In a 1997 he told the AP "Let's do something artistic so that the Earth will at least know we were here."
They called it "vocalese" and Jon Hendricks was its pioneer. It was the art of adding words to instrumental songs.
Hendricks was a Grammy winner. He won for best male jazz vocal in 1985 for his contribution to Bobby McFerrin's on "Another Night in Tunisia," a track on Manhattan Transfer's "Vocalese."
Hendricks wrote the lyrics for the entire album which included music by Ray Charles, Quincy Jones and others. The album was nominated for 12 Grammys and walked away with three trophies.
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