Belford Hendricks

American composer, arranger, pianist, conductor and producer.

Born 1909 in Evansville, Indiana, died 1977. Nicknamed "Sinky".

Most active during the 1950s and 1960s, Hendricks has collaborated with artists such as [a=Nat King Cole], [a=Count Basie], [a=Dinah Washington], [a=Aretha Franklin] and [a=Sarah Vaughan].

As a songwriter he often teamed up with [a=Clyde Otis] and [a=Brook Benton]. Among their best known compositions are [i]Looking Back[/i] (1958) and [i]It's Just A Matter Of Time[/i] (1959). He charted as a songwriter fourteen times, led by "It's Just a Matter of Time", which hit #1 by Brook Benton R&B in 1959, #1 country for Sonny James in 1970, #7 country for Glen Campbell in 1985, and #1 country for Randy Travis in 1989. "Looking Back" by Nat King Cole hit #2 R&B in 1958 and "Call Me" (co-written by Otis) by Johnny Mathis hit #21 overall the same year. In addition to his songwriting, many more of his arrangements charted, especially in the 1950's-1960's.

His music crossed genres, arranging music and conducting studio orchestras for big bands, blues, R&B, ballads, soul, and even country and western. Still, R&B is where he can be considered one of the greatest arrangers of the 20th century.