Bill Hemmans graduated from Center High School in Waycross, Ga. Bill practiced 12 to 14 hrs per day when he began playing at the age of 12 which he attributes his beautiful tone on the Saxophone. Bill developed most of his playing skills at Florida A&M University, joined the Navy and attended the Naval School of Music. Bill traveled extensively playing Music everywhere and hooked up with The Ike & Tina Turner Review for awhile and eventually ended up in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he formed the Melting Pot Band for a Nightclub called the Melting Pot. Bill took the Band into the Studio in Colorado, Springs and recorded Summertime, Soul Serenade, and Cloud Nine in one take and they all sold millions individually. Circumstances arose and Bill Hemmans changed the Bands name to Bill Hemmans and Clay's Composite down in New Orleans where Summertime was released in the fall of 1969: Bill was no longer a side man but a Star. The records are selling for as much as $20.00 per song on the internet even until today. We are the only ones who can include them together and offer our low price. Enjoy them, they are all Classics. Cloud Nine is a take-off that Bill did on the song originated by the Temptation's. Bill's version of Cloud Nine is pure funk. The Saxophone configurations are simply awesome. The arrangement surpassed its time idiom. Some portions dealt in psychedelic. The drummer, Ricky Florese, was by far super-incredible,and the whole group blended and supported each other in a well orchestrated rendition of togetherness. Soul Serenade has been recorded by many different artists both Instrumentally and Vocally. Bill took it to another level. He actually plays whole solo courses in an upper register that has no fingering charts. Other Saxophonists have squealed and made high notes, but bill created accurately high notes in sequence with power and force which has never been done before or after Soul Serenade by anyone even until this present date. The song begins very melodiously and ends up at a highly intrinsic degree of intensity. This is a one of a kind production. Summertime is divided into two parts, part 1 and part 2 because they take on two different connotations. The rendition begins with an anthem that introduces the listener to a high level of musicianship and it tickles the imagination to something that is deemed different. Then it begins with a Bluesy, Jazzy, subjective type of sound which has never been arranged this way, a deep guttural intellectual communication between two lovers that hinted toward the forbidden. At each juncture there is a punctuation that suggests an affair that delves into the erotic. It casually fades into part 2. Listen closely and you will hear some kissing and afterwards it builds into what some people describe as an orgasmic musical climax and then the end. It was all done with the Saxophone. Bill's career really took off with the release of Summertime and even though it was leading up to Christmas the record was selling more than Christmas records. Summertime continues to be a phenomenal production. Bill has experienced a big change in his life and now plays mainly for the Lord. This CD also contains his first Gospel recording, Amazing Grace. The tune is done in the blues genre and has been a great seller on its own. It includes an electrifying solo by Dupree Wall, who is an incredible guitarist who is a part of The MBB band. Amazing Grace is filled with the Holy Ghost and when people listen, they experience differences in their Lives. Some years later Bill toured with The great Bobby "Blue" Bland Band, The Albert King Band, and the Dramatics Show Band.Then he formed another Band that co-headlined with Ramsey Lewis, Roy Ayers. He has been billed on shows with the Chilites and the Moments and many, many more. Bill plays Jazz, Blues, Soul, Rock and Roll, Country, Gospel and Classical equally as well. He's played in every environment conceivable from Bourbon Street to L.A, Kansas City, N.Y. France, Italy and many more. Mick Jagger liked Bill's music so much that he came up and kissed the top of his head after a performance. It's no wonder that many feel he is the Greatest Saxophonist to ever play.--- Sincerely, Gary West, Jazz Singer