A Musical Force Returns to Los Angeles, and chats with Deeper Grooves host Cliff Beach
Many musical greats have performed in the cozy performance studio at The SoCal and we can add another great to the ever growing list: Cory Henry — the Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, composer, and vocalist who’s spent years redefining modern soul, gospel, and jazz joined Cliff Beach, host of Deeper Grooves, for an in-studio performance and conversation. They celebrated Henry’s new album Divine Time and traced his remarkable journey from the church organ in Brooklyn to international stages for The SoCal Sound Sessions!
Henry described Devine Time as “a testament of maturity”. In the interview he elaborates on this further “These all these topics are kind of like, feel like mature topics, and, I want people to feel, you know, do, feelings of soul from our soul fathers like Marvin Gaye and Al Green and Stevie Wonder and all those people. I love friends and, and just hear it in my own unique voice.” And adds “Hopefully it makes people free good and want to listen to it over and over.”
“Divine Time” — A Sonic and Spiritual Evolution
Most of Devine Time was recorded with Henry’s longtime band The Funk Apostles, in which he gets his name Chief Apostle from. It captured the spontaneous studio energy, marking a specific life chapter of Henry growing as both an artist and spiritual leader.
Cory Henry won the Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album for Church in 2025, which he felt was divine timing, too. “I’ve been playing in church since I was two years old. That win felt like making my mama proud,” he said, reflecting on the significance of the award and the community that raised him
Building Community at The Miracle Theatre
Since his Grammy win, Henry has been hosting monthly church music experiences at The Miracle Theatre in Inglewood. Rooted in Gospel, funk, and soul, each gathering brings together music, food, and community in an all-ages setting. This began as a performance inspired by Henry’s Brooklyn church upbringing, and from his album Church, and this has grown into one of Los Angeles’ most uplifting monthly rituals, happening every last Sunday of each month that features the 30+ member Apostles Community Choir and a surprise guest each month.
For more information visit: www.themiracleinglewood.com
From Snarky Puppy to Solo Stardom
Henry was not always the Chief Apostle band leader, before stepping into this role, Henry made waves as a member of Snarky Puppy, contributing to the legendary Grammy-winning performance with Layla Hathaway. “That moment changed my life,” he recalled. “But I always knew it was a pit stop. When people started yelling ‘Cory, take us to church!’ at shows — that was the sign to step into my own!”
A Moment of Pure Soul: “Divine Time” Live
In the session, Cory Henry performed 3 selections from Devine Time, in an exclusive stripped back acoustic performance with just Cory, piano, and a few triggers and loop stations. He performed the title track “Devine Time”, “Dedication”, and “Go to God in Prayer”.
What’s Next for Cory Henry
Henry Revealed plans to record a live version of Divine Time, a new church album, a rerelease of his holiday record, and many more releases from his musical vault, which runs deep. “maybe it's an album every two months or album every three months or something like that, but like it's almost that time to be doing that and just damn people's faces and put up this music.”
Divine Time is available now from Apostle Music Group
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· Filmed & Edited & Photographed by Matt Blake
· Audio by Tristan Dolce
· Host: Cliff Beach
· The SoCal Sound is member-supported public radio.
