1. It's been a little while since Rick Hendrix has been in the news. Refresh our memory of who you are and exactly what it is that you do.
I am very active in the political process. I do not consider myself Democrat or Republican.. I vote for both if they have my belief system. I work with President Obama on several projects, and remain active with President Bush and Clinton on several levels. I have offices in the Middle East as we move towards building the largest independent oil supplier and energy company from the United States. I formed Henergy Global last year a division of Rick Hendrix Company. At Henergy Global we are currently providing power and building power plants all over the world and drilling fresh water wells in Africa for the children. My heart has always been in helping others and I feel God has continued to widen the length of my arms and heart to reach a little farther around those that are broken. And giving someone a clean glass of water and a light to walk by, is very rewarding. I work closely with the United Nations and President on our projects. We handle marketing for Gaither Vocal Band and most of the Gaither artist, we also do radio for Jason Crabb, Isaacs, MIke and Kelly Bowling, Miley Cyrus, U2 and all the way to Aretha Franklin and Mariah Carey. A positive message to me is what my company looks for. Many people blast me for working secular projects. If they have a problem with it, they arent meant to be here.And God already knows this. I ask God to send me the people to work. And to remove those He feels will not meet my heart plan for this world and my life. I do not look for minsters or Christians, I look for meat and healing in actions, words, good people and positive music, films and projects. I am not interested in people that wear labels, societies, associations or denominations around their life. I learned a long time ago artist and people will let you down, But Gods message in song will never stop healing or uplifting. I promote messages from the spirit, and most of the time I am lucky enough the artist behind it are my prayer warriors.
2. When it comes to chart success, the Rick Hendrix Company has developed the reputation for being the best. Explain how you got there.
How have you managed to garner such big named artists into your stable?
I started out by doing what I was called to do, and not what I was told to do. I never allowed myself to succumb to my critics and rules. I watched my entire life be pulled out from under me 6 times and filed bankruptcy 3 times. My children and I would sit homeless, watching the cars being repossessed, fighting legal shutdown tactics and still holding on to the promise and mission. I made my life about reaching people through radio. I didnt mind working 115 hour weeks. I didnt mind taking the frontline against a giant. I was raised in a poverty stricken town, and I was made fun of a lot and ridiculed for being different. Instead of friends as a child, I created dreams. I learned early on who my true friend would always be.... and that was God. He stayed by my side through addiction, gangs, sexual abuse as a child and total brokenness. I always wanted to be somebody a store clerk wouldnt wipe her hand off when she touched me, or a kid that smiled when his name was called out in class and didn't hide in my chair from laughs. I learned when people are laughing at me, they are leaving others alone. And I realized I was being trained for something bigger one day. So, I learned early not everyone can be on the stage, not every person is cut out to be famous or popular no mater how your wired. I desired to make people what I couldn't be as a child and that was popular. So in my quest, I found a very strong heart desire and satisfaction in breaking records for people. I felt victory every time a disc jockey would add my artist's record. Every time an artist won it fed a void in my own soul and failed life. I was feeding a broken little boy with numbers, hit records, souls, lives and broken lives were being put back together including my own. So, no amount of competition, financing, major labels or artist could compete against the drive to watch success and lives unfold into His kingdom as the puzzle pieces completed my own life. I was feeding my own failed life, and answering Gods call to get His word to the masses.. I had to win for the little boy they laughed at and ran out of town as much as I had to fight my competitor for the number one songs. I never lost sight of the shut ins, drug addicts, mentally ill depressed lives this quest was reaching and thats where my success came from, Gods anointing of the music I chose to promote. I battled death threats, political assaults and totally loss of my earthly life and health many times to do what I was called to do. But I would pray a bloodline around my home and family, ask for favoritism from the radio stations and their hearts for the lost souls my promotions would reach,and then go crazy on the phones and work till the last chart was counted. And God honored my work and life for being faithful to His call even when I failed and made many mistakes in my professional life.
3. Most people know that you were pretty involved in the political process in the Presidential elections in 2008. How did that mesh with your
radio promotions business?
