"It's Russell "Hitman" Alexander's gravelly vocals and guitar that put this cut over the top" - Blues Revue, 11/00
"Alexander's guitar playing lights the fire on the disc" - Cadence, 1/01

Bernard is a legend in the music industry. Purdie moved to New York in 1960 after finishing high school and played with (among others), Lonnie Youngblood before landing his first hit with King Curtis. This led to his engagement with Aretha Franklin in 1970 - the beginning of an unparalleled career. Since then, Purdie has been a regular guest in the studios of the stars of Jazz, Soul, and Rock, working together with Paul Butterfield as well as Larry Coryell, Miles Davis, Hall & Oates, Al Kooper, Herbie Mann, Todd Rundgren and Cat Stevens, as well as regularly producing his own solo albums under his own name.

Purdie was THE drummer for Aretha Franklin when she recorded her most inspired albums at the beginning of the seventies. He also provided the back-beat for Steely Dan's "Aja", and performers such as Isaac Hayes, Donny Hathaway, B.B. King, "Sweet" Lou Donaldson, Joe Cocker and Hank Crawford have reserved that stool behind the drum kit for him. The list is incomplete, it must be, because Bernard "Pretty" Purdie holds the title of "The World's Most Recorded Drummer". The 57 year-old native of Elkton, Maryland has laid down the beat on over 3000 albums to date.
You can visit this "musician's musician" at The Bernard Purdie Web Site for more information.

Bobby has been the keyboardist and musical director for legendary singer Ruth Brown for over 26 years. He has played with a variety of well known artists, and is equally at home playing blues and jazz. Many keyboardists are unable to make the transition between the two styles, and insert inappropriate passages. Bobby, in contrast, is known for playing exactly what the music requires, and does so with fantastic technique and originality. He is also an expert at using bass pedals, and to see him perform live is an experience that leaves many keyboardists astonished at his technical prowess and superb musicality.  The list of artists that have insisted on Bobby includes Irene Reid, Gloria Lynne, Stanley Turrentine, Ray Alexander, Frank Wess, and Lena Horne.  He has just finished recording Lena's newest release, "Being Myself", as well as the ongoing catalog of great releases by Ruth Brown.

Bobby Forrester passed away 11/23/02. Hitman is grateful to have had the honor of recording with him.

Ray started his musical career as a drummer, playing with Claude Thornhill, Bobby Byrne, the Dorsey Brothers, Stan Getz, Joe Venuti, Mel Torme, Johnny Smith, Chubby Jackson and many others. He later switched to vibes (the vibraphone) and worked with George Shearing, Charlie Barnet, Bill Evans, Anita O'Day, Mel Lewis; all in all, a "who's who" of jazz. Ray also worked with his own quartet in renowned jazz clubs such as Birdland, the Embers, Basin Street East, etc. In the early '70's he joined with Mousey Alexander to form "Alexanders the Great", a quartet which was booked frequently at the new Half Note uptown, as well as many other clubs and concerts.
At present he plays in various jazz clubs in New York and the East coast, as well as college concerts and jazz festivals. In the summer he tours England and nearby European countries playing vibraphone in jazz venues and festivals.
Ray's CD and cassette "Rain in June" (on Nerus Records) is getting rave reviews and is being played in the U.S., Canada, England, Japan, Sweden, and Germany. The musicians are Ray on vibraphone, Kenny Barron on piano, Warren Vaché, Jr. on cornet, Bob Kindred on tenor sax, the late Oliver Jackson on drums and Harvie Swartz on bass.
Ray has also just released a CD on Cat's Paw Records, called "Vigorous Vibes", which is available in stores and through his order page, and features Ray on vibraphone, Mac Chrupcala on piano, John Anter on drums, and Marshall Wood on bass. We're pleased to say it's getting medium to heavy rotation on a number of jazz stations around the country.
His first self-released album, "Cloud Patterns" was recorded live at Eddie Condon's in 1983 and was released in 1988. It continues to do well and has received excellent reviews. The album is dedicated to the late Pepper Adams and Albert Dailey who were on the album on Bari Sax and Piano, together with Harvie Swartz on Bass, Ray Mosca on Drums and Ray on Vibraphone.

Ray Alexander passed away on 6/8/02, as the result of complications from routine surgery performed on 1/3/02 by Dr. Marc Sher, at LIJ Hospital in Lake Success, NY. He is missed by his family and his many friends and fans,