Performance · Production

Michael Henderson

real name Michael Scott Henderson

US jazz/funk bassist

United States · 1951-07-07 – 2022-07-19

Michael Henderson is credited on 819 releases across 186 albums tracked on Gatefold, active 1968–2025 — the collector-built map of who actually made the music.

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Photo of Michael Henderson

819

Credits

186

Albums

7

Decades active

559

In collections

Biography

source

Showing the Discogs bio

Bassist, singer/songwriter, producer and arranger, born July 7, 1951 in Yazoo City, Mississippi. Died July 19, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.
For US country songwriter, see Mike Henderson (Michael James Henderson).
For the US West Coast arranger / sax player, see Mike Henderson.
Henderson was one of the first notable bass guitarists of the fusion era as well as being one of the most influential jazz and soul musicians of the past 40 years. In addition to Davis, he played and recorded with Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, the Dramatics, among many others.[7]
Before working with Davis, Henderson had been touring with Stevie Wonder, whom he met at the Regal Theater in Chicago while warming up for a gig. Davis saw the young Henderson performing at the Copacabana in New York City in early 1970 and reportedly said to Wonder simply "I'm taking your fucking bassist." After almost seven years with Davis, Henderson focused on songwriting and singing in a solo career that produced many hit songs and albums for Buddah Records until his retirement in 1986.[7] Although known primarily for ballads, he was an influential funk player whose riffs and songs have been widely covered. He is also known for his ballad vocalizing on several Norman Connors hit recordings, including "You Are My Starship" and "Valentine Love", performed with Jean Carn.
At the time of his death, Henderson was in a relationship with DaMia Satterfield, and separated from his wife, Adelia Thompson. He had three children, and lived in the Atlanta suburb of Dallas, Georgia, where he died from cancer on July 19, 2022, aged 71.

Bio from Discogs

Credited work

819 releases · 186 albums · active 1968–2025

  • Performance · 1,495
  • Production · 214
  • Other credits · 32

Studios: Festival Hall, Osaka · United Sound Systems · Sigma Sound Studios · Muscle Shoals Sound Studios

Discography

Records they worked on — most-collected first.

Frequent collaborators

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