Duane Hitchings
HISTORY: Classically trained on piano since 5. Brought up on a farm outside Syracuse , New York. Played in country and rock bands since 1957. Played on hit record "Heart And Soul" 1959 at age 16. Toured with [...] Clark tours (Del Shannon, Bobby Vinton) San Francisco and Philadelphia Conservatories of Music and Syracuse University majoring in piano and composition. Recorded/played in 60 and early 70's - Original member of Buddy Miles Express (Electric Flag), Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jeff Beck etc. Member of rock group, Cactus with Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert - 70's.
SOME OF DUANE'S RECORDINGS/WRITING : Rod Stewart - ( co-writes and playing on ) "Da Ya Think Im Sexy", "Young Turks", "Infatuation" and "Crazy 'Bout Her". Rod Stewart Jeff Beck - (played and help arrange) "People Get Ready". Played and co-wrote numerous songs with artists : Heart, Eddie Money, Kim Carnes, Pat Benatar, Steve Perry, Alice Cooper ( member of Alice Cooper band), Dennis Edwards from The Temptations - "Don't Look Any Further" - a huge hit for a number of artisits - bass line has been used by 83 rap artists including ) Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Prince, TLC ( the "Dont Look Any Further" mix), Lil' Wayne. Hit, "If You Think Im Jiggy" by The Lox ( take off on "Sexy"). Wrote rock hit in Europe with, then just writer, Michael Bolton. Co-wrote song for a Gary Wright and George Harrison release. On a side note, discovered a band called "City Kidd" from Sacramento - worked with them in pre-production for some time. They got signed and became "Tesla". Also, Duane played keys on the last Runaways album. Most recent releases - David Frizzel's country album title track "Confidentially' written with Kostas and - Paris HILTON singing "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" on her New album ! Her album recently reached the 500,000 mark. What is next for that song !!!
AWARDS: Received a Grammy for the ballad track "I'll Be Here Where The Heart Is" for the era defining movie "Flashdance" with Kim Carnes and Craig Krampf.
MOVIES - TV : "Flashdance", "Rocky IV", "Ir\on Eagle". "Bringing Down The House" with Steve Martin and Queen Latifah. Numerous TV shows
WRITING AND HAVE WRITTEN WITH ( Great people - Nashville Department !!! ) : Don Goodman, Kostas, Ladd Smith, Tommy Barnes, Linda Davis, Tony Mullins, Pam Tillis ( a while back ), Dennis Knutson, Doodle Owens etc.
EXTRA STUFF : Duane has visited England, China and Russia as Ambassador of the Arts in three separate trips representing the United States. He has been a fireman-engineer/ medical 1st responder and was engine captain of the Number One Volunteer Fire and Rescue Fire Department Of Sumner County, TN , also was Flotilla Commander of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and is a member of the Tennessee State Guard- Headquarters Company - Nashville, TN. Duane has been studying the Bible in Greek and Hebrew , a passion of his - looking for the real Truth. Duane lives on the outskirts of Nashville with his beautiful wife. He has a daughter ( and now granddaughter ) and his wife has a son. Duane is sponsored by Yamaha ( Yamaha TYROS - great synth ) and has a Nuendo based custom digital recording studio and office in their home.