S.V. Henson Jr.

Stanley V. Henson, Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and lived the first year of his life in the Annapolis home of Abraham and Elizabeth Carr-Smith (owners of Carr's Beach) with his parents. Carr's Beach was the east coast mecca for black entertainers in the 50's and 60's. Among the entertainers who performed at Carr's Beach were jazz legends such as Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, and Lionel Hampton, as well as soul artists Ray Charles, James Brown, and Jackie Wilson. Rock 'n' Roll pioneers Fats Domino and Buddy Holly also performed at Carr's Beach. On July 21, 1956, an estimated 70,000 people traveled to Carr's Beach to hear Chuck Berry perform, although only 8,000 made it past the gates because the grounds were filled beyond capacity. By the early 1960s, the list of popular entertainers included Little Richard, Lloyd Price, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, the Shirelles, the Coasters, and the Drifters. Henson began his career in Washington, D.C. where upon he met and was managed by Aquil Fudge, (cousin of Stevie Wonder, producer for Rick James, and accountant for Spike Lee). After Fudge moved to Los Angeles to head Stevie Wonder's Black Bull Publishing, Henson was released and signed to manager Carol Kirkendall. Henson relocated to Los Angeles in 1982, meeting a plethora of mentors including, the late Matt Robinson, the late Comedian Dap "Sugar" Willie, the late legendary Motown producer, Norman Whitfield, The late J.W. Alexander, who was the manager/partner of Sam Cooke. Aquil Fudge introduced Henson to Rodney Gordy (nephew of Berry Gordy) and Henson signed a publishing deal with Motown's Jobete Music. Henspn's songs were also published by MCA/Universal/Chriswald Music during the '80s where his music was distributed throughout Europe and Japan. Henson composed and produced music with the late Grammy-winning producer Guy Babylon (Band director for Elton John and composer with Quincy Jones) and Lenny Macaluso who composed songs for Motown and Universal Music. During the '90s, Henson continued to compose music for television shows and commercials including, Bausch and Lomb, Indonesia Travel Bureau, and TV shows such as Santa Barbara. While attending college in Los Angeles, Henson studied music theory, sound engineering, and acting. He interned at RCA/BMG Music in Hollywood. California, under Ron Fair and Lygia Guy. While in college, he was mentored by the late legendary music promoter, Sid Bernstein, best known for introducing The Beatles to the U.S. and discovering entertainment mogul David Geffen and Laura Nero. Bernstein took mentored Henson while lecturing at his college class under Mike Julian. Bernstein also starred in the Go-Go music film "Good to Go". In the late '80s, Henson was hired by producer Lee Levinson and Al Douche' for the NBC movie "Playing with Fire". Henson worked as a production assistant to the late actress legend Cicely Tyson, the late actors Ron O'Neal, Yaphet Kotto, the late Gary Coleman, and film director Ivan Nagy. Henson was featured in a small acting role in the film "Playing with Fire" when Ivan Nagy was short an actor for a scene in the movie. This was his first acting role. After the film was completed, Henson briefly worked security at Universal Studios on the film sets of several NBC projects like, "Knightrider", and "Simon and Simon" and the films "St. Elmo's Fire" and "Back to the Future". Henson was inspired by an encounter with MCA/Universal Pictures CEO, Lew Wasserman, a conversation with entertainment mogul Clarence Avant, and the career of Berry Gordy after meeting his sister at her Outpost Drive home and spending time with Gordy's nephew, Rodney Gordy. His interest was sparked in film and TV production during this period. In 1990, Henson met and worked with the former drummer for the group Con Funk Shun, The late Louis McCall, and his wife Linda Lou McCall, and singer Keith Martin. In 1992, Henson would perform at The Mayan Club in Los Angeles. Owner Sammy Chao and Attorney Robert Allen managed Henson briefly and arranged his performance at The Mayan Club. Henson attributes this association with Allen to meeting many of his business alliances with companies like The Wanda Group, Francis Ford Coppola's, and Coppola/Zoetrope. The Late Pablo Davis (former manager of L.A. and Babyface) John Harris (Head of Stevie Wonder's Quarter's West), Duffy Hooks, actor Maurice Sneed ("The Color Purple" and "Malcolm X"), TV producer Al Douche', music producer Jerry Marcelino (Motown and Michael Jackson), promoter Sid Bernstein (The Beatles, David Geffen), activist Stanley Sheinbaum (Husband of Betty Warner, daughter of Harry Warner), Professor Mike Julian, music legend Maxx Kidd, Soul Train's the late Don Cornelious, Jazz legend Hubert