Drummer James Gadson, RIP

[Michedelic]

I was was waiting to see if anyone else would post(since I seem to be the one catching many musician’s deaths…honest, I don’t have a ghoulish obsession), but so far, no. He played on so many iconic songs…

Legendary Drummer Behind Iconic Hits Passes Away at 86—Music World Mourns ‘One of the Greatest’

Legendary drummer James Gadson has died at 86. Tributes pour in for the musician who shaped R&B, soul, and funk across decades of iconic hits.

entertainmentnow.com

James Gadson - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This is such a tight groove…

 

[Steve59]

R.I.P

 

[bass12]

A man with an amazing CV. One of those, “Wow - he played on that one too?!” guys.

 

[5StringBlues]

"Unknown" legend.

I was going to post him in the MOST WATCHABLE DRUMMER thread last night but his name was slipping my mind.

RIP

 

[pbass2]

One of the greats from way back and kept on working right up until the end. A true GOAT.

 

[JRA]

great stuff from this great player. R.I.P., james gadson.

 

[Low Main]

Glad to see he was able to expand his audience with YT etc. in his later years.

 

[winston]

Oh no, he did so much fantastic stuff!
Rest In Percussion, James!
I became aware of James specifically through his work with Beck, and discovered, oh he played on THIS and THAT and ALL THESE OTHER THINGS...that's James in the background here.

 

[J Wilson]

The drummer on Michael's 'Dancing Machine'. Holy Smokin Joes, AND 'Don't Leave Me This Way' and 'I Want You'.

A giant has passed.

 

[GregC]

What a fantastic resume. I, too, learned of him relatively late with the Beck video. I was pleased to see him record a couple songs with Vulfpeck a few years ago. RIP to a great, soulful musician.

 

[erratick]

RIP funky man.

His time and groove was killer.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Those who created the music I grew up listening to are leaving this world! Dude was one tight drummer!

 

[ra0ulduke]

This is sad news.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

 

[Slade N]

Groove on brother James

 

[J Wilson]

The late Mr Gadson at work:


"Dancing Machine', The Jackson Five

'I Want You', Marvin Gaye

'Don't Leave Me This Way', Thelma Houston

'Got to Be Real', Cheryl Lynn

. . . . and so many more over his career. Like Dr. C, this is the music I grew up on. I'd been playing bass about a year and got asked into my first band in the late 70's and Disco was still going strong. Thelma's 'Don't Leave Me This Way' was a must in the set, and until my hands got stronger, all those bouncing octaves that were common in disco would cramp me up every night !

 

[ajkula66]

RIP.

 

[Carl Hillman]

R.I.P. James

 

[Michedelic]

I’ve been revisiting his earliest work with this band, raw stuff here…

 

[Lowbrow]

Just listen to the groove and feel on those drum breaks. Miraculous.