{{Short description|American jazz fusion group}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | name = The Crusaders | background = group_or_band | image = The_Crusaders.jpg | landscape = yes | caption = The Crusaders in 1978 | alias = The Jazz Crusaders | origin = [[Houston]], Texas, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|[[Jazz]]|[[jazz fusion]]|[[soul jazz]]|[[jazz-funk]]}} | years_active = 1960–2010 | label = {{hlist|[[Pacific Jazz Records|Pacific Jazz]]|[[Blue Thumb Records|ABC/Blue Thumb]]|[[MCA Records|MCA]]|[[GRP Records|GRP]]}} | associated_acts = {{hlist|[[Arthur Adams (singer)|Arthur Adams]]|[[Randy Crawford]]|[[Rena Scott]]|[[Bill Withers]]}} | past_members = * [[Wilton Felder]] * [[Joe Sample]] * [[Stix Hooper]] * [[Wayne Henderson (musician)|Wayne Henderson]] * [[Larry Carlton]] * [[Robert Popwell]] * [[Max Bennett (musician)|Max Bennett]] * [[Hubert Laws]] * [[Jimmy Bond (musician)| Jimmy Bond]] * [[Monk Montgomery]] * Arthur Adams * Buster Williams * Bobby Haynes * Billy Rogers }}
'''The Crusaders''' (formerly known as '''The Jazz Crusaders''') were an American jazz/[[jazz fusion]] group performing from the 1960s to 2010. Known firstly from their 1960 inception as '''the Jazz Crusaders''' they eventually renamed themselves in 1971 to simply the Crusaders. A wide range of genres such as [[Jazz]], [[R&B]], [[Jazz-rock]], the [[Blues]] and [[Jazz-funk]] are cohesively featured on the group's albums. The Crusaders have also copped a total of nine [[Grammy]] nominations.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|date=2019-01-09|title=A Short History of ... "Street Life"|url=https://www.jazziz.com/a-short-history-of-street-life/|access-date=2020-09-08|website=JAZZIZ Magazine|language=en-US|first=Matt|last=Micucci}}</ref><ref name=Grammy />
==Career== [[File:The Crusaders At Knebworth Park, UK.jpg|thumb|The Crusaders at Knebworth Park, UK, Capital Radio Jazz Festival, 1982]] High school friends [[Joe Sample]] (piano), [[Wilton Felder]]<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/wilton-felder-mn0000575199 Wilton Felder] Allmusic Retrieved 21 February 2024</ref> (tenor saxophone) and [[Stix Hooper|Nesbert "Stix" Hooper]] (drums) formed their first band together, the Swingsters, at [[Wheatley High School (Houston)|Wheatley High School]] in [[Houston, Texas]] in 1954. While studying at [[Texas Southern University]], they played a mixture of [[jazz]] and [[R&B]], and were joined by [[Wayne Henderson (musician)|Wayne Henderson]] (trombone), [[Hubert Laws]] (flute), and Henry Wilson (bass). The group soon turned more to [[hard bop]], and renamed themselves the Modern Jazz Sextet, but also recorded in a more R&B vein as the Nighthawks (or Nite Hawks).<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-crusaders-mn0000136075/biography|title=The Crusaders - Biography|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=September 19, 2014|last=Yanow|first=Scott}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dansby |first=Andrew |last2= |first2= |date=December 6, 2022 |title=Houston drummer Stix Hooper proves himself a jazz legend |url=https://preview.houstonchronicle.com/music/sticks-and-stix-a-houston-drummer-proves-himself-17559009 |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Preview: Houston Chronicle Arts & Entertainment Guide |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 1960, Sample, Felder, Hooper and Henderson moved to [[Los Angeles]] and formed the Jazz Crusaders as a quintet with a succession of different bass players. Influenced by musicians such as [[Cannonball Adderley]], [[Art Blakey]] and [[John Coltrane]],<ref name=walker/> the band signed to the [[Pacific Jazz Records|Pacific Jazz]] label in 1961, and released 16 albums on the label over the subsequent eight years. With a front-line horn section of Felder and Henderson, the group's sound was rooted in [[hard bop]], but with a slant towards R&B and [[soul music]].<ref name=allmusic/>
