View video tribute (12 minutes, 21M) SPECIAL RECOGNITION Jon Hendricks, Toledo Nominated By:Toledo Jazz Society

Jon Hendricks is Distinguished Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Toledo and the director of the Jon Hendricks Vocalstra, a student vocal group. He brings more than 70 years of vocal experience to the university and is recognized as the father of vocalese, a singing style that is the art of setting lyrics to recorded jazz instrumental standards, then arranging voices to sing the parts of the instruments. In 1957, Hendricks partnered with Dave Lambert and Annie Ross to form the legendary vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. He served as the group's lyricist and the trio performed vocalese around the world, earning them the honor of the "Number One Vocal Group in the World" by Melody Maker magazine for five straight years. He served as the jazz critic for the San Francisco Chronicle and taught classes at California State University at Sonoma and the University of California at Berkeley. Hendricks was recently selected to be the first American jazz artist to lecture at the Sorbonne in Paris and his 15 member group performed to a standing ovation. His contributions to the Toledo community include assisting in the planning of last year's Art Tatum Jazz Heritage Festival and giving numerous performances in high schools, at public libraries and private parties in his home. A master musician, Jon Hendricks is a tireless ambassador in the continuing education and performance of jazz throughout the world.