Bill Summers – Percussion
Harvey Mason – Drums
Chris Severin – Bass
Steven Gordan – Keys
Donald Harrison – Saxophone
The Headhunters are an American jazz-funk fusion band, best known for the albums they recorded as backing band for Herbie Hancock during the 1970s. Hancock’s debut album with the group, Head Hunters, is one of the best-selling jazz/fusion records of all time.
Their music is a complex blend of many styles and genres, including jazz, funk, African and Afro-Caribbean music. The group is also notable for its pioneering use of electronic instruments and effects. The band retain a strong connection to African music, with the role of percussion hugely enhanced compared to mainstream jazz, and more extensive exploration of complex polyrhythms compared to most funk.
They released their first album without Hancock in 1975, Survival of the Fittest, which featuring the hit “God Make Me Funky”. This song was sampled by the Fugees, among many others, for their track “Ready or Not”, and has been covered by Jamiroquai.
In 2010 the Headhunters signed with Indianapolis jazz label Owl Studios. They released Platinum, which featured many of the original members of the band with guest spots by Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, and Killah Priest, among others.