In the early 1960's, the Jazz Crusaders played rhythm & blues and doo-wop under the name Nite Hawks to earn money, since the payment for jazz artists was not as good. Under this name they released one 7 on Del-Fi Records. Their first 7 on Pacific Records, after they started playing only jazz, was under the name Night Hawks (Bunny Ride / Sweenie Lester) before they changed their name to the Jazz Crusaders.