Pianist Jim Hendricks will be in concert at Peachtree City United Methodist Church on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. Admission is free. The concert is open to the public.
Hendricks intrigued musicians and family members as a child with the uncanny ability to play anything he heard on records and memorize any printed music that came across the piano. While still in grammar school, he was able to transcribe by ear complex harmonies and melodies — without the use of a piano. He continued intensive musical studies and was considered a professional as a teenager.
After high school, Hendricks performed with such legends as Dave Brubeck, Della Reese, Rita Moreno, Tito Puente, Maynard Ferguson, Jack Jones, Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, Arturo Sandoval, Jon Faddis, and many others. He also competed in numerous international piano competitions and was a featured orchestral soloist, performing the piano music of Rachmaninoff. By the age of 25, Hendricks had accepted a professorship in the piano department of Chicago State University.
While on tour with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Hendricks says he realized he was not using his talents for God’s glory. Since he had been a dedicated Christian for many years, he says he knew it was time to leave the secular music world and follow God’s calling into Christian ministry.
Since then, he has performed more than 1,200 Christian piano concerts in churches all across the land, including three appearances at the Crystal Cathedral. He has made 13 piano recordings, performed on ABC, CBS, TBN and PAX, authored the book Contemporary Arrangements for Today’s Church Pianist, and has been featured in Clavier piano journal.
PTCUMC is located at 225 Robinson Rd. in Peachtree City. For information call 770-487-6499 or visit www.ptcumc.org.
