Biography
Stanley V. Henson, Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and lived the first year of his life, in the Annapolis, Maryland home of Abraham and Elizabeth Carr-Smith (owners of Carr's Beach) with his parents, who rented a room in the home. Carr's Beach was the east coast mecca for black entertainers in the 50's and 60's. Among the entertainers who performed at Carr's Beach were jazz legends such as Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, and Lionel Hampton, as well as soul artists Ray Charles, James Brown, Otis Redding and Jackie Wilson. Rock 'n' Roll pioneers Fats Domino and Buddy Holly also performed at Carr's Beach. On July 21, 1956, an estimated 70,000 people traveled to Carr's Beach to hear Chuck Berry perform, although only 8,000 made it past the gates because the grounds were filled beyond capacity. By the early 1960s, the list of popular entertainers included Little Richard, Lloyd Price, Etta James, Sam Cooke, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, The Shirelles, The Coasters, and The Drifters.
Stanley's professional musical journey began in Dover, Delaware, where his band opened for The Jimmy Castor Bunch at Delaware State College at the age of 16. After living three years in Dover, Delaware, Henson's family moved to Virginia, where he joined The Artie Sherman Trio. Sherman was a veteran keyboard player for Wilson Pickett and James Brown. His next home was in the area of Washington, D.C. aka The DMV. This is where he crossed paths with influential figures like, WHUR (Howard University) Disc Jockey, David Williams (aka John Ellison, Jr.) and they co-wrote the WHUR theme song "Soft and Easy" for Stratospehere Records. Henson was in pursuit of a recording career and after knocking on doors for a few years throughout the DMV, he found himself under the guiding wings of music legends Maxx Kidd, Al Jefferson, Ron Early, Michael Kidd and Aquil Fudge (cousin of Stevie Wonder). They would cultivate his business and artistic talents and introduce him to industry insiders.
Eventually, Henson was offered personal management by Aquil Fudge (cousin of Stevie Wonder, producer for Eddie Murphy with Rick James, and film accountant for Spike Lee) and the late Ron Early. After a year with Fudge and Early as his managers, Fudge obtained a lucrative job offer from his cousin Stevie Wonder and moved to Los Angeles to head Stevie Wonder's Black Bull Publishing. That same year, manager Ron Early suddenly died. Henson was released from his contract and forced to start over. After a few months of searching for a new manager, he met Tina Scott and she introduced Henson to manager D. B. who was a well connected concert promoter in the industry and introduced Henson to the entertainment industry elites, where he was connected with notable names like, Teddy Powell, the late music executive Jheryl Busby (MCA exec and Motown CEO), the late Clarence Avant (The Black Godfather and CEO of Tabu Records), the late Rubin Rodriguez, the late Carlos "Pablo" Davis (manager of L.A. and Babyface and Midnight Star), and Motown producer Art Stewart (Producer to Marvin Gaye and Rick James). These connections were pivotal. D.B. shaped Henson's music career for three years as his manager and mentor. D.B. signed Henson and Greg Phillinganes (Band director for Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones and Stevie Wonder keyboardist) to his management. But the partnership would end after three years due to D.B.'s concert promotion company schedule conflicts.
Although he was disappointed he would no longer be managed by D.B., Henson was not free long. He was immediately approached by record executive Michael Kidd. Michael Kidd was a friend and executive at Polygram Records. Kidd introduced Henson to a new manager with global knowledge and a grant from The Rockefeller Foundation. It was 1982, when Henson and his new celebrity female manager (16 years older than Henson) began a personal and business relationship that lasted two years. After two years of living together in Hollywood while pursuing a recording deal, Henson and his manager/lover, were unable to separate the business and personal relationship. They had a bad dispute over her secretly getting an abortion. She had an unwanted pregnancy and aborted Henson's child without his knowledge. His inability to forgive her caused irreconcilable differences and a split from her as his lover and manager.
