This is very heartbreaking but I want you all to know that my father loved all of his fans as if they were friends. He has just passed a couple of hours ago I want to thank you deeply for making this video we talked about it all the time. I can’t write anything else more right now. Thank you all. I will be sending the celebration of life info soon #MichaelHendersonforever

My condolences to Michael's family and friends. I was Michael's personal valet/ roadie, bass player, and road manager in the early 80's. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Michael was a big kid at heart, and had a great sense of humor. He also possessed a wealth of knowledge. He loved to play basketball with the band members, eat Wendy's burgers, and Haagen Das ice cream. In my view, he was one of the most versatile R&B artists of that time. From the funk genre we toured with everyone from Kool and the Gang (Celebration tour), The Gap Band, Cameo, Slave, Roger and Zapp, to name a few. And from the "singer's" genre Ashford and Simpson, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Bobby Womack, Luther Vandross, Frankie Beverly and Maze, and Teddy Pendergrass, again to name a few. Michael always did more than hold his own, he got down! Aside from his virtuoso bass playing , producing, and songwriting skills, he had a powerful voice with incredible vocal range as well. Being from the "Old School", when he was feeling it, he'd put the microphone down, bring the band waaay down and fill whatever sized venue we were playing with just pure his vocals (taking his time!). It was not only amazing to see and hear, but also required a ton of talent and confidence. Over the years he shared numerous stories with me about his career, but never boasted. In fact, I didn't learn that he was the bass player on Marvin Gaye's hit You're the Man until long after I was no longer in his band. I could go on....I miss my friend!! (btw there's a post in this thread that mentions the very talented drummer/songwriter, Jerome Jones. Jerry and I were roommates in his 2nd stint with Michael.) Peace

And my uncle, Jerome Jones, played drums for him for years! I was blessed to meet Phyllis Hyman, before her death, in Columbia, SC. She was the tallest woman ever but could sing her face off. She sang for me in the airport. I was 11 or 12. I am 55 now. I also met, in Detroit, The Doobie Brothers and I spoke to Michael Mcdonald when his hair was black! I miss those days of real music.

Perhaps I'm biased having been born in '61 but the 70's produced the best music of my lifetime, hands down. From this kind of funk, R and B and jazz to even some of the disco that ended the decade. All of it will live on forever.

Met him while touring with Eddie Kendricks in the 70’s. He invited me to his house to eat. We never talked about music, but he was the nicest guys you ever want to meet. He’s a bad man on bass. Everyone should go back a listen to his work. Check out Miles Davis’s A Tribute to Jack Johnson

You should see him freestyle the bass my dad is a legend thank you for putting this work together! Thank you. Random fact about my dad .. his biggest hit you are my starship was inspired from an actual ufo situation.

My father played that “Wide Receiver” album HEAVY while we were stationed on Okinawa in the early 80’s…..every song on it is AMAZING!!!! 🙏🏾❤️

I’m not even a bassist or a professional musician, but these videos are so enlightening. They really enhance my listening. You are my Starship is such a beautiful song. I believe Jean Carns did a version of it.

He was also a killer on fretless bass. A lot of his hits were played on a fretless. A true underrated bass monster.

I saw him in concert doing this song I was in the Front row...very underrated bass player...he open up For Larry Graham that night!

Henderson is one of the few guys whose move from jazz to more popular music cannot be described as a musical come-down.

My condolences to his family. Much love and respect, for one of the greatest to ever play bass!

As soon as you said, " Michael Henderson", I clicked the "like" icon!😉

Didn’t know about the speed/pitch up…thank you for the revelations👍 The bass is so soothing & therapeutic even.

I'm a "recreational" bassist. Playing bass is cathartic for me. I love learning new things about great bassists. This one was great. Thank you for the lesson. 🎸

I'm 45 and have been a metal head all my life and thanks to this video being randomly put in my suggestions, I've now discovered Michael Henderson and am LOVING Time. It's transcendent. Thank you.

The things he's did with Miles were mind-blowing. Miles liked to get the most of his band and he definitely did!

