Born in Brooklyn-learnt his music in his local church-started playing at the age of two-no formal education in music. Cory Henry, today stands as one of those rare contemporary pianists/organists whose musical genius is a constant inspiration to youngsters.
In this exclusive for The Boston Globe, he talks about his own first organ inspirations.
“If anyone’s going to preach the gospel of the Hammond organ, it should be Cory Henry. After all, he’s gotten to know it pretty well in the years since his fingers first touched keys during his mom’s choir rehearsals at their Bed-Stuy church. He was maybe 2 years old at the time.”
This couldn’t have been better said when talking about a career that has been one of music’s finest examples of great talent, exceptional skill and immense hard work. (Listen to his solo album ‘First Steps’ or simply his solo in ‘Lingus’ by Snarky Puppy and you will know what the hype is about.)
“Now, having just won his second Grammy with the fusion group Snarky Puppy, Henry’s hoping to fill the Hammond-size hole in his heart with “The Revival,” an 11-track tribute to what he worries is a dying presence in modern pop music.
The aim, he said, is finding what made him fall in love with the organ, and seeing it spread.”
