RIP, Hazel Henderson: Gospel Songwriter, Pianist

Hazel Henderson, 79, pianist and composer of gospel music

She worked for the city of Long Beach as a librarian for years, but her passion was writing, arranging and composing music.

By Pamela Hale-Burns, Staff Writer
Press-Telegram of Long Beach, CA
January 22, 2009

Music was her life, and Hazel Henderson showed it by writing and composing more than 50 gospel songs over her lifetime.

“She would sit still and the spirit of God would give her the words and the music,” said her daughter, Alisha Wade.

Henderson died Monday. She was 79.

The self-taught pianist began playing alongside her father, the late Rev. N.J. Kirkpatrick, founder of New Hope Baptist Church in Long Beach.

“My grandfather would sing and she would pick it up,” Wade said. “She had such a great spiritual insight and she did everything through music. She used to say, `music does, where words fail.”‘

Henderson went on to record four albums with several other groups and her father.

Read more here: Hazel Henderson