Laws, RCA/BMG executive Lygia Guy, Hollywood restaurant owner Carmen Miceli, club promoter Teddy Powell, are among the mentors and supporters of Henson during his music career. After being married for 13 years, Henson divorced his first wife in 1992 and retired from the entertainment industry, and moved to Washington, D.C. where he met the late Donald Iverson, founder of Iverson Technologies. Iverson was known for using IBM technology and patenting a way to prevent electromagnetic signals from being picked up from computers where they could be decoded and analyzed by foreign governments. His company was once in high demand for some time and brought him in contact with nations around the world and a personal meeting with then, President Ronald Reagan. Iverson made over $80 million dollars from that invention. Henson became a minority partner and created an alliance with the Prince Hall Masons. Henson and Iverson partnered in 1995, to form Gamer Corp and designed and manufactured apparel for The Prince Hall Masons, The Daughters of Isis, The Eastern Stars, Sigma Pi Phi, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, and the AKA Sorority (The Divine 9). He also created and designed apparel for Native American Tribes and casinos throughout America such as The Colorado River Tribe, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Red Lake Gaming Enterprises, Mashantucket Pequot Tribe/Foxwoods Resort Casino. The tribal councils became Henson's allies and would only work with Henson. During his tenure with Iverson, Henson used his influence with Iverson to prevent pending taxation on Native American Casinos. In 1996 Henson left Iverson and was employed to work for John Malone (co-founder of BET, Discovery Channel, and owner of Direct TV, Liberty Media, and the Denver Nuggets) at ETC/Telecommunications Inc. in Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado. Henson reported directly to former Congressman Tony Coelho (protege' of Bob Hope) for two years, where he worked as a federal consultant to The White House (Clinton Administration) and educators throughout the country. While working with TCI, Henson helped to implement what is known today as, "Distance Learning Programs" in institutions of higher learning. In 1999, he began his employment with Convera/Intel, Inc. as a federal government information and technology consultant to The White House, Clinton and Bush Administrations, and the federal government intelligence agencies. After 8 years in government consulting, Henson left to launch an independent film company. Henson produced and directed two films that starred Dick Gregory, Raheem DeVaughn, Clifton Powell, Red Grant, Bill Cosby, supermodel/actress Gerogianna Robertson, and NFL legend and actor (Cannonball Run) Joe Theismann to name a few. His films are streamed on Amazon Prime. He is producing a plethora of new films for theatrical release and streaming. Henson was an actor in the film "Jack Strong" and his company NCA was part of the production team. In 2006, he negotiated deals with AMC and Landmark Theatres to feature his films. This occurred prior to what is known today as AMC Independent. S.V. Henson, Jr., has written endorsements for his work in media and charitable work, from Congresswoman Maxine Waters, The late Dick Gregory, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Larry Jones (Feed The Children), former Congressman Tony Coelho, The Late former mayor Marion Barry, and the late Stanley Sheinbaum (member of the Malibu Mafia that included Norman Lear, David Wolper, Stanley Sheinbaum, Warner Bros. chairman Ted Ashley, television producer Norman Lear, and four businessmen: Harold Willens, Leopold Wyler, Miles L. Rubin, Actors Paul Newman, and Warren Beatty were associated peripherally with the Malibu Mafia, as was singer and Malibu resident Barbra Streisand. and Max Palevsky) and RCA Records Lygia Guy-Brown. Henson personally met and affiliated with Sheibaum, Jakes, Waters, Gregory, and Guy-Brown Henson's family members, cousins, nephews, nieces, and great-nephews are actors and producers in the entertainment business. Henson's nephew Jamaal Avery (Sister's son) produced "The Jersey Shore", "Martha, and Snoop", "The Steve Harvey Show", "The Real and Vote or miss out" and his great-nephew Jamaal Avery, Jr. has starred in the hit show "Abbott Elementary", The new Steven Spielberg film "Color Purple" (Musical adaptation) as young Harpo, The Young Jedi Adventure and his niece, Naomi Avery stars in Abbot Elementary, Brandon Avery produces "Shaunie's Home Court" his cousin Monica Henson (Taraji P. Henson's aunt) and Taraji P. Henson are both actors. Henson earned an advanced certificate from Yale, a Doctorate, Masters, and Bachelors from Trinity University, and an Associates Degree from Los Angeles Valley College.