I just got the word That longtime Denver entertainer, and friend Marvin Graves, or as most people know him as "Henchi" passed away this morning. 6/8/2009
I don't have all of the details at present, but I do know that we've lost a legend in this city.
Henchi had been battling cancer for the past few years, and recently was caught on camera at a Nuggets Playoff game.
My brother, you will be missed. God bless. PEACE!
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the leaves are falling
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
written by Frederick Weatherly
Last-game wish granted, musician "Henchi" dies at age 64
POSTED: 06/08/2009 09:59:48 PM MDT
UPDATED: 06/09/2009 06:59:01 AM MDT
Denver R&B singer Marvin "Henchi" Graves, who was granted his wish for a first-hand view of the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals last month, died Monday. He was 64 and was fighting cancer.
Graves was best known as one of the lead singers and co-founder of the popular Freddi-Henchi Band, which toured and recorded extensively in the 1960s, '70s and '80s.
Graves nickname was Henchi, which is short for Henchman, a nickname from his days as a collegiate wrestler.
"Henchi was tough all of his life right to the end, yet he was always a very nice person," the band said in an announcement of Graves' death posted online Monday. "Even on days when he was feeling his worst from cancer treatments, he remained much more cheerful than one would expect."
Graves' younger brother, Richard Graves, said Monday evening that funeral plans have not been finalized, and a local memorial would be held for fans and friends, as well.
"He was an energetic, outgoing person who was a lot of fun to be around," he said. "He won't ever be forgotten by anyone he ever met."
A lifelong basketball fan, Graves was on his deathbed at HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties in Louisville when, on May 24, he asked that his feeding tube be removed. As he made plans for his end with his doctor George Stark, he said he would love to go see the Nuggets play in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals the next day.
Dan Cook, the owner of Swis Tire and Automotive Services in Castle Rock, offered his suite. The Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 120-101 that night.
Graves first made his mark as an athlete. He was an All-American wrestler at Arizona State University who came up just short, because of an injury, from making the U.S. Olympic team, his brother said.
Graves co-founded the rhythm, blues and funk band Freddi-Henchi and the Soulsetters with Fred Gowdy in Phoenix in 1966.
The band relocated to Boulder in 1970 after playing a six-week run at a club in Fort Collins.
For the next decade and a half, the Freddi-Henchi Band was a headline act at clubs and arenas up and down the Front Range.
Known for its funky original music, slick choreography and party atmosphere, Freddi-Henchi was an opening act for such performers as the Average White Band, Nitty-Gritty Dirt Band, Chicago, Dr. Hook, Billy Joel, Etta James, Jose Feliciano, Three Dog Night, Firefall, B.B. King, Steely Dan, The Platters, Chuck Berry and Dan Fogelberg.
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