Kermit Henderson is a music & entertainment industry mogul and distribution mastermind with over 25 successful years in the business. He has received over 200 gold & platinum R.I.A.A. Certified Awards to his credits and is affiliated with over 140 # 1 Records on The Billboard Charts. Kermit is a lifetime member of the N.A.A.C.P and also C.O.O of S.I.M.M.S (Successful Independent Music Merchandising stores of America). Kermit Henderson has received a proclamation from the Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio. Kermit is also a brother and lifetime member of the fraternity ‘ALPHA PHI ALPHA’. His brilliance and dedication to his craft is evident in his many honors, awards and the respect and admiration he receives in the industry. Kermit will be proudly celebrating forty years in the music, film and entertainment industry in 2013. Kermit is the 2013 recipient of the Ohio Hip Hop Awards "Lifetime Achievement" Award
Kermit realized early in life that with dedication and focus he could achieve any goal he set forth for himself. His family relocated to Cleveland, Ohio when young Kermit was in grade school. He grew up in the suburb of East Cleveland where he quickly gained a passionate love for music. The sounds of Motown Records and Rhythm & Blues inspired and influenced him as a young man, as he recounts memories of him and his brothers doing the ‘Temptations” walk around the house. Kermit graduated from Shaw High School and was quickly accepted into the prestigious ‘Case Western Reserve University’ in Cleveland, Ohio where he excelled holding a 3.52 GPA, and making The Dean’s List while majoring in Pre- Med and Chemistry. This is also where he joined the Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha and became the very first person in Pi Chapter’s 59 year history to “cross the burning sands” alone . Kermit was the “Sole Survivor” of his pledge line. After college Kermit turned to his first love of music by DJing at local parties and weddings and working for a local advertising agency.
Around this time Kermit met and befriended, Jimmy ‘Scorpio’ Stephens who was the music director at, WABQ AM Radio Station. Jimmy not only taught Kermit a lot about being a professional DJ but also heavily influenced the young man. Jimmy then introduced Kermit to James Wright, owner of the ‘Filmore East Record store in Cleveland. James quickly realized Kermit’s amazing qualities and brought him into the business as an equal partner to help promote and advertise.