After the break-up, Henson remained in Los Angeles, CA. His manager moved back east to Washington, D.C. to reconcile with her ex-husband and produce content for BET, while Henson began attending college at Los Angeles Valley College, where he studied voice, dance, music theory, sound engineering, and acting. While attending college, he obtained an internship at RCA/BMG Records and Music in Hollywood. California, serving under Ron Fair and Lygia Guy. During a lecture in his college engineering class, he met and aligned with the late legendary music promoter Sid Bernstein, who was best known for introducing The Beatles to the U.S. and discovering entertainment mogul, David Geffen and singer Laura Nero. Bernstein mentored Henson while working and lecturing at his college class under Mike Julian. Bernstein also starred in the Go-Go music film "Good to Go" Henson left his internship and RCA Records Lygia Guy-Brown gave Henson a written endorsement. Henson was then approached by an assistant to Anna Gordy (sister of the illustrious Berry Gordy,) and received an invitation to meet Ms. Anna Gordy, and work with her estranged ex-husband Marvin Gaye, at her Outpost Drive residence. Henson met Ms. Gordy at the Outpost Drive home but, Gaye failed to show up. The atmosphere inspired a creative energy that flowed and Henson penned two songs within the confines of the poolside demo studio.
This encounter proved to be pivotal and the recorded songs fostered relationships with key figures like Rodney Gordy, Jerry Marcelino, Norman Whitfield, Lenny Macaluso, and John Harris, Stevie Wonder's partner. At a low point in Henson's life and career. Aquil Fudge introduced Henson to Rodney Gordy (nephew of Berry Gordy). This introduction, lead to Henson working with Motown's Jobete Music and developing a friendship with Rodney Gordy. Henson's songs were also published by MCA/Universal/Music during the '80s and distributed throughout Europe and Japan. In 1986, Henson composed and produced music with the late Grammy-winning producer Guy Babylon (Band director for Elton John and composer with Quincy Jones) and Lenny Macaluso who composed songs for The Temptations, The Commodores, Motown and Universal Music.
During the early '90s, Henson met a new business partner named Matt Ender and began composing music for television shows and commercials including, Bausch and Lomb, Indonesia Travel Bureau, and TV shows such as Santa Barbara. A significant collaboration emerged as Henson joined forces with the former drummer of Con Funk Shun, the late Louis McCall, and his wife Linda Lou McCall, along with the late singer Keith Martin. Henson would also associated his business with the late Don Cornelius, Robert Allan, Garson Silvers and Sammy Chao (owner of The Mayan Club). He would go on to perform at The Mayan Club in downtown Los Angeles, known for performances by Whitney Houston, Madonna and the movie "The Bodyguard". Don Cornelius, Mayan Club owner Sammy Chao, Garson Silvers and Attorney Robert Allen became Henson's new management. Henson would continue to network with a plethora of mentors including, the late Maxx Kidd, Michael Kidd, Matt Robinson (father of Holly Robinson), the late Comedian Dap "Sugar" Willie, the late legendary Motown producer, Norman Whitfield, The late J.W. Alexander, who was the manager/partner of Sam Cooke.
After years of barely making a living in his pursuit in the music industry, Henson no longer believed a music career was possible. His efforts failed to manifest his dreams as a music artist. During a lunch meeting with the late Stanley Sheinbaum, he decided to change course. Sheinbaum was the Husband of Betty Warner, daughter of Harry Warner. Stanley Sheinbaum was also a member of an elite group called "The Malibu Mafia", that included Norman Lear, David Wolper, Warner Bros. chairman Ted Ashley, and four businessmen: Harold Willens, Leopold Wyler, Miles L. Rubin, Actors Paul Newman, and Warren Beatty were associated peripherally with the Malibu Mafia, as was singer and Malibu resident Barbra Streisand and Max Palevsky. Henson's attorney Bob Allen referred Francis Ford Coppola and Stanley Sheibaum, referred Henson to music executive Irving Azoff and Lew Wasserman. Shortly after those introductions, Henson entered the film industry. He was hired as a P.A. by producers Lee Levinson and Al Douche' for the NBC movie "Playing with Fire". He worked as a production assistant and driver for the late actress legend Cicely Tyson, the late actors Ron O'Neal, Yaphet Kotto, the late Gary Coleman. The film director Ivan Nagy was his first teacher of film production. During the film shoot, Henson was featured in a small acting role in the film "Playing with Fire" when Ivan Nagy was short an actor and requested Henson for a scene in the movie. This was his first acting role.
