Nona Hendryx It’s Your Birthday

🎂Nona Hendryx, born October 9, 1944, is a vocalist, producer, author, fine artist and actress who is a “distant” cousin of Jimi Hendrix. She is known for her solo artistry as well as her work with Patti Labelle, Sarah Dash. A native of Trenton, New Jersey, her albums include “Nona Hendryx,” “Skin Diver” and “It’s Time.” She has appeared in TV shows and films.

I met Nona perhaps 6 years ago at the Besame Restaurant in Harlem on one of my visits to NYC. At the time, she was exhibiting her fine art Transformation: The Beautiful Cruelty of Time and Space at The Sol Studio in Harlem.

As we sat talking, I told her about a photo I once had of us which was taken a one of her record release parties in the 1970s. I no longer had that photo  — someone had stolen it. I mentioned, too, that in the 1970s, I had also taken a photo with Patti and a photo with Sarah — each photo I still had. Nona “Let’s take one together now, they’ll make up for the one lost.”

Happy Birthday Nona! Who would have ever thought that I would be publishing this photo on your birthday some years later in ROUTES?

The interwiew here with Nona is quite extensive and informative — Video Interview: Nona Hendryx’ Transformation Art Exhibit in Harlem by DERRICK HEMPHILL