Theodore A Henning II is a self-styled folk artist; musician and singer who lives in Texas. His musical interests span several genre for which he writes his original music and compositions. At the end of his high-school years he began learning to play dobro guitar [a slide guitar style used in bluegrass and country music] instructed by Stu Ramsay, who himself was a musical prodigy of traditional folk artists. Theo went on to perform dobro with Ramsay who billed himself as Stu Ramsay and The Clary's Grove Boys. The group mainly promoted the Mercury Records album that featured Ramsay's multi-instrument talents.
After Clary's Grove Boys, Theo joined an obscure group, The Calumet Sag and Sanitary Canal River Valley Boys, again doing mostly bluegrass renditions. Throughout this period his concentration was dobro, and he did not yet play guitar with any virtuosity! With the break up of the band, Theo set upon the quest to learn to play guitar so that he could back himself singing. A three year military tour gave him opportunity to perform at various clubs in Germany with USO folks, opening for such notibles as Phyllis Dillar, Charlie Pride, the Big Bopper, etc. But it wasn't until the 1990's that he started creatively writing his own stuff.
His inspirational album Train Is A Comin' was his first successful recording which received favorable reviews and was aired on 47 radio stations across eleven states, Holland and England. Forming a trio, Forming The Apostle Credo Band, with Jackie Odum and David Hooten in Fort Worth was his next rewarding step. For three and one half years the ACC band performed at bluebonnet and wildflower festivals, Fort Worth's Mayfest five years in a row, Cowtown Stockyards events including Pioneer Days, Stockyard Station, and Red Steagall's gathering, and other such venues. It was during this time that Theo wrote a couple songs venerating the Texas State flower, Bluebonnet, which ultimately lead to the bluebonnet lovesong compilation CD, Texas Roadside Blues, released in 2001.
Theodore and his wife Jean have hosted a Fort Worth coffeehouse featuring local as well as national artists for eleven years. During that time he became associated with the Fort Worth Songwriters Association. He continues to write and perform. He finished building his house and pond. Catch his act if you can!
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