Wow, you are right on the money with this one. Recently, me and my Bass playing buddies here in Detroit, have been analyzing and really breaking down Mikes otherworldly Bass lines! Michael Henderson is definitely one of The Greatest to ever play the Bass! Thanks for presenting this👍🏾

It’s about time someone gave Michael Henderson his just due. He is an amazing bass player. Just listen to the instrumental “Solid” this is his standout on bass with his solo work. You covered some of the best R&B bass players Leon Sylvers, Paul Denman & Henderson. It’s time to do something on Mark Adams from Slave. Probably one best bass players ever.

Michael Henderson has been one of my favorite artists EVER of any genre, since I can remember listening to music. My step-dad used to play his tunes on the record player most mornings before heading to work. His voice itself was an instrument as well, let alone his bass playing abilities. An unsung and hidden gem for sure.

✌😎✌

Incredible. Been following base-players since James Jamerson (Motown). So sorry to hear of his passing. Micheal, Norman Conners and Jean Carne help sooth my anxiety when I attended college in the mid 70's. His music and style will live on through all of us who loved him.

R.I.P. To the most Influential Jazz Fusion Bassist And R&B Singer Michael Henderson Dead At 71 2022. Thank you for Highlighting him.I learned a lot.

You're a legend for making these. Don't have another bass channel that churns out these concise detail rich nuggets of bass history! As someone relatively new and who plays casually these vids have helped me immensely!

Mind blowing...I’ve loved that song since I was a child growing up in North Nashville I heard this song all the time on WVOL THE MIGHTY 147 😂😎. I never really knew how harmonically rich it was. BUT I always FELT it. Thanks you’re doing GOD’S WORK

His work with Miles and Norman Connors immortalized him with people who understand theory. His production work with The Dramatics alone should have immortalized him with everybody who loves music. He came to my HBCU, Southern University-Baton Rouge in 1977, and electrified the place. Now he, Miles and The Dramatics are all at that Great Session in the Sky. Only Norman Connors is left. RIP, Michael.

Man thank you for introducing me in the music of this superb genius bassplayer. I am just reading that he passed away. This is very sad. But his music will always live!

Absolute monster bass player. I know him mostly from his work with Miles -------- my god. I first heard him on Tribute to Jack Johnson (his hookup with Cobham on "Right Off" is insane; talk about a SHUFFLE) and was most blown away by his playing on Live Evil and The Cellar Door Sessions. Just his line on "What I Say" alone certifies his bass-immortality. Also "Maiysha" from Agharta. Words fail before the funk.

It really breaks my heart that true talented people like these don't get the recognition they deserve. Especially in our times when we have all these talentless people who can only sing in a studio making millions and not a talent on them. Smh

The first time I heard Starship was in a nightclub, Belize city 1976. It has stayed with me and is still my companion, thank you Michael Henderson. I pray your journey back to the stars whence you came was a peaceful one.

Micheal Henderson…One of the most underrated and under appreciated musicians ever!..🔥🔥🔥

Your content is incredible !! Longer and more please!!👍🏾🎶🎵❣️

I absolutely love his bass playing on "Never Explain Love" featuring Al Jarreau on the "Do The Right Thing" Soundtrack

I clicked on this video not knowing the poster would be talking about one of my all-time favorite songs. Awesome!

I am so glad you are talking about this great musician. His songs and music helped me through my college years in many ways. My all time favorite songs are "Be My Girl and You Are My Starship!!! Those 2 songs alone!!! 😀👏👏

The most underrated bass player of all time. Listen to any live recording with Miles. Everything Henderson played was soo in the pocket. His sound was huge.

Listening to Michael with Miles taught me how to hold it down an groove with just two notes. One of the best!

I was fortunate to see him with Miles, along with basically the band that's on On the Corner. He and Al Foster created the funkiest shit I've ever witnessed that night. Straight up blew my mind.

Bless you for recognizing and sharing the genius of beloved Michael Henderson. Thank you for breaking down the technique that was applied to this beautiful composition. Mr Henderson’s comfortable relationship with and knowledge of the bass is what we aspire to experience firsthand each time we pick up a instrument.

