Gordon Henderson


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Gordon Henderson is an influential Dominican musician, singer, songwriter, and bandleader. As a student in the 1960s, he performed in talent shows singing soul and R&B. He was also an early calypsonian under the name Mighty Bee. In the 1970s, Henderson formed the band Voltage 4 and had success touring Martinique and Guadeloupe. He later joined Les Vikings De La Guadeloupe as their lead singer, where he penned and recorded the hit song Love, gaining popularity across the Caribbean and beyond, particularly in Suriname and the Netherlands.

Henderson is best known for founding the band Exile One in the 1970s, which he dubbed cadence-lypso, blending calypso and creole that helped dominate the French Caribbean music market. Henderson achieved great success performing cadence-lypso with Exile One, and their success in France was influential. Considered a pioneer of modern Caribbean music, his style of cadence-lypso is recognized as laying the foundation for the development of zouk and soca.

In the 1980s, he played a pivotal role in establishing Tropic FM in Paris, France, a radio station targeting the Caribbean Diaspora. He also spearheaded the creation of the annual World Creole Music Festival in Dominica. His composition Jamais Voir Ça sold over 2.5 million copies in a Brazilian version recorded by Carlos Santos under the title Quero Voce. In addition Gordon Henderson has been the recipient of numerous gold records (sales over 100,000) in France. In 2016 he received the Trailblazer Award in Washington DC from the Caribbean Institute of Cultural Studies.

ALBUMS


Gordon Henderson, Max Rambhojan
Africa Dance
2020, 2xFile, FLAC, Single, Bcr Music
Gordon Henderson
Like A Rock
2008, CD, Funkidata Music
Gordon Henderson
Cent Pour Sang Creole
2006, CD, Album, BR Production
Gordon Henderson
Cadence Zouk
1993, CD, Comp, PMF Records, ,
Zouk
Gordon Henderson / Exile One
The Best Of
1992
Magic Tub, Gordon Henderson
Zombi
1990, LP, PG Production
Exile One Featuring Gordon Henderson
It's Not Over
1988, 7", Single, Phase Production, ,
Soul
Exile One Featuring Gordon Henderson
It's Not Over
1988
Gordon Henderson
Peace In The World
1982
Pat Aaron, W.G.M Band, Gordon Henderson
We The People
1980, 7", Single, WIRL
Exile I* Dir.: Gordon Henderson
Miss Tomorrow / Which One Is Me Home ?
1976
Exile One Featuring Gordon Henderson
Aki - Yaka (L'Annee De La Femme)
1976, ,
Calypso/Compas
Exile One Featuring Gordon Henderson
Funky Crookie
1976,
Exile One Featuring Gordon Henderson
Don't Bite The Hand (That Feed You)
1976
G. Henderson* / F. Aucagos* featuring Les Vikings De La Guadeloupe
Love / Calalou
1974
Gordon Henderson
Antillanité
CD, Comp, Powder, Powder
Gordon Henderson
Fraîche
Ophelia*
I Man Suffering
2023, 7", Saultone
Various
Calypsoul 70 - Caribbean Soul & Calypso Crossover 1969-1979
2008, ,
Calypso/Soca/Afro-Cuban Jazz/Afrobeat/Zouk/Steel Band/Afro-Cuban/Beguine/Funk
Ophélia*
Very Best Of
2006, CD, Comp, HI-FI Sun
M.S.Productions*
Life
1993, CD, Maxi, M.S. Productions (3)
Ophélia*
Ophélia
1979
Julie Mourillon
Rock Your Bones
1978, LP, Album, Saultone
Fitzroy Williams
Cadeau Majestique
1978
Ophélia*
Ophélia Marie
1978
Albert Nadeau
Albert Nadeau
1977, LP, Album, Saultone
The Saultone Orchestra
Non Stop Cadence Party N° 1
1977, LP, Album, Saultone, ,
Zouk
The Saultone Orchestra
Non Stop Cadence Party N°1
1977, LP, Album, Saultone
Keith Paul*
Keith Paul
1977
Exile One
Back To Ouidah
2006, CD, Album, M/Print, Editions Zikak, MTE Records (4), ,
Zouk/Compas/Calypso
Exile One
Boomerang
1997, CD, Album, Gordon Henderson Productions
Exile One
Live 1996 - Anthology
1996, CD, Album, Gohen Music, ,
Zouk
Exile One
Twenty Twenty
1993
Exile One
Fraiche
1987, ,
Fusion/Zouk
Gordon Henderson & U Convention
Gordon Henderson & U Convention
1981
Exile One
Exile One
1977
Exile One
Exile One Greatest Hits (Revised) Volume 1
1977, ,
Reggae/Funk/Disco/Beguine
Exile One
Nous Travail Pour Ayen
1976, 7", Barclay,
Exile One
Fism
1976
Exile One
Exile One
1976, ,
Compas/Calypso/Funk
Exile One
Reflexion / Rosita
1976
Exile One
Exile One
1976, ,
Compas/Calypso/Soul/Funk/Reggae
Exile One
Face Au Public
1975
Exile One
Exile One
1975
Exile One
Face Au Public
1975
Exile One
Beaucoup D'Gaz A Bo (Lotsa Music Onboard)
1975, ,
Compas/Calypso/Funk/Soul
Les Envahisseurs
Pain Of Love
1974
Exile One
Exile One
1974, ,
Funk/Zouk/Reggae/Soul
Exile One
Scier Bois
7", Disques Debs, Disques Debs International
Exile One
Viel Ou La / Come On Here
7", Barclay

