West End - "For All Your Musical Needs" - Weddings, Parties, Carnival Ball, Casinos

Monday, September 6, 2010

Henry Hitt
Keyboard, Vocals

Henry Hitt is an accomplished instrumentalist and vocalist. His music studies began with guitar and bass lessons at Grunwald's under the tutelage of Roger Filiberto. While still in High School, Henry received vocal training from Mr. Charles Paddock, Professor of Music at Loyola University. Known to his friends as "The Hittman," Henry graduated from Francis T. Nicholls and continued his music education at Belhaven College in Jackson Mississippi. Henry won a summer music scholarship and studied voice with instructors from the Eastman School of Music at the Chautauqua Institute in New York. After receiving a "Greetings" letter from Uncle Sam, Henry served in Vietnam with the U.S. Marines, where he was awarded the Cross of Gallantry. After returning to the USA, Henry completed college, earning a bachelor degree in Psychology and Music, with minors in Theology and Greek. Henry teamed up with guitarist Tommy George (Chopsley from Morgus), saxophonist Joe Lovecchio (from the Sparks), drummer Mac Cantrell, and keyboardist Skip Easterling to form "The Coachman." In 1975 Henry replaced Benny Grunch as the bass player for Nashville recording artist, Jimmy Elledge ("Funny How Time Slips Away"). Together with drummer Darryl Prechter (formerly with Al Hirt and Pete Fountain), The Jimmy Elledge Trio was selected by Universal Studio to portray the life story of Nat King Cole. Legal complications caused Universal to abandon the project so Henry, Jimmy and Darryl joined forces with veteran actor/musician Eddie Fontain (The Rockford Files and the Vic Morrow TV series "Combat"), to play New Orleans style R&B in Los Angeles. In 1976 Henry returned to New Orleans and formed the cover band Bits and Pieces. In 1989 Henry joined with trumpeter Tracy Griffin(formerly with Marva Wright)and saxophonist Lance Ellis(formerly of WAR) to perform for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s opening ceremony. Henry later honed his blues chops while touring seven years with Mississippi bluesman Wardell Williams.