Stix Hooper


Nesbert "Stix" Hooper is an American drummer and founding member of The Crusaders.

Career

Hooper developed an interest in music, drums, and percussion at an early age. Starting in middle school with band director George Magruder, he began devoting much of his time to the study of music.
While he was a student at Wheatley High School (Houston), he formed the band the Swingsters and then the Modern Jazz Sextet with pianist Joe Sample and saxophonist Wilton Felder. At Texas Southern University, he received coaching from members of the Houston Symphony Orchestra and other local professional musicians while continuing to play with Sample, Felder, and new band members like trombonist Wayne Henderson. He then left Houston with Sample, Felder, and Henderson to form the Jazz Crusaders in Los Angeles. After moving to the west coast, he studied music at California State University, Los Angeles and with private instructors and mentors.
He has worked with Arthur Fiedler, George Shearing, B.B. King, Grant Green, Grover Washington Jr., Quincy Jones, Marvin Gaye, Nancy Wilson, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London, and the Rolling Stones. He was National Vice Chairman of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and president of its Los Angeles chapter.

Discography

As leader

The World Within Touch the Feeling Lay it on the Line Many Hats Jazz Gems Mainstream Straight-Ahead Live in L.A. We Went West Friends Across the Pond Orchestrally Speaking
With The CrusadersFreedom Sound Lookin' Ahead The Jazz Crusaders at the Lighthouse Tough Talk Heat Wave Jazz Waltz with Les McCannStretchin' Out The Thing Chile Con Soul Live at the Lighthouse '66 Talk That Talk The Festival Album Uh Huh Lighthouse '68 Powerhouse Lighthouse '69 Give Peace a Chance Old Socks New Shoes – New Socks Old Shoes Pass the Plate Hollywood Crusaders 1 The 2nd Crusade Unsung Heroes Scratch Southern Comfort Chain Reaction Those Southern Knights Free as the Wind Images Street Life Rhapsody and Blues Standing Tall Royal Jam
  • ''Rural Renewal''

As sideman

With Joe Sample
  • 1978 Rainbow Seeker
  • 1979 Carmel
  • 1980 Voices in the Rain
With others

As songwriter