Hard Bargain is based in the NYC area, with members from NY, NJ, and GA. Influences included 60's and 70's blues, soul and funk, in addition to rock, reggae and jazz. Hard Bargain has been performing a wide range of blues and soul, with the fat R&B grooves of the ‘60s and beyond. The band is now featuring powerful and soulful lead singer Billy Valentin. The band's music includes covers, remakes and some originals, with material from such artists as Bobby Bland, Freddie King, Little Milton, Johnnie Taylor, Rufus Thomas and other blues and soul originators. Hard Bargain has been active on the New York music scene for over eight years, performing at the Bitter End, Kenny's Castaways, Le Bar Bat, The Roxy, the famous Cotton Club, Stanhope House and many other venues throughout the NY-NJ area. In 2002, after releasing their debut CD, Hard Bargain played for a packed Blues 2000&2 Festival in the Catskills. The band released their second CD in early 2006. Since then, the group has played north and south of the Mason-Dixon, and continues wowing audiences in the Northeast. The group began in the mid '90s as Natural Causes, founded by guitarist Alan Grossinger. Next came Arthur Canady on lead vocals; then new millenium brought the addition of bassist Michael Cohen and saxophonist Rafik Cezanne. In 2000, the name was changed to Hard Bargain. Ron Duncan joined on drums and vocals a few years later making the band the most powerful soul band around. Eric Williams is trumpeter extraordinaire and manages horn chart duties. Today, Hard Bargain is a soul powerhouse, described by industry fans as “the real deal," and one of NYC's finest R&B bands. The debut CD has sold in 20 countries and across the U.S., and is still available at CD Baby and iTunes. Hard Bargain’s latest release, “More Than You Bargained For,” includes new originals by the group as well as Grammy nominees Jon & Sally Tiven, who have written and produced for Robert Cray, B.B. King, and the late Little Milton and Wilson Pickett. Hard Bargain music is available at CD Baby, iTunes and other online retailers. On ReverNation: Hard Bargain