Henry Gibson (percussionist)

"Master" Henry Gibson (August 9, 1942 – December 18, 2002) was an American percussionist, appearing on about 1200 albums, spanning a career of four decades.

Born in the United States, Gibson began playing on the streets of Chicago. While a young man, he performed for Operation Push with Rev. Jesse Jackson. Later, he became an integral member of Phil Cohran's Artistic Heritage Ensemble. Gibson also played and recorded with the jazz ensemble Odell Brown and the Organizers. He spent a lot of time in Chicago recording studios, which allowed him to be noticed and picked up by professional musicians who took him on tour. Eventually, he began playing and recording with well-known artists such as Donny Hathaway (Everything Is Everything) and Curtis Mayfield. Gibson chose to go on the road with Curtis Mayfield, leading to his success and recognition for his skill on the bongo and conga drums.

Henry Gibson performed on the Hawaiian Islands in the mid-70s and 80s and lived on the island of Oahu. He teamed with musician, songwriter, and producer Kirk Thompson to record the iconic Lemuria album and collaborated with many of the top local Waikiki musicians of that era, including vocalist Azure McCall and pianist Tennyson Stevens. He was integral to Kirk Thompson's 'Super Session' with Michael 'Papabax' Baxter on keyboards, John Gallarde on bass, and Ron Felix on drums. Gibson was a popular addition to the Waikiki music scene in those years.

While performing at a Hard Rock Cafe in Stockholm, Sweden, he met and married his wife Anne. He died in Stockholm of a heart attack at age 60. His last concert appearance was with Khaled Habib and Zak Keith at the Lydmar Hotel in Stockholm.

His distinctive style can be heard among other recordings on Curtis Mayfield's "Pusherman." An unsung Soul artist, Gibson felt he had more than paid his dues. In his later years, he was less and less content with being a sideman and began asserting himself as the main attraction, placing his percussion at the forefront of shows. He was known for getting upset with audiences in noisy venues — after demanding their silence and full attention, he would instantly regain his focus and proceed to put on spellbinding performances on the bongos.

Months after his death in 2002, friends and musicians got together to organize a tribute concert at the Fasching Jazz Club in Stockholm. His music can still be heard daily on the radio, especially on recordings by Curtis Mayfield.