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DJ Biography
Bob Henderson

DJ Bob
Henderson Biography:
“…I’m a rocker from waaay back…” I grew up
in a State College, PA, graduated from State
High in 1983. I had been listening to a wide
variety of music all my life, from Top 40’s
to rock to jazz to soul to country. I liked
to sing, but never found a group to sing
with. So I took up auto repair, and fixed
cars professionally for 20 years. I kept
listening to all kinds of music, but fell
into some of the real old-school rockers
like Eddie Cochran, and covers of older
songs.
“Bob, stop singing, you can’t sing…”
I would sing to the radio while I worked.
Having also played some instruments I could
tell that I was on key when I sang. Maybe my
voice was that annoying….
Then in late 1990 a co-worker asked me if he
could borrow my station wagon to move his
band equipment to a show some distance away.
I said, “Cover my gas and I’ll drive you.” I
helped the band then known as Fleshlords get
to their gigs and sat in on their practice
sessions. I would set up the amps, help tune
guitars, and fill in for the singer when he
was late once in a while.
The band changed their name to Cycle Of
Souls. They went into the studio a few
times, but nothing ever came of it. They
disbanded in early 1997, and I went back to
only repairing cars.
Then, in July 1999, at the urging of radio
DJ “Cool Guy” Rob Vanore, I sang karaoke for
the first time. He was supposed to sing a
song also, but never did. It didn’t matter,
I was hooked instantly. The host, Amanda
Brittingham of Velvetwind Entertainment,
made me feel welcome into a group of people
who sang. I knew then that I would make
myself known for my singing, good or bad.
I moved from Cape May, NJ to the Phoenix
area in December 1999. One of the first
things I did once I settled in was look for
a karaoke show near where I was living. I
tried a few, found a host I liked, and
became acquainted with her other regulars,
among them Eric and Lisa Godfrey. Later,
when they were doing their own shows, I
helped move their gear and learned to host a
show, filling in for Lisa at times, and then
doing shows for them, enjoying almost every
minute of it.
As a host, I not only sing, take the other
half of duets, and hear all kinds of
singers, some extremely good, some not so
much, but I play all kinds of music:
everything from the 1930’s to the latest
releases. I also get people started singing
karaoke for the first time, and watch some
of them get hooked as I did. I see the looks
on their faces, and I know exactly what
they’re thinking because I’ve been there. It
is rewarding to know I’m giving back to
something that has given me so much by
bringing others into the fold.
Hey, I’m getting paid to do what I love.
What more can you ask for?
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