Jon Hendricks (1921–2017) was an influential American jazz singer and lyricist, celebrated as a pioneer of vocalese—the art of adding lyrics to jazz instrumentals and transforming them into dynamic vocal performances. Renowned for his extraordinary scat singing, he reimagined classic big-band works by legends like Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Hendricks earned critical acclaim, being called the Poet Laureate of Jazz and the James Joyce of Jive, with Al Jarreau praising him as one of the greatest jazz singers of all time.