The Hitman Blues Band

The Hitman Blues Band was formed in 1989 by Russell "Hitman" Alexander, and have recorded five original studio CDs and one live CD.

The first CD, Blooztown, was recorded with Bobby Forester, Bernard Purdie, Johnny Gale (Cyndi Lauper, Aaron Carter, M2M, Loudon Wainwright III, Dave Mason, Jules Shear, Hank Ballard, The Ramones, Joan Osborne, James Brown, Aaron Neville), and special guest Ray Alexander (musician) (on two cuts).

“Angel in the Shadows”, the second CD, was recorded with Johnny Gale, Richard Crooks (Dr. John, David Bromberg and Bob Dylan), Seth Glassman (James Brown, Paul McCartney, Aaron Neville, Brian McKnight, Jill Sobule, J.D Souther, Bobby Womack, Dr. John, Hall and Oates, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Rogers, Carole King), Kevin Rymer, Murray Weinstock (The Manhattan Transfer, Esther Phillips, Richie Havens, Don Covay and Buddy Miles), Greg "Clutch" Reilly, and Michael Snyder.

It was following this that Hitman did his first UK tour, using the UK band Groove Juice as a backing group. He also played the Eel Pie Club with Storm Warning as backup.

The Live CD, “Live at Stonybrook University”, is comprised of songs from the first two CDs, plus more originals. "Live" was in the running for a Grammy nomination in 2007, and featured Hitman, Kevin Rymer (keys), Mike Porter (bass) and Jay Sharkey (drums). Another UK tour followed.

The fourth release, "Pale Rider", featured the live band (with Ed "The Hat" D'Alessio on drums). Pale Rider was in the running for four Grammy nominations in 2009. It was also the first time the band recorded with horns, on the track "Miss Catherine".

Hitman did his first European tour after this release.

In 2010, Alt-Strum Productions licensed "Two Minute Warning" from the "Angel In The Shadows" CD to be an add-on for the Rockband game, third edition. Examples can be found on YouTube under the search term "two minute warning rock band 3".

The fifth release, "Blues Enough", featured the live band with the new drummer, Guy LaFountaine. It also featured a horn section comprised of Michael Snyder on all saxes, Eric Altarac on trumpet, and Al Alpert on trombone. Neil Alexander performed on harmonica on two cuts, "Life's Too Short" and "Blues Enough". Additionally, a female backup vocal section was used comprised of Joanne Alexander and Victoria Anyah. “Blues Enough” was in the running for three Grammy Nominations in 2013.

Hitman resumed touring in the UK, but brought over the entire US band minus the female backup singers. However, in 2014 he added Joanne Alexander and Nancy Hampton to the live lineup, singing backup.

In 2013, "Trouble On The Line" and "I'm Coming For You", both from the Pale Rider album, were used in the feature film "Ghostline" - the former in the beginning of the movie, and the latter during closing credits .

The sixth release, "The World Moves On", featured the live band with the substitution of Kevin Bents (Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs, Phoebe Snow, Jewel, and John Fogerty) on keyboards. It also featured newcomer Nick Clifford on baritone sax, replacing the trombone, and Mikey Vitale on tenor sax. “The World Moves On” was in the running for three Grammy Nominations in 2013.

Additional tours of the UK and France followed, using the American lineup. However, in 2017 John Kelly replaced Mikey Vitale on tenor.

In June 2017, Hitman was featured on the cover of Blues In Britain.