Today we’d like to introduce you to Henderson Thigpen
Hi Henderson , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I spent my childhood on a farm, milking cows, picking cotton, and riding horses with my family. One of my favorite activities was sitting on the tractor, reading and writing. I have fond memories of writing poems for church events, especially for Children’s Day every May, when we had to recite poems. My poems were often two to three pages long.
Coming from a spiritual household, secular music was not a part of our lives. However, I did manage to gain access to music, which seems fitting now that I am writing gospel. It feels like a calling from God, even though my initial compositions had an R&B flavor. I was captivated by the storytelling in R&B music. At the age of 16, I developed feelings for an older, light-skinned woman, whom we referred to as a “pretty, yellow woman” back then. My mother disapproved and ended the relationship, leaving me heartbroken. This experience inspired my poem, “If I Could Tell the World How I Feel,” where I poured out all my emotions about her.
I remember my uncle taking me to the radio station WLOK and telling them about my poetry. They sent me over to Stax. When I first got there, I had no clue what to do. I met co-owner Ms. Estelle Axton, along with Stax songwriter Deanie Parker. They introduced me to Homer Banks, the staff writer. Back then, I was trying to get my foot in the door. Homer saw some talent in me and took me under his wing. He had a twin brother, James, and we started working at Stax on the weekends. Eventually, I moved to Memphis and got a job loading and unloading trucks.
And this was the beginning of a great journey that is still alive today.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey wasn’t easy; being a struggling artist is a real challenge. Many never learn the business side, but I was fortunate enough to do so. When writing songs, you never know which one will be a million-dollar hit, so as a creative, you keep writing until something lands. I must give credit to my wife for her unwavering support and understanding of the vision.
I still farm to this day, so making a living is crucial, and you must learn to navigate life as an artist in various ways.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a songwriter, 2x Grammy Winner 2024 and I’m known for penning several hit songs, the main song, Woman To Woman. I have written numerous songs with other writers such as All a Part Of My Learning, Are You Ready to Face It? Break Out, Care, Come to Me, Common Law Wife, Devil’s Gonna Get You (the)
Don’t Give It If You Can’t Take It, Don’t Take My Kindness For Weakness, Forgive Us (For We Know Not What We Do), Game We Call Love (the)
Hail Mary, Holy Ghost Pt. 1 & 2, I Didn’t Mean It, I Got a Little Love Light, I Just Keep On Trying, I Wish I Had Said No, It Ain’t Easy, Know It Before You Love It, Love Seems Sweeter, Overdose Of Love, Song Of Love, Stone For Stone, That’s What Love Will Make Us Do, They’re Your Friends, I’m Just Your Woman.
The song Woman to Woman originated from a conversation between two women discussing how another woman they knew was “taking care of her man.” They found the idea ridiculous. We imagined it as a soap opera on vinyl, fitting for the era of records. Initially, Shirley thought the song, with its long monologue, would be perfect for Isaac Hayes. Her producer took her to Stax to listen to the track. I sang the demo, and Shirley matched my every note perfectly. James Banks crafted the monologue, and I coached her on delivering that unforgettable opening line: “Hello, Barbara, this is Shirley; you might not know who I am, but the reason I am calling you is because I was going through my old man’s pockets this morning, and I just happened to find your name and number…”
The record sold so quickly that production couldn’t keep up. The single sold over 1,000,000 copies and remains popular today. I never imagined it would be covered, but in 1978, Barbara Mandrell’s version soared to #4 on the Country Charts. Fast forward to 1995, and Snoop Dogg’s compilation album, “Murder Was the Case,” featured Jewell’s rendition of “Woman to Woman,” propelling the album to triple platinum status. I earned a good amount of money from that success.
What sets me apart is my lyrical methodology of using words to create imagination and timeless music. More than 50 years later, Woman to Woman is still being played and applicable to life issues.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Life fuels my passion for writing. I constantly carry a pen and paper with me wherever I go, because when inspiration strikes, one must be prepared to capture the fleeting words and weave them into something successful. The ability to continue singing and writing enables me to live my life to the fullest. Engaging with a multitude of wonderful people keeps my thoughts, experiences, and mind invigorated.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://otmmusicgroup.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otmmusicgroup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OtmMusicGroup
- Twitter: https://x.com/OTMmusicgroup
