The Crusaders

GroupSince 1961

The Crusaders's albums, compilations, singles and EPs, and videos discography with cataloged releases, editions, and credits

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American jazz group formed in Los Angeles in 1960. Houston Texas school friends Wilton Felder (tenor sax, bass), Nesbert "Stix" Hooper (percussion) and Joe Sample (keyboards) playing together in a high school marching band, forming the Swingsters in 1954. While attending Texas Southern University, they met Wayne Henderson (trombone) and with two others formed the Modern Jazz Sextet. 1958 saw the future Jazz Crusaders Sample, Felder, Hooper and Henderson drop out of college and move to Los Angeles, where they performed as The Nite Hawks. In 1960, they returned to jazz and formed the Jazz Crusaders as a quintet with a succession of different bass players, landing a contract with World Pacific Jazz in 1961. As the 1960s progressed their hard bop stylings evolved with the times incorporating more of a soul-jazz feeling. Shortening their name to The Crusaders in 1971, most of the 1970's saw them with Blue Thumb Records, by which time they had become even funkier utilizing the guitar vamps of new member Larry Carlton. Their best-known hit “Street Life” was responsible for bringing guest vocalist Randy Crawford to the public attention. The group is perhaps best remembered as backing musicians on more the 200 gold records, backing Steely Dan, Curtis Mayfield, Joni Mitchell, Ray Charles, & Van Morrison to name a few.

Discography

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Freedom Sound

1961

Studio Album

At The Lighthouse

1962

Studio Album

Lookin' Ahead

1962

Studio Album

Tough Talk

1963

Studio Album

Heat Wave

1963

Studio Album

Stretchin' Out

1964

Studio Album

Chile Con Soul

1965

Studio Album

The Thing

1965

Studio Album

Live At The Lighthouse '66

1966

Studio Album

Uh Huh

1967

Studio Album

The Festival Album

1967

Studio Album

Talk That Talk

1967

Studio Album

Powerhouse

1968

Studio Album

Ooga-Boo-Ga-Loo Live At Lighthouse '68

1968

Studio Album

Lighthouse '69

1969

Studio Album

Old Socks, New Shoes...New Socks, Old Shoes

1970

Studio Album

Give Peace A Chance

1970

Studio Album

Pass The Plate

1971

Studio Album

Crusaders 1

1972

Studio Album

Hollywood

1972

Studio Album

The 2nd Crusade

1973

Studio Album

Unsung Heroes

1973

Studio Album

Southern Comfort

1974

Studio Album

Scratch

1974

Studio Album

Chain Reaction

1975

Studio Album

Those Southern Knights

1976

Studio Album

Free As The Wind

1977

Studio Album

Images

1978

Studio Album

Street Life

1979

Studio Album

Rhapsody And Blues

1980

Studio Album

Standing Tall

1981

Studio Album

Ongaku Kai, Live In Japan

1981

Studio Album

Royal Jam

1982

Studio Album

Ghetto Blaster

1984

Studio Album

The Good And Bad Times

1986

Studio Album

Life In The Modern World

1988

Studio Album

Healing The Wounds

1991

Studio Album

Happy Again

1995

Studio Album

Louisiana Hot Sauce

1996

Studio Album

Break'n Da Rulz!

1998

Studio Album

Power Of Our Music - The Endangered Species

2000

Studio Album

Rural Renewal

2002

Studio Album

Live In Japan 2003

2004

Studio Album

Soul Axess

2004

Studio Album