by Paula Kully –
Imagine competing against 300 of Canada’s best, aspiring young musicians and then finding yourself one of 12 finalists standing on a stage, bright lights shining in your eyes, waiting as the winners are announced. You hear the words: “the first runner up is … ” and your name is called! Suddenly, all the hard work – long days and nights, the travel, music lessons – all of it, in one fell swoop, pays off at that moment.
Such was the experience of local pianist and singer Craig Henderson when he took home first runner-up and the $2,000 prize at the Calgary Stampede Talent Search this past July. The event has run in conjunction with the world famous stampede since 1980 and has been a springboard for the careers of Canadian artists such as Paul Brandt, world-renowned opera singer Gordon Gietz, dance-pop superstar Keisza, the Nylons’ Gavin Hope, and many more.
20-year-old Craig Henderson, who wears a constant smile with an easy, polite manner, was born and raised on the Saanich Peninsula. He has been a familiar face at the Sidney Street Market for seven years and has played a wide array of venues including the Empress Hotel’s Bengal Lounge, Victoria Jazz Festival, and many private functions and charity fundraisers.
The win in Calgary opened the door for Craig and his band, The Craig Henderson Trio, to perform outside their usual venues on Vancouver Island. It is a “next step” in the promising career of an exceptionally talented young man whose personal style of interpreting famous jazz from the golden era of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett is suggestive of Canada’s Michael Bublé.
Craig was initially influenced by his father Gordon Henderson, who wrote music and played in his own band in high school until deciding on a second career as a doctor at the age of 26. Gordon continues to support his son’s work and makes up one third of the Craig Henderson Trio, playing guitar while Craig’s piano teacher Bill Kent plays bass. Craig began playing piano when he was eight years old. By the time he turned 12, he was taken under the wing of Kent, who is enthusiastic when he talks about his protégé.
“At 14, I got him into an organization called Ujam as a piano player in a group called the Young All Stars. We pair young musicians with a mentor, rehearse every Saturday, and play at retirement homes and other venues. He was in this until 18 and obviously learned a great deal playing in a group,” explains Kent.
Although Craig has been playing piano for 12 years, he didn’t add vocals to his shows until three years ago. His first public performance as a singer/pianist was at his high school graduation in 2013 where he surprised everyone, including his closest friends, with his rendition of Young at Heart.
Craig recently released his first EP this past July; it can be found locally at Dig This, Deep Cove Market, Sea Cider, or online at Spotify and iTunes. The Trio will be joined by a drummer, sax player and Craig’s vocal coach for a complete, live show at the Mary Winspear Centre on May 13, 2017.
Next up for the aspiring young artist and the Trio is producing their own original material and of course, fame!