It has been amazing. I have watched God mold my business into a family. I never lost one single client. I always hear chit chat and political spin. I do not wanna camp full of political militants, haters , racist or people who cast their faith into political parties or organizations. I tune out the Republican agendas and Democratic agendas and watch the lives of people. And I expect the same for me and my company. God had a plan for Rick Hendrix in the 2008 Presidential election even 20 years ago when I would lay in my mommas big backyard eating wild onions and pretending my pet chickens were royalty and superstars. I was always a dreamer. And when I stopped trying to live the dream and wrapped my life into Gods calling I was 15. I never thought I would be asked to serve our country at such a high level as a Presidential Delegate and assistant. I traveled with HIllary and BIll Clinton, President Obama, Sen John McCain and Sarah Palin. I watched history unfold its wings right before my eyes. I found myself laying on my bathroom floor in 2007 at 2 AM crying out to God. I was close to giving up again. I was worn and tired. And God told me "Ricky hold on. It has just began." I got up after crying and praying and called a friend and relayed what the prophecy of my life had reveled ...WOW these words still make my heart shake. I told my friend. God has told me not to give up. I will be a major force in the Presidential elections, I will be changing the lives of millions with power and water, I will have a foundation that helps millions a year. And I will not only have millions, I will have billions of dollars to change the world. And within weeks his words started unfolding and I found myself in the Presidential motorcade, sleeping on the couch of the Oval office, received President Bush Lifetime Achievement Award, became a part of the delegation that seated the first African American President. I met so many LIFE people during the campaign. Was helping elect President Obama the harvest I was waiting on? Who knows? But, the process and relationships I made were priceless. And within a few months, my company was in front of Kings, Presidents, Prime Ministers and world leaders. To this date my company has built 25,645 fresh water wells for the people of Africa, 22 short term medical facilities and we are currently working on building power plants in 3rd world countries. So the Presidential election changed my life and to this date the lives of 83 million people around the world. I could never think the whispers of a few clients and industry people would ever turn my head from the reality of the path God has ordained and prepared for me and the Rick Hendrix Foundation.
4. I understand that you have been very involved in the Haiti Earthquake efforts. What have you been doing there?
We have been actively on the ground in Haiti since the quake. Rick Hendrix Foundation opened nearly two dozen short term medical facilities and treated over 12,000 Haitians in 2 weeks. My son Zachary Hendrix helped the military convert waste from meal replacement packages into temporary boots for over 100,000 children. Just this task prevented the kids of Haiti from many water born disese. We are working day and night along side the Clinton Foundation and President Obama and former President Bush to restore life and finally bring some joy to this dark country.We are not alone. The world has taken this disaster serious. Our max in Haiti will be when our shelters are feeding 5,000 a day and housing 7,000 at each site. And we are nearly at capacity. Rick Hendrix Foundation is currently building programs in Ghana to build an ethanol plant to provide work for 30,000 families. We are meeting this week with the parliament, Sheik and Sultan to build 3 dams on the Congo to feed power into Africa. Its a 4 billion dollar project through the United Nations. We have offices in Cambodia to combat child prostitution and trafficking and are currently building a Middle East recycling facility for military scrap and waste out of my Jordan office and helping restore power to Venezuela and other hydro based powered countries where global warming has effected the annual rain and water levels. But, our work in Haiti has just begun. We are making a 10 year plan currently to help rebuild Haiti through our contracts with the US government to rebuild Afghanistan.
5. Tell us about the "We Are The World 25 - Haiti" that you are working with.
Wow! I watched the original "We Are the World" unfold as a teenager and to see my name on the 2009 version choir list is mind boggling. It was a perfect fit for us. Our mission on the ground in Haiti and the care around the world and music community only mirrors my heart for this project and my own companies efforts in music and world service.
6. What can the Southern Gospel community do to help those still suffering in Haiti?
Within a few weeks you will start seeing building site drop offs pop up across the world. Along with Home Depot and Lowes, Rick Hendrix Foundation is placing sites across America for people to donate building supplies. Even if you can only buy one shingle or piece of wood it makes a difference. 800 2x 4s build a home. Give to these sites when you see them. The organizations are all turning over most of the proceeds. So, any outlet at this point is a great source.
