Freddy Gowdy wants to sing again.

This Colorado entertainer, now in his 60s, spent most of his life touring and recording with the funky Freddi-Henchi Band, an act that one music historian dubbed, "the greatest party ensemble in Colorado music history."

Then in 2009, cancer took the life of longtime partner Marvin "Henchi" Graves, and Freddy "Freddi" Gowdy stepped away from the spotlight.

Music lovers missed him. Lannie Garrett was among them.

"He is so charismatic and soulful," Garrett, the intrepid Denver songstress and the steam behind Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret, said as she finalized plans for a new show at the club devoted to the music of Sam Cooke and Stevie Wonder. "He's always been one of my favorite singers and performers."

At Garrett's urging, Gowdy returned to the stage last week to kickstart "The Songs of Sam Cooke & Stevie Wonder," which runs Fridays through November. Gowdy hoped to complete the show's two-month run, but just this week, the demands of his own cancer battle put the soul man's nightlife comeback on ice. (The accomplished local stage star De Thomas will serve as Gowdy's stand-in for the Sam and Stevie show at Lannie's.) Gowdy talked with us about his return to the stage.


When someone logs as much time in music clubs as Lannie Garrett, she knows what makes them tick.

Start with an eclectic roster of acts performing most nights of the week. Add to the allure a room where the decor makes its own artful statement, and a velvet curtain serves as a reminder that although these folks have fun, theirs is no funny business.

Garrett's is a 150-seat, cabaret-style club in the basement of downtown Denver's historic Daniels and Fisher Tower on the 16th Street Mall at Arapahoe Street. It was inspired by the likes of The Plush Room in San Francisco and The Algonquin Hotel in Manhattan, and was meant to be a date place, a grown-up's place. Even if its glamorous namesake favors over-the-top, jeweled and feathered costumes.

Longtime local R&B singer Freddy Gowdy, formerly of the Freddi/Henchi Band, at Lannie&#8217;s Clocktower Cabaret.
Longtime local R&B singer Freddy Gowdy, formerly of the Freddi/Henchi Band, at Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret.

Q: What was it like to perform alone in front of an audience again last week?

A: It was my show. It wasn't Freddi-Henchi, it was just me and a great band behind me. It was something I've always wanted to do. I also just love playing at Lannie's place. It's so intimate there.

Q: You had a partner on stage for more than four decades. What did that teach you about collaboration?

A: If it weren't for Henchi bringing me out of the projects, I don't know what I would be doing. He helped me out professionally, he taught me how to dress, how to interact with people. Then when we put the show together, we'd just start adding bits and pieces.

We were a little different because we were a diverse group, and we were two black guys dancing together on stage in tight, sparkly clothes. Nobody had ever seen that before in Colorado, and it worked.

The lesson I learned from being with Henchi that long was to always be professional. Always be ready to go and do the best that you can.

Q: You are from Mesa, Ariz. What does a guy from the desert know about singing soul and R&B?

A: To be honest with you, I grew up listening to country and western. That, and Wolfman Jack. He came on late at night and played all the soul stuff. So I learned to like different kinds of music, and that's how it started.

Q: Was there a moment when you knew you were going to be an entertainer?

A: The first time I stepped on stage was right outside my (mother's) house, and that's when I knew. This was in high school, and (Henchi's first act) the Soulsetters were the hottest band in Arizona. They asked me to do a show and we did it at my house, outside on the grass.

Later, when we played the Whiskey A Go Go in Hollywood, that was the moment for me, because all these other people had played there before me, people I admired. That's when I knew what I wanted to do.

Q: How would you characterize the Denver music scene now?

A: It's changed, because there are hardly any places to play anymore. I think that's across genres. There are hardly any clubs that cater to live music anymore, and very few cater to R&B and funk. And, people just don't go out as much as they used to. Some of it has to do with the economy, and some of it is that most of the good major clubs have closed down.

Q: Who are your heroes?

A: My wife of 18 years, because we've had a lot of struggles, with sobriety, and the cancer issue. And my mom, Vi Stewart. She raised 10 kids by herself, in a three-bedroom house in the projects, without welfare. She's in her 80s and still lives in Arizona.

Q: If you weren't an entertainer, what would you be doing?

A: I went to Mesa College for sociology and psychology. I was there two years until music took me away. So I would be doing some sort of social work.

Q: Is that something you do naturally — counsel people?

A: I think so. I'm easy. I'm accessible. And when I'm on stage, I like to get the crowd involved in what I'm doing. I like them to have a good time and forget about their problems for a while. I'll do anything to get a laugh. I'll sing, I'll dance, I'll drop my pants! I'm an entertainer. That's what I do.

Q: What are your music plans now?

A: I'm going to continue to carry on and do the best I can, maybe work with different musicians and get back in the studio. Just do the thing I love to do.

Q: You're also a runner. Besides the obvious fitness benefit, what do you get from running that you don't get elsewhere?

A: I get the fulfillment, the challenge of trying to finish a race that might be 10 miles long or 20 miles long or a marathon. You trained for it, you worked for it, and then you finished it.

Some days you can run for so long that you can't even hear your feet hitting the pavement. You're in the zone. Other times, it's like all of the sudden you ran for four miles and and realize, "Oh, I've got to go back!"

Q: Happiness is... ?

A: Being clean and sober for over 18 years. And seeing my wife, Karen, first thing in the morning.

Elana Ashanti Jefferson: 303-954-1957, or

Soulful classics

"The Songs of Sam Cooke & Stevie Wonder" Fridays through November at Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret in the basement of the D&F Tower, 16th Street Mall at Arapahoe Street. Tickets, $20. 303-293-0075 or