Rick Hendrix

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Richard Binghames Hendrix Jr.

Photograph used for Hendrix' campaign for Congress
Born January 11, 1970(1970-01-11)
Granite Falls, North Carolina
Pen name Rick Hendrix
Occupation Songwriter, promoter and artist manager
Nationality American
Genres Southern Gospel, Country, Pop
Notable work(s) You'll Never Run Out of the Blood

Richard Binghames Hendrix Jr. (born January 11, 1970), better known by the name Rick Hendrix, is an American promoter and songwriter of southern gospel and country music. The practicing General Baptist is considered one of the most successful and influential promoters in American music. He has written several number one songs and numerous Top 40 songs made popular in Christian music. In addition to music writing and promotion, Hendrix has also promoted blockbuster films including The Passion of the Christ and The Prince of Egypt. Success in Hendrix' short career is evidenced by 250+ million albums sold and 160+ number one songs promoted in the United States for different artists including: Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Bette Midler, Lifehouse, Mariah Carey, Jessica Simpson, Fantasia, Reba, Whitney Houston, Ruben Studdard, Creed, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson and posthumous projects for Elvis Presley. Hendrix artists have won more than 250 Grammy's, 600 Country Music Awards and 2 Oscars. Hendrix has been featured in USA Today, Billboard Magazine, The Globe, The National Enquirer, The 700 Club, Primetime Live and CBS News.[1]

In 2008, Hendrix released a statement announcing his run for Congress in 2010.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Born in Granite Falls, North Carolina in 1970, Hendrix is the son of Rev. Richard and Donna Hendrix. His musical skills developed early in life when, as an adolescent, Hendrix worked at local radio stations around North Carolina. Having discovered his true passion for music, Hendrix decided to drop out of high school and become a full-time disc jockey. It was during this time Hendrix co-managed dates for cult icon Tiny Tim, famous for "Tip Toe Thru the Tulips." Aged only 19 (but already well experienced in the business of music), he decided to form his own musical promotions company in 1989. After two years of managing both a music career and his full time radio job, he left radio in 1991 to focus exclusively on his music career.

Musical artists, groups, and singers such as Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, The Hoppers, The Oak Ridge Boys, Queen, and The Happy Goodman Family are all cited by Hendrix as early music influences.

[edit] Songwriter

Many of the 1000+ songs written by Hendrix have become Southern Gospel and Christian standards. Included among the titles: "You'll Never Run Out of the Blood", " He Chose Me", "When There is No Hope (There is Grace)", " Sometimes It Takes a Mountain", " God Still Dries Our Tears", and "Mama's Letters to Jesus". Hendrix has been nominated as songwriter and producer of the year nearly a dozen times in the Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards.

[edit] Promoter

Since Hendrix first began promoting with his positive music convictions, he has helped artists sell 250+ million albums and score 3,000+ national hit songs. Hendrix and his company promoted the Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey Oscar winning single "When You Believe" as well as the multi- Grammy # 1 smash hit "Dance With My Father" by legendary Luther Vandross. In the past decade, Rick Hendrix has placed 6000+ positive/faith based songs, in all genres, that have charted or played on modern day American radio.

[edit] Entrepreneur and influence

Hendrix has modernized and molded a home for faith-based music,[2] spanning all genres and moving past the boundaries of past segregated marketing. Christian music can now easily be promoted to rock and country radio by labels and artists, while secular artists are finding a home on Christian radio as well.

His involvement with "positive" music has produced 160 number one songs and caused a revival within the genres, bringing together giants of country music and the Southern Gospel and Christian industry. In addition to being a promoter and songwriter, Hendrix has produced albums for Christian artists since the early 1990s.

Hendrix collaborated with his mother, Donna Hendrix, to write the Dove Award nominated song "Mama's Letters to Jesus" in 2002. The song became an instant Top 10 hit and saw continued success as it was developed into a book.

In 2004, Billboard Magazine interviewed Hendrix about BMG's decision to let him pick Elvis Presley's first ever gospel single for national radio. Hendrix was also chosen to release and promote Johnny Cash's last recording sessions in 2006.

Hendrix has mentored many up-and-comers in the music industry, often helping to promote their first number one songs. Highlights among this work include: Diamond Rio, Josh Gracin, The Crabb Family, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Josh Turner, Garth Brooks, the promotion of songs for Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Mariah Carey, Bette Midler, Creed and the continued promotion of various American Idol artists.

