Russell Henderson is a jazz musician on the piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 and the steelpan

Steelpan

Steelpans is a musical instrument originating from The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago...

. He is most widely known for one of the founding figures of the Notting Hill Carnival

Notting Hill Carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which since 1964 has taken place on the streets of Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , London, UK each August, over two days...

 in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, United Kingdom.

Biography

Russell Henderson grew up in Belmont, Port-of-Spain. He founded the Russell Henderson Quartet in the 1940s and was soon well known in Trinidad. In 1951, Henderson travelled to England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 to study piano tuning at the North London Polytechnic.

He settled in England and founded Britain's first Steelband-Combo with Mervyn Constantine and Sterling Betancourt

Sterling Betancourt

Sterling Betancourt MBE is a pioneer, inventor and musician on the Steelpan.-Life:Betancourt was born and raised in Laventille near Port of Spain. He was a steelpan tuner and member of the steelband Crossfire. Betancourt was selected as a member of TASPO and toured England and Europe in 1951...

, and has been vitally involved in building up Notting Hill Carnival

Notting Hill Carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which since 1964 has taken place on the streets of Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , London, UK each August, over two days...

.

Russell is currently a friend of the 606 Club

606 Club

The 606 Club is a jazz club in Chelsea, London, owned and run by musician Steve Rubie since 1976. The club was originally at 606 King's Road, but moved to 90 Lots Road in 1987. It is currently licensed for 165 people. One, or sometimes two, jazz events are held every day, making it one of the...

 in London, where he performs a monthly show with his revised Jazz quartet, sharing the evening with the Al Whynette Band. In his retirement he has made numerous interviews with BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...

 and BBC Four

BBC Four

BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....

 on his Notting Hill pastime. He was appointed a Member of the British Empire in 2006, for Services to Music.