I love Michael Henderson's At the Concert and In the Night Time - But I'm blown away with Starship with the underlying bass movements, Fascinating!

Thank you for your amazingness! You're bringing some much-needed conversations on my favorite bassists. I'm a bassist from Detroit. I grew up listening to Michael Henderson. His work with Miles, Norman Conners, and The Dramatics. Where a significant influence on how I approach bass and my songwriting. One🌈Love✌🖖

I'm 60 years old & yes, absolutely is one of my go-to songs for chillin out because that bass virtuoso is the main reason why.

Really appreciate vids like this that show there's more to being a great bass player than insane slap/pop/tap technique.

Leon Sylvers III, Robert Wilson, Robin Duhe, now Michael Henderson, I suggest you check out Lamont Johnson and Fernando Saunders next. You are a bass apostle! Thanks for this feature on Michael Henderson, I have admired him since Solid came out in 1976.

I never knew Mike sang. OMG. He's one of my fav bassists. Starship is one for the ages. Thank you for this video. 8)))

Yes yes… I absolutely LOVE this song, I can’t believe this baseline hasn’t been more talked about Even on the Norman corners UNSUNG

Great video! Thanks for putting this together, Michael Henderson is so good in how he approaches and plays the bass. I feel he was responsible for so much of what I love about Miles Davis' electric period, I was never interested in bass lines or anything like that until I heard Michael's work. The way he would insert little melodic improvisations was so clearly off-the-cuff and yet so catchy and so HEAVY. He really takes this instrument into new realms. I appreciate your giving his virtuosity some quality attention!

I love your intro sir, straight to the point.....then he speaks 😇 Simply divine Oh and thank you so much for the bass lessons So clean and easy to follow Now to get me a bass to learn with

Saxophonist Dave Liebman has stated that Michael Henderson was the guy responsible for the groove oriented change in Miles Davis's band sound, even though Miles had used other dudes paying electric in his band before (Dave Holland, Harvey Brooks); ...It was really Mike's entrance into the band that put the Funk in there, the bass being the link between the drummer and everyone else in the band, it made the fundamental reorientation in Miles' sound. That reorientation towards the funk and groove is what made 'On The Corner' possible and is what also laid the ground towards Miles' 16th note based, Funk sound of the 1980s and 1990s.

Like some of the folks below, my most impressionable time growing up was in the 60s, 70s and 80s. I am truly blessed to have lived during the time of STRAIGHT UP WONDERFUL and TALENTED music artisans. Most were not only gifted with instrumental talent but also vocal talent...i.e. Motown, the Philly sounds, the Isley Brothers, the Ohio Players, Chicago, The Eagles, Average White Band, Bloodstone, Harold Melvin/Blue Notes, the Dramatics, Enchantment, Curtis Mayfield, etc. Michael Henderson was up there with THE VERY BEST! What a talent! Thank you for posting/sharing this with others! Michael Henderson, THANK YOU for such timeless, classical, soulful R&B music. REST IN MUSIC HEAVEN!

RIP to one of the smoothest but quirky (suprising note combos!) Jazz/ R&B "Bottom men" in music...😔 Had both Stevie AND Miles in his musical DNA! 😍🎼🎵🎶🙏

...and here all this time I thought Norman Connors was the vocalist on this song. I bought the album back in 76, and still have it. Haven't played it in decades. Gonna dig it out and rediscover it. Thanks for the spotlight on a bass player I really didn't know very much of anything about. Incidentally, if you're running out of bassist to introduce (or reintroduce, as the case might be) Philadelphia session bass player James, or "Jimmy" Williams would be an excellent choice. He held down "The Sound of Philadelphia" for Teddy Pendergrass, et.al. His bass lines in Love TKO are a "knockout" (pun intended) in and of themselves. Give it a close listen. No knuckle bustin' solos peppered with thumbnail splitting slaps and pops. Just soft smooth outlining statements, that could easily be solos, equally stunning as T.P.'S unforgettable voice was.