After the film was completed, Henson found himself unemployed and briefly forced to work as security at Universal Studios on the film sets of several NBC projects like, "Knightrider", "Simon and Simon" , "St. Elmo's Fire" and "Back to the Future". Henson was smitten by the Hollywood atmosphere and inspired by an encounter with MCA/Universal Pictures CEO, Lew Wasserman on the lot. Henson's intrigue for film and television production was ignited, his discovery of the works of Oscar Micheaux, Gordon Parks, Spike Lee and Berry Gordy as a film producer struck a chord. A new friend named Sean Collinson, would again remind Henson of the genius of Clarence Avant as a businessman and an offer to introduce him again. A conversation with the late Pablo Davis (former manager of L.A. and Babyface) , the late music legend Duffy Hooks and actor/football legend Joe Theismann, also encouraged him to pursue a film career. His friend, actor and neighbor Maurice Sneed ("The Color Purple" and "Malcolm X"), actress Lettie Battle and TV producer Al Douche' taught him the craft of film production and Stanislavsky Method Acting. This period marked a crossroads where Henson's creative journey intersected with remarkable individuals, setting the stage for his continued exploration into the world of entertainment and film production.
After being married for 9 years, Henson divorced his first wife in 1993 and briefly retired from the entertainment industry to complete his education and change his major to film. He moved back to Washington, D.C. where he met the late Donald Iverson, founder of Iverson Technologies. Iverson was known for using IBM technology and patenting a way to prevent electromagnetic signals from being picked up from computers where they could be decoded and analyzed by foreign governments. His company was once in high demand for some time and brought him in contact with nations around the world and a personal meeting with then, President Ronald Reagan. Iverson made over $80 million dollars from that invention. Henson became a minority partner and created an alliance with the Prince Hall Masons. At a convention in 1995, Henson connected with The Chief Potentate of The Prince Hall Masons and his business prospered from his referral to members. Henson and Iverson partnered in 1995, to form The Gamer Corp and designed and manufactured apparel for organizations like, The Prince Hall Masons, The Daughters of Isis, The Eastern Stars, Sigma Pi Phi, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, and the AKA Sorority (The Divine 9).
He also created and designed apparel for Native American Tribes and casinos throughout America such as The Colorado River Tribe, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Red Lake Gaming Enterprises, Mashantucket Pequot Tribe/Foxwoods Resort Casino. The tribal councils and casino's became Henson's allies and would only work with Henson. During his tenure with Iverson, Henson used his influence with Iverson to prevent pending taxation on Native American Casinos. In 1996 Henson left Iverson and went to work for John Malone (co-founder of BET, Discovery Channel, and owner of Direct TV, Liberty Media, and the Denver Nuggets) at ETC/Telecommunications Inc. in Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado. Henson reported directly to former Congressman Tony Coelho (protege' of Bob Hope) for two years, where he worked as a federal consultant to The White House (Clinton Administration) and educators throughout the country. While working with TCI, Henson helped to implement what is known today as, "Distance Learning Programs" in institutions of higher learning. In 1999, he began his employment with Convera/Intel, Inc. as a federal government information and technology consultant to The White House, Clinton and Bush Administrations, and the federal government intelligence agencies.
After 8 years in government and education consulting, Henson left his day job, to launch an independent film company. Henson produced and directed two films that starred Dick Gregory, Raheem DeVaughn, Clifton Powell, Red Grant, Bill Cosby, supermodel/actress Georgianna Robertson, and NFL legend and actor (Cannonball Run) Joe Theismann to name a few. His films are streamed on Amazon Prime. He is producing a plethora of new films for theatrical release and streaming. Henson was an actor in the film "Jack Strong" and his company NCA was part of the production team. In 2006, he negotiated deals with AMC and Landmark Theatres to feature his films. This occurred prior to what is known today as AMC Independent.
Over the last 19 years, Henson earned an advanced certificate from Yale, a Doctorate, Masters, and Bachelors from Trinity University, and an Associates Degree from Los Angeles Valley College and has written endorsements from Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Bishop T.D. Jakes, RCA and Warner Bros executive Lygia Guy, the late Sid Bernstein, the late Stanley Sheinbaum, The late Dick Gregory and the late William Haley, the son of Alex Haley.
