Chick Henderson

Henderson Rowndtree was born in West Hartlepool on the 22^nd December 1912, although he was better known as Chick, a nickname given to him by his mother. In his youth he joined the choir at Abby Church of St. Hilda which had a good reputation locally for its singing quality. Here Chick honed his love for performing, learning vocal control and the necessary breathing techniques.

As a teenager he became an apprentice in marine engineering which he completed in 1934. Unfortunately for Chick, this was to coincide with the 1930’s depression. He found it hard to find employment, so he spent his time signing at the Rink Ballroom (a place where local kids started to hang out at eighteen). Chick became a local star where his crooning was winning him many admirers.

Chick won a competition at the Hartlepool Hippodrome, as a result he got to tour with Jan Ralfini and his band who had a string of hit records. Chick relocated to London to pursue his career as a crooner but things with Ralfini where to come to an abrupt end when Chick and other members of the band walked out, claiming they hadn’t been payed for their work.

This left Chick with no job or accommodation and the prospect of work looked dim at a time when vocalists common in London. Chick managed to find a place to stay lodging with his friends parents, but hoping to find work and pay for their kindness came as a disappointing blow. He told a ‘Radio Pictorial’ journalist in April 1937, that “It was a tough job, being out of work in London, but I reckoned that ‘he travelled fastest who travelled alone’. And when I got ashamed of not being able to pay my rent – well, I could always go and sleep a couple of nights in Trafalgar Square.”

One day Joe Loss, who had his own dance band, was listening to the radio when he heard Chick Henderson broadcast. The story goes that Loss was so intrigued with his voice that he asked to meet him. When the meeting took place Loss was impressed with Chick’s performance, good looks and charismatic personality.

Joe Loss wanted Chick Henderson to add that special something to get his band a contract with the biggest recording company of the time, EMI. After a recording session in 1935 (which featured a young Vera Lynn) Joe Loss signed the contract with EMI, taking himself and Chick Henderson to the big time. Sales where good and the Band was playing popular venues including the Astoria Dance Salon, which, thanks to his new, handsome crooner was pulling in more women than ever. Sales shot through the roof.

In the summer of July 5th 1939 Chick recorded a song called ‘Begin the Beguine’. It was credited to ‘Joe Loss and Band’ and was an instant hit. It became the only record by a British crooner to sell more than one million copies in the 1930’s.

Chick met Pamela Helen Stevenson, a 19-year-old cabaret dancer who had performed at the Savoy, they fell in love and in 1940 they were married. Although his army of female fans where initially upset they agreed that his new bride was incredibly lovely.

During WW2 Chick’s previous work in marine engineering made him valuable to the Royal Navy. He served as an Engine Room Artificer and Chick was remembered fondly by his service colleagues who loved his sense of humour and how he would always sing for them.

Chick was on leave when his daughter, Lynda Ann, was born in July 1941. Whilst stationed in Canada in 1943 Chick managed to perform on two well-known radio stations there, becoming known as the ‘singing sailor.’

In June 1944, not long after his promotion to sub-lieutenant, Chick was stationed at Southsea when an air raid warning sounded. Chick and his companions made their way to the nearest air raid shelter. There, whilst beginning his descent on the stairs, Chick fell unconscious.  He was carried to the hotel that sat behind the air raid shelter, but was pronounced dead at the scene.

Chick Henderson had been hit in the side by a flying piece of shrapnel, from the British guns stationed close by, firing at the Germans. He was only 31-years old.

His daughter, Lynda Ann was only 2 ½ years old at the time and dedicated her life to collecting her father’s records. She said in an interview that hearing his voice was a way of feeling closer to him.