Their first two albums, with [[Jimmy Bond (musician)| Jimmy Bond]] on bass, were ''[[Freedom Sound (The Jazz Crusaders album)|Freedom Sound]]'' (1961), and ''[[Lookin' Ahead]]'' (1962), followed by the live album ''[[The Jazz Crusaders at the Lighthouse|At the Lighthouse]]'' (1962) and ''[[Tough Talk]]'',<ref>[http://www.jazzdisco.org/pacific-jazz-records/catalog-10000-20000-series/#pj-68 Pacific Jazz Records Catalog: 10000/20000 series] Retrieved 23 April 2025</ref> the first of several albums with bassist [[Bobby Haynes]]. In all, the group recorded five live albums in the 1960s, four of which were recorded at the [[Lighthouse Café]] in [[Hermosa Beach]]. They also had their first chart entry, their treatment of [[Stevie Wonder]]'s "[[Uptight (Everything's Alright)]]" reaching No. 95 on the [[Hot 100]] in 1966.<ref>{{cite book|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|year=2003|title=Top Pop Singles 1955-2002|edition=1st|publisher=Record Research Inc.|location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|isbn=0-89820-155-1|page=164}}</ref> The group's 1969 album, ''[[Powerhouse (The Jazz Crusaders album)|Powerhouse]]'', was their first to reach the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] album chart, reaching No. 184,<ref name=albums>{{cite book|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|year=1985|title=Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Albums 1955-1985|edition=1st|publisher=Record Research Inc.|location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|isbn=0-89820-054-7|page=90}}</ref> and was also their last studio album for Pacific Jazz.
The group then signed with the Chisa label, co-owned by trumpeter [[Hugh Masekela]] and producer [[Stewart Levine]]. Their 1970 album ''Old Socks, New Shoes'' reached No. 90 on the album chart, and was their last as the Jazz Crusaders. The decision was taken to call the group simply the Crusaders, so as not to limit their scope and potential audience. After a second album with Chisa, (''[[Pass the Plate (album)|Pass the Plate]]'', 1971), and one album for the [[MoWest]] label (''Hollywood'', 1972) they signed with [[Blue Thumb Records]], where they remained until the late 1970s. The Crusaders released the album ''Crusaders 1'' in 1972, including "Put It Where You Want It", covered by the [[Average White Band]] in 1973. Their recordings increasingly adopted a [[jazz-funk]] style. They incorporated electric guitar and bass into their shows and recordings, as well as using Sample's [[electric piano]] and [[clavinet]].<ref name=walker/> Guitarist [[Larry Carlton]] joined and featured on their albums in the early part of the decade. Bass duties were often handled by Felder, with Max Bennett contributing in the early/mid-70's and [[Robert Popwell|Robert "Pops" Popwell]] joining later in the decade.<ref name=allmusic/>
According to jazz critic [[Scott Yanow]] at [[AllMusic]], however, "after a few excellent albums during the early part of the decade... the group began to decline in quality."<ref name=allmusic/> Sample later commented that the group was under commercial pressure from record companies to record jazzed-up versions of contemporary popular songs.<ref name=walker/> Henderson left to become a [[record producer]] in 1975, and the other musicians regularly and increasingly worked as session musicians with artists such as [[the Jackson 5]], [[Marvin Gaye]], [[Joni Mitchell]], [[Steely Dan]], and [[Randy Newman]]. With a growing [[crossover music|crossover]] appeal, the group's most commercially successful recordings included the single "Put It Where You Want It" (No. 52 pop, 1972), and the albums ''The 2nd Crusade'' (No. 45 album, 1973), ''[[Southern Comfort (The Crusaders album)|Southern Comfort]]'' (No. 31 album, 1974) including "Stomp and Buck Dance",<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/album/southern-comfort-mw0000187875 Southern Comfort] allmusic Retrieved 24 April 2025</ref> ''[[Chain Reaction (The Crusaders album)|Chain Reaction]]'' (No. 26 album, 1975), ''[[Those Southern Knights]]'' (No. 38 album, 1976), and ''Images'' (No. 34 album, 1978).<ref name=albums/>
The peak of the group's commercial success came with 1979's ''[[Street Life (The Crusaders album)|Street Life]]'', with [[Randy Crawford]] as featured singer. The album peaked at No. 18 on the pop album charts and the title track made the top 10 on the R&B chart, No. 36 on ''Billboard''′s Hot 100 chart, and No. 5 in the UK.<ref name="betts">{{cite book|first=Graham|last=Betts|year=2004|title=Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004|edition= 1st|publisher=Collins|location=London|isbn=0-00-717931-6|page=182}}</ref> Later albums by the group featured singers [[Bill Withers]] and [[Joe Cocker]]. The live 1982 album ''[[Royal Jam]]'' featured guitarist [[B. B. King]], bassist [[James Jamerson]], and the [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]]. Hooper left in 1983, and though Felder and Sample kept the group operating through the 1980s, the group's commercial success diminished.