MH is awesome! I've seen him live in Chicago several times. I tried learning Starship back in the day. I now know why I didn't quite have his sound. Thanks.

Man, this is my favorite series on the internet! Every episode is BOMB! Thanks!

Huge fan of Michael Henderson. Amazing that I found his lps in Britain without any sawcuts or punch holes. He was a fantastic singer too. My favourite songs include "In the Night Time" "Take Me I'm Yours" and "Valentine Love". Such an underrated artist/bassist/singer.

I've always appreciated Michael Henderson's music and this bass breakdown of "You Are My Starship" is mind blowing! I agree that he MUST HAVE written it on bass! The double stops he plays create the mood and feeling of the song. Michael KNEW what he was doing.

MH is already a legend for his work with Miles. He's also an incredible solo artist. I still have my copy of Solid.

Great tribute to a great musician. My only quibble is that you didn’t mention his greatest pop/r&b song: “Take Me I’m Yours!”

Michael Henderson is an underrated bass player. This was a well explained video to us that are not musicians. I still think the best funk bassist of all time was Mark Adams of Slave.

Very strange that I was just playing the best of Norman Connor and Friends on vinyl days ago and this shows up on my timeline. A timeless masterpiece.

Once again!!! U nailed it!!!! Michael Henderson, was, and is still very underated, Lucky that I downloaded him and Norman Connors on one of many mp3 🍎🍏 players, thank you for turning bass enthusiast on to him, outstanding Job

I collect and dj old hip hop, funk, and soul records and I found "Solid" a few years ago. So funky, great record. Thanks for the video, I really didn't know much about him and his career. Thank you for the education.

I discovered him listening to the miles era. He is phenomenal one of the best ever. Very under rated

I Like it when homage is paid to someone who brings a unique clarity on an instrument. Henderson was a monster player who deserves extra recognition.

The bass lines and woodwind solo are just great!!

AS A FELLOW MEMBER OF THE AARP CROWD AND SET,LET ME JUST GIVE MICHAEL HENDERSON AN OLD SKOOL SHOUT OUT FROM ME TO HIM.AS OF 6-13-22,MICHAEL IS STILL ALIVE AND TOURING AT AGE 70 NOW.YOU GO MICHAEL.👋👋👋👋

Bro, you blew my mind with the fact that he SANG THIS. I thought for YEARS that Norman Connors did!

This is so great. My friends used to argue it was dissonance, but I argued it was advanced theory. He does a killer 16th note run in that tune that absolutely kills. Thanks for your hard work uncovering this stuff 👍

So glad to see some attention brought to the amazing Michael Henderson. Great job with the content here.

Thank you, Sir. Thank you. There aren't enough thank yous because this song is perhaps one of the most underrated masterpieces in human history. Simply incredible. So glad you did this review.

I have always had big respect for Mr. Henderson's Bass skills. His Bass lines on "In the Night Time" are extremely tight.

Thank you for this great reminder of Michael Henderson's greatness. I brought those great solo albums of his and like someone else said, he is SO underrated for his great work. The tension he generates with that ill run always rings in my ring when I think of this song.

I've worked with Sly Stone in the studio and he said that You have 5 keys you can get to when you speed up or slow down tape. The original key a half to a whole step up and a half to a whole step down. So It is four keys from the original. I've learned so much from working with my cousin. He is a true genius.

DAMN DAMN DAMN!!! Finally! Music theory and the history of my favorite bassist and vocalist! FANTASTIC!!!

pdbass I'm so excited to learn this! Thank you for making a video about and explaining a bass legend. I don't know much about music, just like what I like in every genre. Your examples help me appreciate Mr. Henderson's talent even more! I've always believed that a bass is the heartbeat of a song. What a multi-talented individual. Great video!

OMG!!! I didnt know Michael Henderson sang “You Are My Starship”! That’s one of my FAVORITE songs. Thanks man. I just started playing the bass. I’ve subbed to your channel. Looking forward to more education.

glad you covered this, that song was sampled in mobb deep's trife life (which is one of my favorite mobb deep songs) and it turns out the original song is just as dope!!

