The Crusaders were an American jazz group that were successful from the 1960s to the 1990s. The group were known as the Jazz Crusaders from their formation in 1960 until shortening their name in 1971. The Crusaders were comfortable playing a wide assortment of genres, from straight ahead jazz, to urban R&B, to R&B-based jazz, to even blues. The band reached a commercial apex in 1979 with their hit single "Street Life", featuring lead vocals by Randy Crawford, and their accompanying album of the same name.
Wayne Maurice Henderson was an American soul jazz and hard bop trombonist and record producer. In 1961, he co-founded the soul jazz/hard bop group The Jazz Crusaders. Henderson left the group in 1976 to pursue a career in producing, but revived The Jazz Crusaders in 1995.
William Howard "Monk" Montgomery was an American jazz bassist. He was a pioneer of the electric bass guitar and possibly the first to be recorded playing the instrument when he participated in a 1953 session released on The Art Farmer Septet. He was the brother of jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery and vibraphonist Buddy Montgomery.
It's Never Too Late is an album by jazz bassist Monk Montgomery, released in 1969 on Chisa Records/Motown Records. It is the first of his four solo albums, and features members of The Crusaders.
Southern Comfort is a 1974 album by jazz fusion band The Crusaders.
Powerhouse is a 1969 album by The Jazz Crusaders. It was their fourteenth album produced by Richard Bock for World Pacific Jazz Records. It was the first album in which Joe Sample played on the Fender Rhodes and according to Thom Jurek in his AllMusic review, would mark a turning point for the band.
Jazz Waltz is an album by pianist Les McCann with the Jazz Crusaders recorded in 1963 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
Freedom Sound is the debut album by The Jazz Crusaders recorded in 1961 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
The Jazz Crusaders at the Lighthouse is a live album by The Jazz Crusaders recorded in 1962 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
Lookin' Ahead is the second album by The Jazz Crusaders recorded in 1962 and released on Pacific Jazz Records.
Tough Talk is the fourth album by The Jazz Crusaders recorded in 1963 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
Heat Wave is the fifth album by The Jazz Crusaders recorded in 1963 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
Stretchin' Out is the seventh album by The Jazz Crusaders recorded in 1964 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
The Thing is the eighth album by The Jazz Crusaders recorded in 1965 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
Chile Con Soul, recorded in 1965 and released on the Pacific Jazz label, is the ninth album by The Jazz Crusaders.
Live at the Lighthouse '66 is a live album by The Jazz Crusaders recorded in 1966 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
Talk That Talk is the ninth album by The Jazz Crusaders recorded in 1965 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
Uh Huh is the ninth studio album by The Jazz Crusaders recorded in 1967 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
Lighthouse '69 is a live album by The Jazz Crusaders recorded in 1969 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
The Festival Album is a live album by The Jazz Crusaders recorded in 1966 at Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island and Pacific Jazz Festival in California. It was released on the Pacific Jazz label that same year.
