The Headhunters

Located at the infectious crossroads of funk and jazz is the internationally acclaimed band The Headhunters. Forty years in the industry has melded their sound into an energetic ride through the roots of music in the beats of ancient percussion instruments to the electronic vibrations of the future.

The iconic songs “God Made Me Funky” and “Watermelon Man” bathe the crowd in foot-tapping head-bobbing energy from the first few notes. Their concerts are a synergy of well-honed grooves and living in the moment improvisations, familiar yet surprising notes that both jam and soothe. A Headhunters show weaves the threads of contemporary R&B music in the loom of elevated space-jazz. BET.com proclaims “God Make Me Funky” as one of the most Influential Hip-Hop Samples ever. The band has influenced the sound of acid-jazz and such musicians as Grammy-Award winning artists, Esperanza Spalding and Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews.

Their songs have been sampled by artists around the Globe including Usher, Prince, Nas, The Roots, Madonna, and many more. Under the direction of co-leaders Bill Summers (percussion/vocals) and Mike Clark (drums), the band toured and recorded for several years with legendary pianist Herbie Hancock.

At the heart, the unique rhythms these men have created draws from Summers’ extensive arsenal of instruments that span the Afro-Caribbean diaspora to Clark’s distinction as one of the major game changing innovators of bebop, post bop and funk history.

Their debut album titled Head Hunters (1973), is one of the best-selling jazz/fusion records of all time, the first jazz album to reach platinum status.In 2003, the album was ranked number 498 in Rolling Stone magazine’s book on the 500 greatest albums of all time. Fasten your seat belt for the ride that is...The Headhunters.