Today we will tell you about Ken Hensley, best known as the keyboardist and lead songwriter in the band "Uriah Heep" from 1970 to 1980.
(Photo: Theaudiodb.com)
Hensley was born Kenneth William David Hensley, in Plumstead in south-east London, on 24 August 1945.
He taught himself to play the guitar when he was 12 years old and already when he was 15 he made his first show.
In 1965, at the age of 20, he formed the band "The Gods" with guitarist Mick Taylor. Hensley wrote most of the material, singing and playing the Hammond organ.
In early 1968 the band signed a recording contract with "Colombia" and recorded two albums and a few singles, but later split up when Hensley joined "Toe Fat" - with whom he later recorded an album.
(Photo: Trevor Hensley on Facebook)
In 1969, Hensley joined "Spice" as a keyboardist, a band that also included guitarist Mick Box and vocalist David Byron. The band later changed its name to "Uriah Heep".
Under the new name, Hensley recorded with "Uriah Heep" 13 studio albums, including masterpieces such as "Salisbury", "Look at Yourself", "Demons and Wizards", "The Magician's Birthday", "Return to Fantasy" and more.
(Photo: Michael Putland)
Hensley served as one of the lead writers of the band and beyond his tremendous influences on the band's sound playing keyboards and guitar, he also took on singing roles, sometimes even as a solo singer as in the songs "Lady in Black" and "Look at Yourself".
In 1980 Hensley left the band and in 1982 joined "Blackfoot", a Hard Rock band from Florida, with whom he recorded two albums "Siogo" from 1983 and "Vertical Smiles" from 1984.
Hansley also had a number of collaborations, including with John Wetton, Glenn Hughes, "W.A.S.P.", "Ayreon", "Therion", "Cinderella" and more.
Hensley had an extensive solo career that began in 1973 with the album "These were Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf" and ended with his 12th studio album "My Book of Answers", which was released after his death in 2021 .
On November 4, 2020, Hensley was found dead after a short illness. He was 75 years old.