Harvey William Mason (born February 22, 1947)[1] is an American jazz drummer , record producer, and member of the band Fourplay . He was the original drummer for Herbie Hancock ’s band The Headhunters .
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Harvey Mason
Mason in 2004
Birth name Harvey William Mason Born (1947-02-22 ) February 22, 1947 (age 77) Atlantic City, New Jersey , U.S.Genres Jazz , smooth jazz , rock , pop , R&B , soul , country , classical , Latin Occupation(s) Musician, producer, composer Instrument(s) Drums, percussion Years active 1970–present Labels Eleni , Atlantic , Concord Website harveymason.net
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Mason performing
Mason was born and grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey , United States,[1] and attended Atlantic City High School .[2] He began playing drums at the age of four with the support of his father, a drummer in the army band.[3]
He was the original drummer for The Headhunters , the jazz fusion band led by Herbie Hancock . After leaving Headhunters in the early 1970s, Mason co-founded the jazz quartet Fourplay .[4] They are on an indefinite hiatus as of 2017. Mason has played as a Sideman with Bill Withers , George Benson and Lee Ritenour .
Mason, who attended Berklee for a year and a half in the 1960s eventually transferred to New England Conservatory where he studied with Vic Firth. Mason received an Honorary Doctorate at Berklee's 2015 Commencement Ceremony for his achievement and influence in music and for his enduring contributions to American and international culture.[5]
Mason endorses Canopus drums,[6] Murat Diril cymbals,[7] Remo drumheads, DW pedals, and Vic Firth drumsticks.[8] Mason has his own Vic Firth Harvey Mason signature drumstick[8] and Vic Firth Harvey Mason Chameleon signature drumstick.[8]
As leader
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Title Label Released
Marching in the Street Eleni 1976
Earth Mover Eleni 1977
Funk in a Mason Jar Eleni 1977
Groovin' You Eleni 1979
M.V.P Eleni 1981
Stone Mason Atlantic 1982
Ratamacue Atlantic 1996
Trios Videoarts Music 2003
With All My Heart RCA 2004
Changing Partners Videoarts Music 2006
Chameleon Concord 2014
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With Fourplay
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As sideman
With George Benson
With The Brothers Johnson
With Donald Byrd
With Ron Carter
With Casiopea
With Herbie Hancock
With Gene Harris
With Bobbi Humphrey
With Bob James
Three (CTI, 1976) – rec. 1975-1976
One on One (Tappan Zee, 1979)
In Hi-Fi (Audio Fidelity, 2003)
Angels of Shanghai (Universal, 2006) – rec. 2004-2005
With Carole King
With Minnie Riperton
With Lee Ritenour
With Patrice Rushen
With Moacir Santos
With Diane Schuur
Blues for Schuur (GRP, 1997)
Midnight (Concord, 2003)
With Stanley Turrentine
With Dionne Warwick
With Grover Washington Jr.
With Bill Withers
With others
Arthur Adams , I Love Love Love My Lady (A&M, 1979)
Christina Aguilera , My Kind of Christmas (RCA, 2000)
Herb Alpert , Midnight Sun (A&M, 1992) – rec. 1991-1992
Patti Austin , Love Is Gonna Getcha (GRP, 1990)
Chet Atkins , Street Dreams (Columbia, 1986)
Beck , The Information (Idenscope, 2006)
Mary J. Blige , The Breakthrough (Geffen, 2005)
Dee Dee Bridgewater , Just Family (Elektra, 1977)
Irene Cara , Carasmatic (Elektra, 1987)
Keith Carradine , I'm Easy (Asylum, 1976)
Larry Carlton , Deep into It (Warner Bros., 2001)
Jean Carn , Trust Me (Motown, 1982)
Cher , Stars (Warner Bros., 1975)
Merry Clayton , Beautiful Scars (Motown, 2021)
Natalie Cole , Stardust (Elektra, 1996)
Rita Coolidge , Behind the Memories (Canyon, 1996)
Chick Corea , The Mad Hatter (Polydor, 1978)
Miles Davis & Michel Legrand , Dingo (Warner Bros., 1991)
DeBarge , The DeBarges (Gordy, 1981)
DeBarge, In a Special Way (Gordy, 1983)
Terence Trent D'Arby , Symphony or Damn (Columbia, 1993)
The 5th Dimension , Earthbound (ABC, 1975)
Will Downing , Love's the Place to Be (Mercury, 1993)
Will Downing, Moods (Mercury, 1995)
Will Downing, Invitation Only (Mercury, 1997)
Charles Earland , Leaving This Planet (Prestige, 1974) – rec. 1973
Earth, Wind & Fire , Spirit (Columbia, 1976)
Joe Farrell , Night Dancing (Warner Bros., 1978)
Victor Feldman , Audiophile (JVC, 1997)
