Oral history interview with Nona Hendryx, 2010

Biographical Note

Vocalist, performer, song writer, avantgarde, soul, pop and new-age musician and collaborator, actress

Scope and Contents

Background and childhood: born 1944 in Trenton, New Jersey; early years in New Jersey. Was recruited for girl group Patty Labelle and the Bluebelles as a teenager, toured with Labelle and bandmates Sarah Dash and Cindy Birdsong; group would transform (minus Birdsong) to Labelle in 1971, changing its image to one noted for theatrical costumes, a reclaiming of rock, strong Black, female presence and the 1974 hit "Lady Marmalade." Wrote and co-wrote many of Labelle's songs; later pursued a solo career noted for multi-genre output and collaborations with range of artists and musicians including Talking Heads, Prince, Peter Gabriel, Keith Richards

Subjects

• African American women singers--Interviews.
• Apollo Theater (New York, N.Y. : 125th Street)
• Bluebells (Musical group)
• Hendryx, Nona--Interviews.
• Kisiedu, Harald, interviewer.--http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/ivr
• Labelle (Musical group)

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University of the City of New York and the Apollo Theater Foundation, 2010