| 1928 | "West End Blues" (Clarence Williams, King Oliver) | "Saint Louis Blues"[10] (W. C. Handy) | With Clarence Williams & His Orchestra[11] |
| 1928 | "Do It Baby"[12] (Christine Yarian, Freddie Perren) | "If You Like Me" (Spencer Williams, Clarence Williams, Fats Waller) | With Clarence Williams & His Orchestra |
| 1928 | "Lonesome Lovesick Blues" (Spencer Williams) | "Have You Ever Felt That Way?" (Agnes Castleton, Spencer Williams) | With Clarence Williams & His Orchestra[13] |
| 1928 | "What Can You Do Without Me?" (Edgar Dowell) | "Mushy Love" (M. Medina, Edgar Dowell) | With Clarence Williams & His Orchestra |