By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 01:51 am:

Just learnt that Ray is about to undertake some UK / European gigs as a member of the reformed Crusaders.
Wilton, Joe (I believe) & Ray plus Randy Crawford are doing a posh black tie event in Ascot near Windsor (where the Queen's castle is) in a few days.

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 03:19 am:

WOW JSMITH!!!...VERY COOL!!!...DESPITE WHAT SOME OTHERS MAY FEEL...I THINK THAT RAY PARKER JR. IS A TREMENDOUS TALENT...AND THE NAMES YOU MENTION ALONG WITH RAY...KNOCK ME OUT!!!...I HAD THE PRIVILEDGE OF MEETING RANDY CRAWFORD SEVERAL YEARS AGO...AND SHE WAS OUTSTANDINGLY NICE...AND EVEN DROPPED ME OFF AN AUTOGRAPHED CD!!!...JOE SAMPLE IS AN INSTITUTION...AND WILTON FELDER...ALSO...AN OUTSTANDING MUSICIAN!!!...I HOPE THEY SUCCEED...AND LET US ALL HEAR SOMETHING FROM THAT UNIQUE ASSOCIATION!!!...STUBASS

By 1Wicked (24.126.64.120) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 03:30 am:

Ray plays is a prominent player on The Crusaders latest CD "Rural Renewal", as do Crusader session sidemen Dean Parks and Arthur Adams...but those two aren't as likely to tour. Adams, particularly, is a mainstay in B.B. King's clubs. "Rural Renewal" is one of the guys best works to date.....I'm happy they could put differences aside and work together again. (I wish the Harts could take lesson or two from Stix, Wilton, and Joe....)

Oh...it's a 75% REUNION with only Wayne "Big Daddy" Henderson not participating...but Steve Baxter sounds just as agile on 'bone.

By Allen (24.24.196.115) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 11:35 am:

Ray Erskine Parker Jr. is a funky mofo. What he played on "You've Got The Love" (Rufus) was groundbreaking.

The parts he's played on records like "To Be Real" (Cheryl Lynn) and countless others have given us such a broader Rhythm vocabulary.

Steve Baxter is from Detroit too. Isn't he? Crusaders gonna have to start drinking Faygo. Jamerson Jr. has played with them too.

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 12:18 pm:

COULDN'T AGREE MORE ALLEN!!!...HEY!!!...WHAT ABOUT "STIX"???...ALTHOUGH HE'S BEEN DOING SOME PRODUCING AS FAR AS MY MOST RECENT KNOWLEDGE OF HIM GOES...HE WAS DEFINITLY "THE ROCK" BEHIND THE CRUSADERS SOUND!!!...ANY MENTION OF HIM REUNITING WITH THE REMAINING GROUP MEMBERS???...STUBASS

By 1Wicked (24.126.64.120) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 06:01 am:

Yeah Stu...Stix, Wilton, and Joe TOGETHER AGAIN !!

By Soul Sister (68.73.167.246) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 08:10 am:

1Wicked;
I sent you a message & photo but just got back failure delivery. Need exact e-mail address.
Thanks,
S.S.

By 1Wicked (24.126.64.120) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 11:37 am:

Soul Sister...I'll e-mail you with an adress with more capacity...