Meet Patty Henderson of Blessed Assurance Band

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patty Henderson.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Patty. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a country girl in the BIG city of Houston. I began singing at Haywood Elementary School in Oklahoma. Every Sunday I would attend church with my grandparents at the First Baptist Church in McAlester, Oklahoma. There we would fill the same pew each Sunday. I absolutely loved singing the hymns with my grandmother, known as Granny to all her grand babies. My love for gospel music was born with her by my side.

I went on to sing in various groups at the McAlester High School where I attended my Freshman and Sophomore years. We had a group of amazing teachers for choir, band and drama. It was an honor to study under the direction of Richard Soliday. All the teachers encouraged and supported the many talented students. Voice and piano lessons became a part of my Saturday mornings with Kaye Duran Shields. Along with music competitions, high school productions, telethon performances, and several pageants.

It was in 1975 that my dad accepted a job in Houston, Texas. I however was not so keen on moving and leaving behind all the musical fun and support of my school, family and friends. Alas, he went to work finding an alternative for me. He arranged for an audition with the Ruth Denny, founder of HSPVA, I was accepted into the vocal music department of the newly formed High School for the Performing & Visual Arts.

A school of such unbelievable talent and possibilities! I was a member of the Chorale and the Young Performers. As a Young Performer member I experienced the excitement of performing all over Houston for various groups. HSPVA was amazing then and still is! One of my teachers, Pat Bonner, is still teaching at the school. She knows all her current and former students by name!

I graduated from HSPVA in 1977 and went on to study music at the University of Houston under the direction of Dr. Ray Moore. I was a member of the Choral and Today’s Generation. In the summer of 1979 I had the privilege to tour with Today’s Generation on a USO trip to the Mediterranean area. What an experience!!! I loved performing for the troops. In some cases we filled a void with just time for conversation. They were hungry for the music and news of home. I was forever changed.

After school I married, had children and found employment with a wonderful independent Oil & Gas business that has supported me and treated my family as their own for over 35 years. I’ve continued my love of music by performing with friends and former HSPVA students whenever I can. I am especially drawn to gospel music and thus the Blessed Assurance Band was born at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church and School, Nassau Bay, Texas.

Our Pew Packin’ Sunday is always a treat with the sounds of gospel music and BBQ provided by the Holy Smokers and the Sizzlin’ Sisters. I continue my vocal music studies with Sonja Bruzauskas and always looking forward to the next applause. I am blessed!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I must be honest it’s never a smooth road. There are disappointments when you don’t sound our best, forget the words or totally mess up a song. I still get nervous before a performance. I’ve learned to laugh it off and enjoy the time.

BUT when it all goes well – the music is magic to my soul.

Please tell us about Blessed Assurance Band.
The Blessed Assurance Band brings to the stage a group of especially talented musicians that share faith through gospel music. We enjoy playing the older tunes; Wade in the Water, Victory in Jesus, Blessed Assurance, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, Are You Washed in the Blood, In the Garden and Will the Circle Be Unbroken. These tunes draw in the older folks as well as the younger ones. The power of these songs can move the soul to do some toe tapping and hand clapping or kneel in prayer. In some cases, the music will take us back in time when we worshiped with grandparents, like myself, or youth church camps sitting around the campfire or worshiping under the tabernacles.

We welcome those among us to be a child again, a child of God, through our music.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
“Lessons learned” to me is also called experience. I would have knocked on more doors asking for the opportunity to perform. To gain more experience. It is through the lessons learned that we gain experience that only makes us better at what we do.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 281-639-1151
• Email: blessedassuranceband@gmail.com
• Instagram: blessedassuranceband
• Facebook: Blessed Assurance Band

Image Credit:
Jamikaela Photography

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