Scope and Content Note
The Luther Henderson Papers span from the 1930s to 2003 with the majority of the materials dating from 1960 to 1995. The collection includes music manuscripts, subject files, correspondence, business papers, financial documents, photographs, writings, posters, biographical materials, and realia.
The Music series consists of holograph manuscript or computer-generated scores and sketches, manuscript scores in the hands of other composers, lead sheets, parts, and source materials used for arrangements. Most are extensively annotated and are often accompanied by notes, correspondence, and scripts to which they closely relate. From the late 1980s on, Henderson's scores and sketches are almost exclusively computer-generated, although they are freely annotated by hand. Some pieces contain printed file indexes that indicate other works in progress on his computer at the time. Music in the collection is arranged in five subseries: general projects; performer projects; the Luther Henderson Songbook; music library files; and Brick Fleagle music.
Henderson's degree of involvement with musical projects varied widely. In some instances, such as Ain't Misbehavin, he composed the score of the musical and served as music director. In others, such as Flower Drum Song, he contributed only a few arrangements. Henderson also provided musical advice and ideas for projects that later developed into well-known Broadway musicals or for projects that failed to materialize. All of these are represented in the collection. Notable works include Ain't Misbehavin, Ellington Suite, Jelly's Last Jam, MLK Suite, One More Song, Play On!, Reverend Jenkins' Almost All Colored Orphanage Band, and Turned on Broadway. Henderson was a prolific arranger who worked for various performers, such as the Canadian Brass, Placido Domingo, Mandy Patinkin, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. These projects ranged from commissioned works to concerts and night club acts.
The Luther Henderson Songbook is a compilation of vocal and instrumental music that Henderson hoped one day to publish as a multi-volume series. Although he does indicate specific compositions intended for publication, it is likely that that the files contain extraneous tunes that may or may not have had a place in the final product. The remaining musical materials are files of arrangements by other composers that Henderson used for projects or otherwise came to possess, the latter being manuscripts owned by friend and fellow arranger Jacob Roger "Brick" Fleagle. These were presumably bequeathed to Henderson upon Fleagle's death in 1992.
Many projects have accompanying subject files, as do projects that have no music materials but other related documents. The Subject Files series contains correspondence, business papers, royalty statements, scripts, clippings, programs, and/or promotional materials. Loose documents and files not originally associated with subject files are arranged within the Personal Correspondence, Business Papers, Financial Documents, or Miscellany series. Henderson's invoices are particularly useful, as they indicate miscellaneous projects from the 1970s in which he took part. The Brick Fleagle materials contain a scattering of Fleagle's business papers and contracts, many of which relate to his musical arrangements file.