I luv your musical insights, they seem to come on many of my favorite songs as well. It really makes me pull these records back out and listen in a whole new perspective. Thank you brother, for breaking down the incredible musicianship in these videos

Thank you for doing this. I'm trying to make my thoughts as clear as possible. So many of our musicians have inspired us to do other work (I'm not an musician) and strangely their music have marked a moment, an instance of being that we will never forget. Again continue the work.

Wow! Who knew?!! I did not realize that Michael Henderson was a consummate bassist as well as singer! Thank you for doing an examination of the You Are My Starship track and the "double stop" technique --- fascinating, thank you!!

Been a fan for years - favorite LP "In The Nighttime" He also had a duet with Roberta Flack "At The Concert". Had the pleasure of meeting him at LAX back in the day. Check out "Whisper In My Ear".

Thanks for the tip - I adore 70's soul & funk - I knew the name from Miles Davis - I had no idea that song was sped up.

Not only a great video for revealing some fun new bass study, but also I feel like it gives me all new insight into the definition of “illest!” Like … it’s so cool, and it also makes your head feel a little weird, but in a good way! Looking forward to checking out more videos.

There's no End to Michael Henderson's Versatility, He literally did just about everything in the R&B World a Bass Player could ever Imaging doing.

Rest In Peace Mr Henderson. Thank you for this tribute to him.

He was fantastic with Miles Davis, he was so young too!! I still LOVE On The Corner. What an amazing opportunity for such a young man at the time, great stuff.

My daddy dedicated this song to my mom back in the day, so it's a favorite. Didn't realize how badass it is, thanks for the breakdown. Thank you Michael Henderson for this magic

I always thought Norman Connors was singing lead. thanks for the info. Wide receiver is a tight track too

Paul thanks so much for this information as a teen of the 70’s this Music truly resonants with me. Kudos!

It was meant for me to find this video I literally just listened to you are my starship seconds ago your dad's voice glided over the song so beautifully I fell in love with the song in the 90's after hearing my mom's record collection I heard the original first so when the samples and covers started coming I knew where they originated from LL Cool J , Mobb Deep borrowed it for hip hop tracks and the best cover versions are Conya Doss and Kenny Lattimore none of those top the original I hope you know how much your dad was appreciated by fans of all ages Valentine Love was another beautiful composition I will never forget your dad commenting on a mobb deep video telling the young people about the song you are my starship thanks so much may your dad rip we appreciate ❤ you for sharing him with us .

One of the things I've learned since taking bass seriously is that some of the most astonishing or difficult lines can be entirely overlooked by the majority of listeners, even other bass players. This is the kind of line that one could appreciate without ever realizing the level of difficulty / creativity required to pull it off. It's far more obvious when a drummer or guitarist does such a thing, but can be extremely subtle when done on the bass.

With Miles Davis, Michael Henderson had the uncanny ability to play a simple phrase over and over for long periods, with each repetition sounding as though you were hearing it for the first time.

A great episode! You and Michael Henderson have inspired me to tackle 3rds and sevenths! Incredible! 😊👏🏾🎸💯 Rest in Heaven Michael. 🙏🏾

Amen, brother! I bought that record back in the day! So magical and mysterious. You've really picked the perfect example, and it's great to see it laid out in front of us. THANK YOU!!! yeah, the end of the chorus. And the "Baby Yeah!" - he sang it too?!!! Wow.

Check out the bass line of “In The Night Time”. Clever syncopation.

Henderson also said that the "Starship" bassline was originally intended for a Miles Davis composition, but Miles said no.

With out naming him in the title I'm so glad and respect, happy to watched this..

So very sorry for the loss of your Dad, Michael Henderson. He was a musical genius, and one of the best bass players ever. Love and healing light 🥀❤️‍🩹😞✨

R.I.P Michael Henderson you will be truly missed by your family and your peers inside and outside of the music industry.Your music will forever live in on. Thank you for sharing your special talents for the world to hear.

Love that song. I couldn’t figure out what was happening with the chords so….Thanks!