Bob Henrit

Robert John Henrit was born in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, England on 2 May 1944.{{Cite web |title=Robert Henrit Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/robert-henrit-mn0000718493 |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=AllMusic |language=en}} He first played washboard as a teen, progressing to a borrowed drum kit and left school at 17 with his parents' blessing to pursue a distinguished music career. He was originally the drummer with Buster Meikle & the Day Breakers, together with Russ Ballard on guitar and Roy Ballard, Russ's older brother, on piano.

His neighbour, Harry Webb (who would later perform under the stagename Cliff Richard{{Cite web |title=Bob Henrit - A reflective interview with the former drummer of Argent and the Kinks. "The thing about rock and roll is I like the rigidity of it. It's something that I want to do. It's just in me." |url=https://musicguy247.typepad.com/my-blog/2019/05/bob-henrit-argent-the-kinks-don-mclean-phoenix-john-verity-russ-ballard-adam-faith-roulettes-ian-matthews.html |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Musicguy247}}{{Cite web |title=Robert Henrit |url=https://www.facebook.com/robert.henrit |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}) introduced him to the Roulettes (1962–1967), gaining initial professional success with them. They had their own recording career and also backed popular music singer, Adam Faith, both on tour and on Acetate. After the demise of the Roulettes, Henrit briefly (1968) toured, including the US with Unit 4 + 2, their association dated back to his session drumming on their biggest hit, "Concrete and Clay" (1965).

Henrit teamed up with Russ Ballard, Jim Rodford and Rod Argent in late 1968, to form Argent, and remained with them until the band ended in 1976. After a brief spell with Rodford and John Verity as Phoenix, Henrit's post-Argent career included work with a number of artists, including Charlie, after their 1978 tour opening for The Kinks, and Ian Matthews.

As a session drummer, he worked with many solo albums by notable band lead singers{{Cite book |last=Henrit |first=Bob |title=Banging On |date=November 2013 |isbn=9780957305830 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r3EenwEACAAJ |access-date=14 January 2023}} including the Who vocalist, Roger Daltrey, and was present on Dave Davies' Glamour (1981) and Chosen People (1983) solo albums. He also worked regularly with the GB Blues Band which, in addition to Rodford, included former members of the Mike Cotton Sound. In a 1972 interview, Keith Moon identified Henrit as one of his favourite drummers.{{cite web |url=http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/moon-probe-a-rare-interview-with-keith-moon/P4/ |title=A Rare Interview With Keith Moon |publisher=DRUM! Magazine |access-date=2014-06-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512221435/http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/moon-probe-a-rare-interview-with-keith-moon/P4/ |archive-date=12 May 2014 |df=dmy-all }}

Henrit replaced the long-serving drummer of the Kinks, Mick Avory, after Avory's departure in 1984.Strong, Martin C. (2002) The Great Rock Discography, 6th edn., Canongate, {{ISBN|1-84195-312-1}}, p. 578Eder's Allmusic biography states that Henrit replaced Avory in 1984, but Avory has one credit on the 1986 album Think Visual, Henrit's first credit was on the 1984 album Word of Mouth, which also had Avory play on 3 tracks. He worked with the act until their split in 1996. Henrit toured with the re-formed Argent intermittently between 2010 and 2013 and occasionally deputises for Mick Avory in the Kast Off Kinks.

Henrit published his autobiography, Banging On, in November 2013 and collaborated with Nigel Constable{{Cite web |title=Meet The Authors - The Hayman Drum Book |url=https://www.facebook.com/events/footes-music/meet-the-authors-the-hayman-drum-book/1055219444589269/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=9781909465497: The Hayman Drum Book - Henrit, Bob: 1909465496 - AbeBooks |url=https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9781909465497/Hayman-Drum-Book-Henrit-Bob-1909465496/plp |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=www.abebooks.co.uk |language=en-GB}} in writing, The Hayman Drum Book.{{Citation |title=Episode 64: Live From My Drum Room With Bob Henrit! 12-15-21 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsM5hPNwkRA |language=en |access-date=14 January 2023}} He would also regularly write for the Music Express.

He owned Henrit's Drum Store{{Cite web |date=2020-07-17 |title=Henrit's Drumstore |url=https://rockandrollogist.wordpress.com/2020/07/17/henrits-drumstore/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=@Rockandrollogist |language=en-GB}} on Wardour Street, customers included many leading drummers of the time, Ringo Starr purchased a drum kit, a gift for his son, paying in cash, recalls Henrit. It came about when Henrit had flown to the Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen to play drums on Ringo's album and enquired of him, whether the Drum Store was still going. Henrit participated in the 2021, Netflix movie, documentary, Count Me In.{{Cite web |last=rognrolla |date=2021-08-26 |title=Netflix Release The Latest Drumming Movie: "Count Me In" |url=https://www.drummingnewsnetwork.com/?p=6729 |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Drumming News Network |language=en-US}}

Henrit is married, and together, have three children. He currently resides in the Forty Hill area of Enfield.{{Cite web |date=2013-12-31 |title=Bob Henrit book Banging On released {{!}} My Drum Lessons |url=https://mydrumlessons.co.uk/2013/12/bob-henrit-banging-on-released/ |access-date=2022-12-21 |language=en-US}}

• List of drummers

{{#tag:timeline|

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bar:unit from:01/01/1967 till:01/01/1969

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bar:phoenix from:09/01/1976 till:01/01/1981

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bar:gb from:01/01/1980 till:07/01/1984

color:charlie

bar:charlie from:01/01/1981 till:07/01/1984

color:kinks

bar:kinks from:07/01/1984 till:06/16/1996

color:argent

bar:argent from:06/01/2010 till:01/30/2011

color:argent

bar:argent from:01/01/2012 till:04/01/2012

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{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/bob-henrit Bob Henrit Interview] at NAMM Oral History Library (2014)
• {{Discogs artist}}

{{The Kinks}}

{{Argent}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Henrit, Bob}}

Category:Living people

Category:English rock drummers

Category:Argent (band) members

Category:The Kinks members

Category:People from Broxbourne

Category:English session musicians

Category:1944 births

Category:Musicians from Hertfordshire

Category:People educated at Cheshunt School