7. Great radio success, looking at politics, helping in Haiti, what's next for Rick Hendrix?
God keeps placing wind beneath my wings daily. A film director contacted me about turning my life story into a motion picture and film next year. After several meetings I agreed. An HBO producer is creating a documentary on my life ahead of the film and a book is scheduled to compliment the film. I met with the folks at Sundance Film Festival and the Cannes about my films induction into the festivals. I am taking my directions on the film from Jacob Coleman. Coleman is a brillant man, full of life, ideas and energy.We are looking at a strong push for an Oscar and Golden Globe. All of the pieces are in place. Writing the script was nearly a meltdown for me. Reliving all of those years was one of the hardest things I have ever done in such a short period of time. The screenplay writer is working on the final draft and casting has begun. It will be filmed on location in North Carolina, Tennessee and Washington DC. And I am gearing up to give Southern Gospel the hardest promotional push of my life this year. We are looking to push Mike and Kelly Bowling, Gaither Vocal Band, Jason Crabb and our artist into massive airplay. I plan on continuing our work with secular artist and American Idol artist to get the positive message out to the masses. And after 10 years, I finished my masters degree and doctorate this year and will be graduating this Spring. How does Dr. Hendrix sound? But, seriously to sum it up. We wanna build clean water wells all over the world, provide power to suppressed regions, my laboratories are working on a cure for malaria and AIDS. We are having some amazing breakthroughs with these diseases. We are also about to launch a InstaFOODS Humanitarian Product thats so easily digestible; it is absorbed into the blood stream in seconds, giving those who are hanging on by a thread the gift of precious life.I am also in the developmental stages of buying and building a1200 acre resort an 18 hole country music golf course and equestrian park outside of Nashville that will house a museum at the old home place of candy giant Frank Mars called the Milky Way. I wanna have gospel concerts in the old 30,000 square foot mansion. Not sure if I will live in it or not. But, the industry and world will have a chance to walk the halls of the chocolate wars.
Rick Hendrix online: http://www.rickhendrix.com
Author: AGM
| Author's Website: http://absolutelygospel.com/
Written: 04/03/2010
| 
Category:
| 
Comments: 2
RSS Feed
| (What's an RSS feed?)
|
Ads Sponsored by Southern Spin
Richard Binghames Hendrix Jr. (born January 11, 1970), better known by the name Dr. Rick Hendrix, is an American promoter and songwriter of southern gospel and country music. He works as a political analyst that serves as a Delegate for American President Barack Obama. Hendrix is the owner and CEO of Rick Hendrix Energy and Henergy Global a partnership company of the United Staes that supplies power to third world countries. He has written several number one songs and numerous Top 40 songs made popular in Christian music. In addition to music writing and promotion, Hendrix has also promoted blockbuster films including The Passion of the Christ and The Prince of Egypt. Yahoo Financial News named Hendrix the inventor of "positive music" in 2008 and his company moved over a quarter of a billion and 160+ number one songs promoted in the United States for different artists including: U2, Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus, Aretha Franklin, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Bette Midler, Lifehouse, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Jessica Simpson, Fantasia, Reba, Whitney Houston, Ruben Studdard, Creed, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson and posthumous projects for Elvis Presley. Hendrix artists have won more than 250 Grammy's, 600 Country Music Awards and 2 Oscars. Hendrix has been featured in USA Today, Billboard Magazine, The Globe, The National Enquirer, The 700 Club, Primetime Live and CBS News.
Many of the 1000+ songs written by Hendrix have become Southern Gospel and Christian standards. Included among the titles: "You'll Never Run Out of the Blood", " He Chose Me", "When There is No Hope (There is Grace)", " Sometimes It Takes a Mountain", " God Still Dries Our Tears", and "Mama's Letters to Jesus". Hendrix has been nominated as songwriter and producer of the year nearly a dozen times in the Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards.
Page 1 of 1 Comment Pages