Felder and Henderson reunited in the mid-1990s as the Crusaders.<ref name=allmusic/> Henderson later led a band called the Jazz Crusaders, in which Felder and Carlton also played, and Felder and Sample reunited as the Crusaders in 2003.<ref name=walker>{{cite news|url=https://jazztimes.com/features/profiles/the-jazz-crusaders-joe-sample-the-next-crusade/|first=Chris J.|last=Walker|title=The Jazz Crusaders & Joe Sample: The Next Crusade|work=[[JazzTimes]]|date=May 1, 2003|accessdate=22 June 2020}}</ref>
Wayne Henderson died in Culver City, California on April 5, 2014;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soultracks.com/wayne-henderson-dies|title=Jazz legend Wayne Henderson dies at age 74|publisher=Soul Tracks|access-date=September 19, 2014|date=April 6, 2014}}</ref> Joe Sample died in Houston, Texas on September 12, 2014;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.chron.com/rantandrave/2014/09/houston-jazz-great-joe-sample-dies/|title=Houston jazz great Joe Sample dies - Rant & Rave|access-date=September 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913223154/http://blog.chron.com/rantandrave/2014/09/houston-jazz-great-joe-sample-dies/|archive-date=September 13, 2014|first=Andrew|last=Dansby|date=September 13, 2014}}</ref> and Wilton Felder died in Whittier, California on September 27, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.houstonpress.com/music/legendary-crusaders-sax-man-wilton-felder-passes-away-7800449|title=Legendary Crusaders Sax Man Wilton Felder Passes Away|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928232049/http://www.houstonpress.com/music/legendary-crusaders-sax-man-wilton-felder-passes-away-7800449|archive-date=September 28, 2015|last=Smith|first=William Michael|date=September 27, 2015|work=[[Houston Press]]}}</ref>
==Accolades== ===Grammy awards=== The [[Grammy Awards]] are awarded annually by the [[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]]. The Crusaders have received a total of nine nominations.<ref name="Grammy">{{cite web |title=The Crusaders|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/crusaders/8205|access-date=August 18, 2025 |publisher=[[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]]}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result |- |1972 |[[Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance|Best R&B Instrumental Performance]] |''Crusaders I'' |{{nom}} |- |1973 |[[Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance|Best R&B Instrumental Performance]] |''2nd Crusade'' |{{nom}} |- |1974 |[[Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance|Best R&B Instrumental Performance]] |"Scratch (Album)" |{{nom}} |- |1976 |[[Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance|Best R&B Instrumental Performance]] |"Keep That Same Old Feeling (Album)" |{{nom}} |- |1978 |[[Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance|Best R&B Instrumental Performance]] |"[[Images (The Crusaders album)|Images]]" |{{nom}} |- |1981 |[[Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance|Best Inspirational Performance]] |''I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today'' |{{nom}} |- |1982 |[[Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal|Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal]] |''[[Street Life (The Crusaders song)|Street Life]] (Track)'' |{{nom}} |- |1984 |[[Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance|Best R&B Instrumental Performance]] |"[[Ghetto Blaster (The Crusaders album)|Ghetto Blaster]]" |{{nom}} |- |2003 |[[Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album|Best Contemporary Jazz Album]] |"Rural Renewal" |{{nom}} |- |}