Roberta Flack , Oasis (Atlantic, 1988)
Robben Ford , Bringing It Back Home (Provogue, 2013)
Michael Franks , Objects of Desire (Warner Bros., 1982)
The Friends of Distinction , Love Can Make It Easier (RCA Victor, 1973)
Hiroshi Fukumura with Sadao Watanabe , Hunt Up Wind (Flying Disk, 1978)
Terry Garthwaite , Terry (Eleni, 1975)
Lesley Gore , Love Me By Name (A&M, 1976)
Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour , Harlequin (GRP, 1985)
Don Grusin , The Hang (Sovereign Artists, 2004)
Lani Hall , Blush (A&M, 1980)
Tramaine Hawkins , To a Higher Place (Columbia, 1994)
The Headhunters , Survival of the Fittest (Eleni, 1975)
Eddie Henderson , Sunburst (Blue Note, 1975)
Joe Henderson , Black Miracle (Milestone, 1976) – rec. 1975
Bobby Hutcherson , Montara (Blue Note, 1975)
James Ingram , It's Your Night (Qwest, 1983)
Yosui Inoue , Nishoku no Koma (Polydor, 1974)
Jessy J , Hot Sauce (Heads Up International, 2011)
Ahmad Jamal , Genetic Walk (20th Century, 1980) – rec. 1975
Jamiroquai , Dynamite (Epic, 2005)
Dr. John , In a Sentimental Mood (Warner Bros., 1989)
Jack Jones , New Jack Swing (Linn, 1997)
The Keane Brothers , The Keane Brothers (20th Century, 1977)
Eddie Kendricks , The Hit Man (Tamla, 1975)
Earl Klugh , Earl Klugh (Blue Note, 1974)
Patti LaBelle , Winner in You (MCA, 1986)
Hubert Laws , The San Francisco Concert (CTI, 1977) – live rec. 1975
Peggy Lee , Let's Love (Atlantic, 1974)
John Legend , Once Again (Sony Urban, 2006)
Chuck Loeb , Plain 'n' Simple (Tweety, 2011)
Kenny Loggins , Celebrate Me Home (Columbia, 1977) – rec. 1975-1976
Jackie Lomax , Livin' For Lovin' (Capitol, 1976)
Jon Lucien , Song for My Lady (Columbia, 1975)
Cheryl Lynn , Cheryl Lynn (Columbia, 1978)
Barry Manilow , Showstoppers (Eleni, 1991)
Wade Marcus , Metamorphosis (ABC, 1976)
Marilyn McCoo , Billy Davis Jr. , Marilyn & Billy (Columbia, 1978)
Michael McDonald , Motown (Motown, 2003)
Lonette McKee , Words and Music (Warner Bros., 1978)
Carmen McRae , Can't Hide Love (Blue Note, 1976)
Sérgio Mendes , Sergio Mendes (Elektra, 1975)
Sérgio Mendes, Homecooking (Elektra, 1976)
Luis Miguel , Aries (Warner Bros., 1993)
Keb' Mo' , Peace... Back by Popular Demand (Sony, 2004)
Tim Moore , White Shadows (Asylum, 1977)
Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker , Carnegie Hall Concert (CTI, 1975) – rec. 1974
Walter Murphy , Walter Murphy's Discosymphony (New York, 1979)
David "Fathead" Newman , Scratch My Back (Prestige, 1979)
Joe Pass , Whitestone (Pablo, 1985)
Esther Phillips , All About (Mercury, 1978)
Michele Pillar , I Hear Angels Calling (335, 2006)
Daniel Powter , Under the Radar (Warner Bros., 2008)
Helen Reddy , Music, Music (Capitol, 1976)
Lee Ritenour & Larry Carlton , Larry & Lee (GRP, 1995)
Rufus , Numbers (ABC, 1979)
Véronique Sanson , Le Maudit (Warner Bros., 1974)
Masahiko Satoh , All-In All-Out (CBS, 1979)
Seals and Crofts , Diamond Girl (Warner Bros., 1973)
Marlena Shaw , Who Is This Bitch, Anyway? (Blue Note, 1975) – rec. 1974
Charlie Shoemake , Collaboration (Pausa, 1985)
Phoebe Snow , It Looks Like Snow (Columbia, 1976)
Rod Stewart , It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook (BMG, 2002)
Tavares , Supercharged (Capitol, 1980)
The Manhattan Transfer , Tonin' (Atlantic, 1995)
The Singers Unlimited , A Special Blend (MPS, 1976)
Johnny "Hammond" Smith , Gears (Milestone, 1975)
Donna Summer , Donna Summer (Geffen, 1982) – rec. 1981-1982
Gábor Szabó , Macho (Salvation, 1975)
Jimmy Webb , El Mirage (Atlantic, 1977)
The Whispers , Imagination (Solar, 1980)
Joe Williams , Feel the Spirit (Telarc, 1995)
Vanessa Williams , The Comfort Zone (Mercury, 1991)
Renn Woods , Out of the Woods (Columbia, 1979)
Stevie Woods , The Woman in My Life (Cotillion, 1982)
Gary Wright , Headin' Home (Warner Bros., 1979)
Syreeta Wright , Syreeta (Tamla, 1980)
Jackson, Vincent. "AC native Harvey Mason moves to the beat of his drum; Native son returns to Atlantic City Saturday to perform his own music" , The Press of Atlantic City , June 23, 2015. Accessed August 8, 2018. "'It was a one-of-a-kind kind of situation, and unfortunately, it doesn't exist that way, but I was very, very fortunate,' said Mason, who began playing drums professionally during the 1960s while attending Atlantic City High School."