Questar III Career Development Specialist Ted Hennessey, right, and his band, the Doornails, play during the 2011 Questar III retirement dinner at Birch Hill in Schodack.
When Questar III BOCES Career Development Specialist Ted Hennessy was first told he was being inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame – Albany Chapter, modesty took over and he wasn’t sure he even wanted to accept.
To be honored at the same time and in the same fashion as well-known and accomplished area musicians like Ernie Williams and Charlie Smith seemed unbelievable to him.
Hennessy, a long-time singer, songwriter and “blues harp honker” – or harmonica player for those who don’t speak the blues – has received many honors over the years including being featured on the “Best of Upstate Harmonica Blow Off” recorded live at the Dinosaur BBQ Restaurant in Syracuse, and whose song “Graveyard for the Blues” was named best original blues song by Real Blues magazine in 2002.
Despite his initial apprehension, friends reminded him of these accomplishments and eventually convinced him to accept the honor.
Hennessy was inducted into the hall of fame on November 11 during an induction event at Pauly’s Hotel in Albany. Hosted by the Michael Packer Blues Band, the event featured six hours of music from the various artists and presentations to honor the area’s best blues musicians.
Hennessy said he was truly honored by the award and that the event was a lot of fun. “Anytime you get to hang out with a bunch of musicians and not because someone died, it’s a good time,” he said.
As the front man for the recently reunited Scotty Mac and the Rockin’ Bonnevilles, front man for the Doornails, and a member of two other blues groups, Hennessy’s loves playing for a crowd. In fact, in addition to his day-to-day Questar III duties which include CTE, New Visions and Career Studies recruitment and grant writing, Hennessy happily emcees the annual Questar III retirement dinner.
With Hennessy as the emcee, the retirement dinner is a lively event filled with laughter and memories. Songs include classic favorites with humorous lyrical twists to reflect and commemorate the retirees.
In fact, Hennessy says the retirement dinner is one of his most important roles at Questar III because it’s a chance to recognize those who support students and schools. “It’s a really good vibe,” he said. “I love working here and the music part is cool. It’s one of those magical moments.”
Hennessy has been playing the harmonica since his high school garage band days and says his roots come from early Chicago blues, with influences such as Little Water, Sonny Boy Williamson and James Cotton. Other influences include more modern musicians like William Clark from California. Hennessy currently plays a variety of styles including American and Old Country.
He says he likes the blues because the music is different every time depending on the room and the people in it. He also enjoys the spontaneous nature of the blues in that you can play with musicians you’ve never even met and yet a song emerges.
People often assume the blues has to be sad, but Hennessy disagrees and says “emotional” is a better describing word. “It’s being able to go with the moment and play off the cuff,” he said. “People can tell how I feel at that very moment because I translate that feeling into the music.”
In addition to emceeing the retirement dinner, Hennessy, along with Questar III Teaching Assistant Graham Tichy, does an annual performance and presentation for New Visions: Visual & Performing Arts students regarding song writing and the music business.
