By Mary Giorgio
During the 1950s and 1960s, Belford “Sinky” Hendricks was one of the most highly regarded arrangers and conductors in the music industry. Working with some of the biggest stars of his era—singers like Nat King Cole, Dinah Washington, Brook Benton, and Sarah Vaughan—Hendricks co-authored and arranged hit songs of his generation.
The versatile musician crossed genres, arranging music and conducting studio orchestras for big bands, blues, R&B, ballads, soul, and even country and western. If you wanted your recording to have the best sound, he was the man for the job.
Born on May 11, 1909, in Evansville, Indiana, Belford Hendricks developed a love for music at an early age and his father encouraged his musical talent by purchasing a piano for the family, a substantial purchase at the time. Hendricks soon mastered the instrument.
In 1924, Hendricks graduated from Douglas High School. After working for a few years, he enrolled at Terre Haute’s Indiana State Normal School (later Indiana State Teacher’s College then Indiana State University). There, Hendricks studied science and music. Having come from a family of modest means, Hendricks paid his own way through school with side work and musical gigs. When money became extremely tight, Hendricks left school for a semester to work full-time. He persevered, however, and eventually graduated in 1934.
