This week on Cultural Manifesto, we'll remember the life and music of Tom Hensley — an Indiana-born pianist whose remarkable career took him from Bloomington and Indianapolis to the biggest stages in music.
You may not recognize Hensley's name, but you've almost certainly heard his music. As a session keyboardist, he played on Hall & Oates' hit "Rich Girl," along with recordings by John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Leonard Cohen, Cher, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, and many others. For more than four decades, he also toured and recorded as pianist for Neil Diamond.
Born and raised in Bloomington, Hensley began studying piano as a child and immersed himself in the musical culture surrounding Indiana University. Although he earned a degree in radio and television from IU in 1965, music remained his true calling. As a student, he performed with jazz groups throughout southern Indiana, hosted a jazz program on WFIU, and absorbed the recordings of many of Indiana's finest musicians.
After graduating, Hensley moved to Indianapolis, where his career quickly gained momentum. He became pianist and composer for Jim Gerard's popular daytime television program on WRTV, performing live each weekday while establishing himself as one of the city's most versatile young musicians. At night, he played clubs throughout the city, accompanying nationally known entertainers passing through Indianapolis. During this period, he also made his first recordings, including a jazz trio album and the psychedelic rock project Masters of Deceit, whose self-titled 1969 album was released nationally by Vanguard Records.
In 1970, Hensley relocated to Los Angeles and soon became one of the music industry's most sought-after session keyboardists.
Celebrate Tom Hensley's extraordinary life and legacy by listening back to his 2017 conversation with Cultural Manifesto’s Kyle Long. They discussed Hensley’s time in Indiana, specifically his work with Masters of Deceit.
