Author: Steve Wilkison

Ernie was recently inverviewed by Jeremy D. Bonfiglio, the Sight & Sound Editor at The Herald-Palladium. Ernie talks about his band, new music, fatherhood, inspiration and much more.

Here’s a bit of what they talked about:

A lot has changed for singer-songwriter Ernie Hendrickson.

There’s the addition to his name. The one-time solo artist has been playing under the billing of Ernie Hendrickson & Citizens of Love, a trio led by the Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist that typically includes drummer Devin Ulery and bass player Pete Muschong.

There’s the addition to his family. He and wife, Quinn, have a now 18-month-old daughter, Tansey.

Then there is time. Hendrickson recently turned 40, the age where mind and body welcome you to the joys of mid-life, crises and all.

What hasn’t changed, however, is Hendrickson’s commitment to his craft. Born in Wisconsin and raised in Rockford, Ill., Hendrickson grew up on a deep well of American roots music, which he continues to draw inspiration from.

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I recently had the pleasure of talking with Vickie Jurkowski with the Chicago Tribunes Daily Southtown.

Here’s a sample of what we talked about:

It’s no surprise when musicians cover Johnny Cash or Bruce Springsteen. But when Ernie Hendrickson starts singing, there’s an unexpected maturity to his voice.

Not yet 40, the singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Palos Park is an old soul with a preference for Hank Williams, Bill Monroe and Jerry Garcia over any of today’s indie rock artists. And his modesty belies his albums featuring folks who’ve performed with Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill
and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Formative Years: “My brother and I had a band when we were kids. Around age 11 or 12, I had a half-size acoustic guitar with only two strings and I’d write songs with it. We made up our own stuff and performed around the house for our parents and aunts and uncles. I was bummed out to put all six strings on it when I
started guitar lessons on my 13th birthday.”

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