URIAH HEEP's guitarist / keyboard player and noted song writer Ken Hensley has recorded a number of solo albums in his career. Hensley was born in Plumstead, South East London on 24th August 1945. Being raised in Stevenage in Heryfordshire, Hensley's formative acts included Soul outfits THE BLUE NOTES, KEN AND THE COUSINS and a 1962 outfit dubbed THE SARACENS. The following year Hensley featured with THE JIMMY BROWN SOUND. From being a founder member of THE GODS in 1965, releasing 'Genesis' in 1968 and 'To Samuel A Son' in 1970, Hensley joined HEAD MACHINE, for 1970's 'Orgasm' album, and TOE FAT for an eponymous outing that same year

He would then team up with SPICE, which evolved into URIAH HEEP in 1969, appearing on the albums 'Very 'Eavy Very 'Umble' and 'Salisbury' in 1970, 'Look At Yourself' in 1971, 'Demons And Wizards' and 'The Magician's Birthday' in 1972 and 'Uriah Heep Live' and 'Sweet Freedom' in 1973. He was then aided by URIAH HEEP members drummer Lee Kerslake and bassist Gary Thain for the his first solo effort, 1973's 'Proud Words On A Dusty Shelf', on which Hensley handles vocals. With URIAH HEEP, Hensley was also featured on interim albums 'Wonderworld' in 1974 and 'Return To Fantasy' issued in 1975. A second solo album, 'Eager To Please' released in 1975 included contributions from COCHISE guitarist B.J. Coole on the song 'Secrets' and URIAH HEEP colleague Mark Clarke on bass with Bugs Pemberton on drums.

Hensley resumed work with URIAH HEEP for a succession of albums, 'High And Mighty' in 1976, 'Firefly' and 'Innocent Victim' in 1977, and 'Fallen Angel' in 1978. After the disintegration of URIAH HEEP during the recording of 1980's 'Conquest' album, Hensley recorded 'Free Spirit' that same year, which featured guest drumming from DEEP PURPLE's Ian Paice on the song 'Brown Eyed Boy' and THE FACES Kenny Jones on 'Telegraph'.Bass was suplied by Mark Clarke, Trevor Bolder, Denny Ball and Gary Taylor.

Hensley then wound up joining Southern American rockers BLACKFOOT for a period. Hensley appeared on the albums 'Siogo' in 1983 and 'Vertical Smiles' in 1984. During 1984 Hensley would work on material with erstwhile AIRBORNE man David Zychek.

The 1994 'From Time To Time' album includes previously unreleased tracks featuring the FREE duo of drummer Simon Kirke and late guitarist PAUL KOSSOFF. 'A Glimpse Of Glory' was delivered in 1999, this set witnessing the inclusion of bassists David Karns and Hunter Joseph with drums handled by Preston Vaden and Mike Johnson.

Hensley contributed his version of 'Dear Lord' to the 2000 PHIL LYNOTT tribute album 'Spirit Of The Black Rose'. Hensley also teamed up with erstwhile URIAH HEEP singer John Lawton and bassist Paul Newton for a new band project SALISBURY the same year. Following a handful of European gigs SALISBURY folded.

On December 6th Hensley would reunite with URIAH HEEP for a one off gig at London's Shepherds Bush Empire to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the 'Magician's Birthday' album. The following day he would team up with JOHN WETTON for a gig at the Forum venue. Hensley would unveil plans for no less than four album releases for 2002 comprising 'Born Again' made up of URIAH HEEP classics re-worked by his band FREE SPIRIT, a 15-track album of all new songs from FREE SPIRIT entitled 'Opramenko', revised solo songs as 'Decadent Dozen' and a collection of career ballads dubbed 'Mixed Messages'. The 2002 KEN HENSLEY credited 'Running Blind' opus featured guitarist Dave Kilminster, bassists David Karns, Andy Pyle and John Wetton with Mike Johnson, Dave Wagstaffe and Steve Christey on drums.

In 2003 'The Last Dance' was released. Musicians recording in Spain alongside Hensley included guitarist Ovidio Lopez, seven string guitarist Javier De Marco, acoustic guitarist Daniel Saiz, bassist John Smithson and drummer Tommy Lopez.

Hensley would donate his skills to the 2004 AYREON conceptual album ''Ayreon: The Human Equation'. That same year he would re-work classic URIAH HEEP tracks with the Presidential Orchestra of Russia for a 2005 album and DVD release 'The Wizard's Diary'.That same year another Spanish recorded album, 'Cold Autumn Sunday', was issued, again featuring Ovidio Lopez but also now including bassist Alvario Martialay, fretless bassist Pepe Bornay, keyboard player Victor Jorda Lledo and drummer Tommy Lopez.

In mid November 2006 Hensley, alongside a guest cast comprising GLENN HUGHES, RICK WAKEMAN, BLACK SABBATH's TONY IOMMI, KINGDOM COME, NAZARETH, THE ANIMALS and BONNIE TYLER, performed at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia as part of the 30 year anniversary of Russian act ZEMLYANE. That same month GLENN HUGHES guested on studio tracks for Hensley's 'Blood On The Highway' album.

Hensley assembled a touring act comprising Norwegian musicians entitled LIVE FIRE. This unit involved guitarist Ken Ingwersen, of RAGS and STREET LEGAL, alongside veteran bassist Sid Ringsby and renowned Icelandic/Norwegian vocalist Eirikur Hauksson.