Jimmy Ryan wanted to start a garage band with some of his musician friends. But the Hit Men became something much bigger.
“We booked one gig in New Jersey and the line went around the block and people were banging on the windows trying to get in,” he said. “We had no idea what this was going to become.”
The Hit Men started playing in small parks. Then they went on to play theaters, large outdoor festivals and with symphony orchestras. And they’ll make a stop at Reading’s Santander Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, thanks to Pretzel City Productions.
The band’s repertoire consists of playing songs by the many artists the five members were session musicians for in the 1960s through the 1980s. Those include Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Tommy James, Carly Simon, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce and Elton John.
The band formed after the success of the “Jersey Boys” Broadway musical. A few of the original Hit Men band members played with Frank Valli. They contacted Valli about their idea to put together a studio-musician supergroup. Valli gave them his blessing, and the Hit Men started.
On the baby boomer nostalgia circuit, tribute bands and band reunions are commonplace. But Ryan said the enthusiastic response to the Hit Men is partly because of the variety of songs they play. Instead of songs from one artist, the show features songs recorded by many singers and bands. And unlike some other performers, they band members have consistently played music for decades as session musicians.
“I’ve played every day since I was 16,” he said.
Ryan’s first band was the 1960s group the Critters who scored a hit with their version of The Lovin’ Spoonful song “Younger Girl.” After some of the band members went to college and joined the military, the Critters disbanded and Ryan worked as a studio musician.
His big break came because of a job working in a music store. The store owner’s girlfriend was a young singer named Carly Simon. When she landed a record contract, she asked Ryan to record with her. That started a long stint for Ryan as Simon’s guitarist.
One of most significant contributions was his George Harrison-esque guitar solo in Simon’s megahit “You’re So Vain.” Ryan recorded it quickly in what he thought was just a practice take. But Simon’s producer liked the spontaneity of it so much he kept it. Now it’s a legendary solo that musicians strive to duplicate.
“I went to see Carly sing ‘You’re So Vain’ with Taylor Swift at one of her stadium concerts, and I was waiting to see how they played it, and they did it exactly the same way,” he said.
After playing on Simon’s albums, Ryan became an in-demand studio musician for artists such as Cat Stevens and Jim Croce. He tells some behind-the-scenes stories about those musicians during the Hit Men shows.
Along with telling stories about the songs, the band incorporates vintage photos and video footage of the original artists.
“It’s a multimedia presentation now,” he said.
The success of the Hit Men is also another sign of how studio musicians are receiving long overdue acclaim. The documentary “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” portrayed the Motown session musicians nicknamed the Funk Brothers. And another documentary showcased the Wrecking Crew, legendary West Coast studio musicians who played on hit songs by bands like the Beach Boys and the Monkees.
With this newfound recognition of the studio musicians behind some big hits, Ryan said he’s enjoying playing more than ever.
“Before it was kind of always a bridesmaid never a bride,” he said. “But now when the clapping starts it’s not for Carly Simon or someone else, it’s for us.”
Email John A. Zukowski: weekend@readingeagle.com.