== Discography == {{Main|The Crusaders discography}} === As the Jazz Crusaders === * ''[[Freedom Sound (The Jazz Crusaders album)|Freedom Sound]]'' ([[Pacific Jazz Records|Pacific Jazz]], 1961) * ''[[Lookin' Ahead]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1962) * ''[[The Jazz Crusaders at the Lighthouse]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1962) * ''[[Tough Talk]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1963) * ''[[Heat Wave (The Jazz Crusaders album)|Heat Wave]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1963) * ''[[Jazz Waltz (Les McCann and the Jazz Crusaders album)|Jazz Waltz]]'' with [[Les McCann]] (Pacific Jazz, 1963) * ''[[Stretchin' Out (The Jazz Crusaders album)|Stretchin' Out]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1964) * ''[[The Thing (Jazz Crusaders album)|The Thing]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1965) * ''[[Chile Con Soul]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1965) * ''[[Live at the Lighthouse '66]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1966) * ''[[Talk That Talk (The Jazz Crusaders album)|Talk That Talk]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1966) * ''[[The Festival Album]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1966) * ''[[Uh Huh (The Jazz Crusaders album)|Uh Huh]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1967) * ''[[Lighthouse '68]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1968) * ''[[Powerhouse (The Jazz Crusaders album)|Powerhouse]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1969) * ''[[Lighthouse '69]]'' (Pacific Jazz, 1969) * ''Give Peace a Chance'' (Liberty, 1970) * ''[[Old Socks New Shoes – New Socks Old Shoes]]'' (Chisa, 1970)
Source:<ref name="AM discog">{{cite web|title=The Crusaders {{!}} Album Discography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-crusaders-mn0000136075/discography|website=AllMusic|access-date=March 1, 2019|language=en-us}}</ref>
=== As the Crusaders === * [[Pass the Plate (album)|Pass the Plate]] (Chisa, 1971) – No. 168 [[Billboard 200|US]]<ref name="Whitburn">{{cite book | last = Whitburn | first = Joel | title = Top LPs, 1945–1972 | year = 1973 | publisher = Record Research | page = 40 | url = https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstoplp00whit/page/40/mode/2up | access-date = October 30, 2025}}</ref> * ''Hollywood'' (MoWest, 1972) * ''[[Crusaders 1]]'' ([[Blue Thumb Records|Blue Thumb]], 1972) – No. 96 [[Billboard 200|US]]<ref name="Whitburn" /> * ''The 2nd Crusade'' (Blue Thumb, 1973) * ''Unsung Heroes'' (Blue Thumb, 1973) * ''Scratch'' (Blue Thumb, 1974) * ''[[Southern Comfort (The Crusaders album)|Southern Comfort]]'' (Blue Thumb, 1974) * ''[[Chain Reaction (The Crusaders album)|Chain Reaction]]'' (Blue Thumb, 1975) * ''[[Those Southern Knights]]'' (Blue Thumb, 1976) * ''Best of The Crusaders'' (Blue Thumb, 1976) * ''[[Free as the Wind]]'' (Blue Thumb, 1977) * ''[[Images (The Crusaders album)|Images]]'' (Blue Thumb, 1978) * ''[[Street Life (The Crusaders album)|Street Life]]'' ([[MCA Records|MCA]], 1979) * ''[[Rhapsody and Blues]]'' (MCA, 1980) * ''Ongaku Kai – Live in Japan'' (Crusaders, 1981; GRP, 1993) * ''[[Standing Tall (The Crusaders album)|Standing Tall]]'' (MCA, 1981) * ''[[Royal Jam]]'' (MCA, 1982) – with [[B.B. King]] and the [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]] * ''[[Ghetto Blaster (The Crusaders album)|Ghetto Blaster]]'' (MCA, 1984) * ''The Good and Bad Times'' (MCA, 1986) * ''Life in the Modern World'' (MCA, 1988) * ''Healing the Wounds'' (GRP, 1991) * ''Rural Renewal'' (Verve, 2003) * ''Live in Japan 2003'' (P.R.A., 2004)
=== As the Jazz Crusaders === [[n.b.]] (Wayne Henderson and Wilton Felder) * ''Happy Again'' (Sin-Drome, 1994) * ''Louisiana Hot Sauce'' (Sin-Drome, 1996) * ''Break'n Da Rulz!'' (Indigo Blue, 1998) * ''Power of Our Music – The Endangered Species'' (Indigo Blue, 2000) * ''Soul Axess'' (True Life, 2003) * ''Alive in South Africa'' (True Life, 2006)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==See also== * [[Bill Withers]] * [[Randy Crawford]]
==External links== {{Discogs artist|60450}}
{{The Crusaders|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Crusaders, The}} [[Category:Jazz ensembles from Texas]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1952]] [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2010]] [[Category:Soul-jazz musicians]] [[Category:Smooth jazz ensembles]] [[Category:MCA Records artists]] [[Category:Blue Note Records artists]] [[Category:ABC Records artists]] [[Category:Blue Thumb Records artists]] [[Category:GRP Records artists]] [[Category:1952 establishments in Texas]] [[Category:2010 disestablishments in Texas]]