The Making of "Wide Receiver": Michael Henderson’s 1980 Funk Masterpiece

Published: July 27, 2026 | By: The Official Michael Henderson Estate

Throughout the 1970s, Michael Henderson established himself as the undisputed king of the sensual, quiet storm ballad. With soaring, romantic hits like "You Are My Starship" and "In The Night Time," his voice became the definitive soundtrack for late-night R&B radio. But in the summer of 1980, the legendary bass prodigy flipped the script, proving he was just as capable of igniting the dance floor with heavy, uncompromising funk.

The result was Wide Receiver, his fifth studio album on Buddah Records, anchored by a title track that became a massive crossover hit, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

But how did a pioneer of jazz-fusion and smooth R&B end up writing one of the most eccentric, bass-heavy funk anthems of the 1980s? The answer lies in a controversial football game, childhood toys, and a relentless drive for musical innovation.

The Inspiration: The 1979 AFC Championship Game

Despite the track's heavy groove and innuendo-laced lyrics, the origin of "Wide Receiver" was deeply rooted in Michael Henderson’s genuine love for sports.

The spark for the song was ignited while Henderson was watching the legendary 1979 AFC Championship Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Oilers. During a crucial play, Houston Oilers wide receiver Mike Renfro appeared to make a miraculous touchdown catch in the corner of the endzone. However, the referees controversially ruled the pass incomplete, stating Renfro didn’t get both feet down in bounds.

"I was watching the game, and they got robbed. I put both my feet down and still I didn't get the point, and the referee must have been smoking a joint."

— Michael Henderson

That frustration translated directly into the song’s iconic, narrative-driven lyrics, transforming a blown referee call into a funky, metaphorical masterpiece.

Innovative Production: Mattel Football and TV Commercials

Co-written with guitarist Randall Jacobs, "Wide Receiver" stood out not just for Henderson’s wicked bassline, but for its highly creative, left-field production choices.

Henderson, a self-taught prodigy who played with Miles Davis at age 19, brought a sense of playful genius to the studio. To drive home the football theme, he actually sampled the electronic beeps and blips from the wildly popular Mattel Electronic Football handheld game, weaving the 8-bit sound effects directly into the song's introduction and background groove.

He didn't stop there. He masterfully interpolated popular pop-culture catchphrases of the era into the mix, including the famous "Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't" candy jingle, and Saturday Night Live's Garrett Morris character Chico Escuela's famous line: "Baseball's been very, very good to me."

A Reclaimed Legacy: 100% Sovereign Master Control

Today, "Wide Receiver" remains a staple of 1980s funk, highly sought after by DJs, hip-hop producers looking for the perfect sample, and music supervisors seeking authentic, high-energy 80s grooves for film and television.

Crucially, the legacy of this masterpiece is fully protected. Following a landmark class-action copyright termination settlement, the master recording rights to the Wide Receiver album successfully reverted to the Michael Henderson Estate.

Today, the album is managed with 100% sovereign ownership by Michael Henderson Jr. via Electrocord Publishing. For music supervisors and media companies, this means "Wide Receiver" is officially available for direct, 1-stop sync clearance, bypassing major label red tape while ensuring the estate’s legacy continues to thrive.