Bill Summers (born June 27, 1948) is an American, New Orleans based Afro-Cuban jazz/Latin jazz percussionist, a multi-instrumentalist who plays primarily on conga drums.
Career
In the 1970s, he founded Bill Summers & Summers Heat together with Bo Freeman, Calvin Tillery, Carla Vaughn, Claytoven Richardson, Earl Freeman, Freddie Washington, George Spencer, Hadley Caliman, James Levi, Jeff Lewis, Larry Batiste, Leo Miller, Lori Ham, Michael Sasaki, Munyungo Jackson, Paul Van Wageningen, Ray Obiedo, Rodney Franklin, Scott Roberts and Tom Poole. The group produced 7 albums between 1977 and 1983 :
Cayenne
Straight to the bank
On Sunshine
Jam the box
Call it what you want
Seventeen
London Style
During the 1990s, Summers played with Los Hombres Calientes along with co-leader of the group, trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and Jason Marsalis. However, Summers has a much longer musical career, often working behind the scenes on film scores for various movies such as The Color Purple and the television miniseries Roots with Quincy Jones. He also played with Herbie Hancock during The Headhunters years, and is mentioned in passing by the liner notes of The Headhunters' 2003 release Evolution Revolution as contributing to that recording. His former wife is Yvette Bostic-Summers, who often sings on Los Hombres' albums.
Discography
As leader
Feel the Heat (Prestige, 1977) Cayenne (Prestige, 1977) Straight to the Bank (Prestige, 1978) On Sunshine (Prestige, 1979) Call it What You Want (MCA, 1981) U.S. No. 129 Jam the Box (MCA, 1981) U.S. No. 92 Seventeen (MCA, 1982) London Style (MCA, 1983) Iroko (Vital, 1992) The Essence of Kwanzaa (Monkey Hill, 1997) Studies in Bata: Sacred Drum of the Yoruba, Havana to Matanzas (Bilsum, 2002)
With Los Hombres Calientes
Los Hombres Calientes (Basin Street, 1998) Vol. 2 (Basin Street, 2000) Vol. 3 New Congo Square (Basin Street, 2001) Vol. 4: Vodou Dance (Basin Street, 2003)
As sideman
With Terry Garthwaite
Terry (Arista Records, 1975)
With Johnny Hammond
Forever Taurus (Milestone, 1976) Storm Warning (Milestone, 1977) Don't Let the System Get You (Milestone, 1978)
With Herbie Hancock
Head Hunters (Columbia, 1973) Thrust (Columbia, 1974) Man-Child (Columbia, 1975) Flood (Columbia, 1975) Sunlight (Columbia, 1978) Directstep (Columbia, 1979) Feets, Don't Fail Me Now (Columbia, 1979) Mr. Hands (Columbia, 1980) Autodrive (Columbia, 1983) Dis Is Da Drum (Mercury, 1994) Omaha Civic Auditorium, 17th November 1975 (Hi Hat, 2015)
With The Headhunters
Survival of the Fittest (Arista, 1975) Straight from the Gate (Arista, 1977) Return of the Headhunters (Verve Forecast, 1998) Evolution Revolution (Basin Street, 2003) On Top: Live in Europe (BHM, 2008) Platinum (Owl Studios, 2011)
With Eddie Henderson
Inside Out (Capricorn, 1974) Mahal (Capitol, 1978) Runnin' to Your Love (Capitol, 1979)
With Quincy Jones
Roots (A&M, 1977) The Color Purple (Qwest, 1986) Back On the Block (Qwest, 1989)
With David "Fathead" Newman
Concrete Jungle (Prestige, 1978) Keep the Dream Alive (Prestige, 1978) Scratch My Back (Prestige, 1979)
With Sonny Rollins
The Way I Feel (Milestone, 1976) Easy Living (Milestone, 1978) Don't Ask (Milestone, 1979) Love at First Sight (Milestone, 1980) Silver City (Milestone, 1996)
With Patrice Rushen
Shout It Out (Prestige, 1977) Patrice (Elektra, 1978) Pizzazz (Elektra, 1979)
With Vinx
Rooms in My Fatha's House (PANGAEA, 1991) I Love My Job (PANGAEA, 1992) The Storyteller (PANGAEA, 1993) Lips' Stretched Out (H.O.E. Heroes of Expression, 1996) The Mood I'm In (Peermusic, 2002)