Henry Hart

Henry Hart (b. Frankfort, Kentucky, June 8, 1839 – d. 1915) – Singer, composer, songwriter, minstrel performer, and violinist. An African American from Frankfort, Kentucky, Hart moved to Cleveland in 1853 and learned to play the violin. In his mid 1920s (1864), he fiddled his way to New Orleans on a steamer and remained there until moving to Evansville in 1867. During his eleven years in Evansville, he had many compositions published; many of them were written for solo piano, and others—some in African American dialect—were for voice and piano. Also while living in Evansville, he organized his own African American minstrel troupe in 1874 and traveled throughout the Midwest. From 1879 to 1915, Hart lived in Indianapolis, where he brought up several children whom he taught to play instruments. Although he no longer published compositions, he was a popular musician in the state’s capital, as he played the violin for weddings, social dances, club receptions, governor inaugurations, and even visits by presidents Rutherford B. Hayes, Grover Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison. Because of his great popularity, the Indianapolis News called him a “social necessity” in 1901. Some accounts of his performances make reference to the “Henry Hart Orchestra,” which also included his wife on harp and his daughters on various instruments. Lastly, one of the daughters was Hazel Hart Hendricks, who was a teacher and principal in Indianapolis. In 1935, Hazel was killed in an accident while returning home from a musical performance she led with her students. Now, her school, IPS No. 37, is known as the Hazel Hart Hendricks School.