APPEARANCES +


Gordon Henderson
Live A L'Elysée Montmartre
DVD-V, HF
Chip Kinman
The Great Confrontation
2022, ,
Experimental
Various
Caribbean Rare Groove (Rare Funky Songs From The Caribbean Sea)
2021, ,
Funk/Disco/Compas/Cumbia/Beguine
Muse
Simulation Theory
2018, ,
Alternative Rock/Synthwave
Thierry Fanfant
Best Of (Chanté Et Mizik)
2016, 2xCD, Comp, Aztec Musique,
Collector Kadence Lypso
Collector Kadence Lypso
2011, CD, Comp, Piros
Jocelyne Labylle
An Ti Fanm Gwada
2010, CD, Album, OMC Music
UCLA Bruin Marching Band
True Blue
2009, CDr, Album, University Of California-Los Angeles
K'Swinge
Featuring Gordon Henderson
2006, CD, Editions Zikak
Thierry Fanfant
Intimes
2005, CD, Album, Bonsaï Music, ,
Zouk
Various
Voyage Caraïbes
2005, CD, Album, AD Music International
Various
Ritmo De Bacardi Volume 6
2005, ,
House/Future Jazz
Michele Henderson*
Live Creole Special
2002, CD, Not On Label (Michel Henderson Self-released)
Africanism
Viel Ou La
2002, ,
Deep House
Various
The Best Of Zouk
1994, CD, Comp, PMF Records, ,
Zouk
Various
Greetings From Martinique And Guadelope
1994
Sartana*
Òstilité
1993
Zouk Party
Zouk Party
1993
Dominique Bernier
Lover Boy
1988, ,
Zouk
Tabala
Vol. 9
1986, LP, U. S. I. Production Distribution
Tabala
Vol. 8
1986, LP, U. S. I. Production Distribution
Tabala
Vol. 1
1986, LP, Album, U. S. I. Production Distribution
Unknown Artist
March Into 1985 With Columbia Pictures Publications
1985, 2xLP, Album, Promo, Columbia Pictures Publications, ,
Marches
Ophélia*
Chanson D'Amour
1981, 7", Apia
Ophelia*
Live In Paris
1981, LP, Apia, Saultone
Swingin' Stars*
Grotto Brule
1979, LP, Album, Saultone
Afrika Star
Êxitos Martiniques
1977, 7", EP, Dó Lá Si Discos
Conjunto Voz De Cabo Verde* E Luis Morais
Conjunto Voz De Cabo Verde E Luis Morais
1975, LP, Album, A Voz De Cabo-Verde, ,
African/Merengue/Cumbia
The Vikings*
Love / Calalu
1974, 7", Single, Disques Vikings
Les Girls
AFOM Presente Les Girls
LP, DEG Music, ,
Zouk/Funk
Kaskad
Hits Aux Caraibes
LP, Album, Massai Records
The UCLA Bruin Marching Band*
Bruin Pride - "The Solid Gold Sound"
CD, Not On Label (UCLA Bruin Marching Band Self-released)
Charlie Ilco
Invincible
Les Vikings*
Love
Ira Et Ses Invités*, Les Girls
Pli-Bas, Pi-Pas
Juliane Ossard
Juliane Et Ses Amis
,
Zouk
Ophelia*
Chanson D'Amour
Exile I*
Amidst The Lonely
John*
Praia D'Port Nov
Guts
Straight From The Decks
2019, ,
Disco/Carimbó/Zouk/Afrobeat/Reggae-Pop/Funk/African
Various
Geo 30 Ans
2009, 30xCD, Comp + Box, Vox Terrae, ,
Cubano/Reggae/MPB/Country/Cajun/Gospel/Folk/Celtic/Hindustani/African
DJ Wilson
Caribbean Zouk
2008, 2xCD, Album, Wagram Music
Various
Killer's Soul Vol.3
2004
Various
Morne Diablotin - De Cadence-Lypso Au Zouk
1987, LP, Comp, CPS Records (4)
Various
Soul Ballads
1982, ,
Soul
Various
Unico's Soul Train
1979, ,
Soul
Various
Le Meilleur Du Zouk
2xCD, Ave (2), ,
Zouk
Various
Rare Afro & Caribbean Funk Volume 1
2007