Rick Hendrix, now divorced, resides in Granite Falls, NC and Nashville, TN and shares custody of his two children: Hailey Hendrix and Zachary Hendrix.

[edit] Awards

  • 1982 Hendrix youngest DJ in history at that time to be licensed by FCC at 12 years old
  • 1985 Hendrix youngest artist manager in history, managing Tiny Tim (Tip Toe Through the Tulips)
  • 1991 First platinum record for Garth Brooks
  • 1991/2008 145 multi-platinum albums: Platinum albums: 122. Gold albums: 71 (RIAA)
  • 1994 First Gold record for Diamond Rio 1994
  • 1994 Hendrix interviewed by Pat Robertson on 700 Club
  • 1994 Hendrix interviewed in USA Today
  • 1994 Made an Ambassador by North Carolina General Assembly Governor James G. Martin
  • 1994 Proclamation naming June 13 Rick Hendrix Day in North Carolina
  • 1994 Recognized by President Bill Clinton in 1994
  • 1995 Double Grammy Win for "Go Rest High On That Mountain"-Vince Gill
  • 1997 Grammy Win for Trisha Yearwood/Garth Brooks "In Another's Eyes"
  • 1997 Hendrix on CBS News
  • 1997 Grammy for Butterfly Kisses
  • 1997 Gold Single for "Butterfly Kisses"
  • 1997 Grammy for "The Apostle" motion picture soundtrack
  • 1998 Hendrix awarded million selling album award for "Prince of Egypt"
  • 1998/2004 10 time Dove Awards nominee
  • 1999 Hendrix presented plaque for 1999 Oscar winning song "When You Believe"
  • 1999/2004 Writer of BMI/Dove Award or industry nominated Songs of the Year: 1999, 2000,2002,2003,2004
  • 2000 Grammy for Creed "With Arms Wide Open"
  • 2000 Grammy "I Hope You Dance" Lee Ann Womack
  • 2000/2001 Rick Hendrix Company Holds # 1 position for a Year in Singing News
  • 2002 Hendrix awarded 4 million sells for 9/11 faith song Alan Jackson "Where Were You"
  • 2002 named a Kentucky Colonel by Kentucky Governor Paul E. Patton
  • 2002 Songwriter of the # 1 Song Awarded to "Sheltered" by Powersource Magazine 2002
  • 2002 Grammy for "Where Were You " by Alan Jackson
  • 2003 Hendrix and team celebrate 3 Grammy Win for Luther Vandross "Dance With My Father"
  • 2004 Hendrix awarded gold record for "Passion of the Christ"
  • 2004 Songwriter of the # 1 Song Award to "You'll Never Run Out of the Blood" by Singing News 2004
  • 2005 Hendrix scores record 121th # 1 song
  • 2005 Hendrix on cover of Billboard Magazine for the release of Elvis Presley Gospel project
  • 2007 Hendrix artist won their 250th Grammy Award
  • 2007 Hendrix produced or promoted his 800th project
  • 2007 Grammy for Vince Gill 'These Days"
  • 2007 Hendrix wrote his 2,000th song
  • 2007 Hendrix songs reach daily milestone of 500,000 plays daily
  • 2007 Hendrix and team score Grammy for Johnny Cash "God's Gonna Cut You Down"
  • 2007 Received radio award for his 3000th National Hit
  • 2007 Songwriter of the # 1 Song Award to "He Chose Me" by Singing News Magazine 2007
  • 2008 Hendrix Elected a US Delegate
  • 2008 Yahoo Financial News named Hendrix the Inventor of Positive Music
  • 2008 Hendrix was awarded for helping artist sell a quarter of a billion CDs
  • 2008 Hendrix announced his run for the United States Congress in the midterm elections 2010
  • 2008 Hendrix notified by GB Executive Director Dr Ron Black he would be only General Baptist if elected Congress
  • 2008 Hendrix only General Baptist seated as a delegate
  • 2008 Hendrix scored his 3,187 Christian Song on radio charts
  • 2008 Hendrix released the history breaking 6,000 Christian song on modern day radio
  • 2008 Hendrix scored his 164 Faith based # 1 song
  • 2008 Song Hendrix helped revive "Get Away Jordan" wins song and album of the year Gospel Music Association
  • 2008 Hendrix named most successful promoter in history by www.iconperformingarts.com

[edit] Books

  • Mama's Letter to Jesus by Rick and Donna Hendrix. 31st Century/Observer Publishing Inc. 2003 (ISBN 0-971379-01-7)

[edit] External links