James Gadson
Encyclopedia
James Gadson is an American drummer
and session musician
. Beginning his career in the late 1960s, Gadson has since become one of the most-recorded drummers in the history of R&B music
.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri
, Gadson played with the first line-up of Charles Wright's Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and recorded three albums with them between 1968 and 1970. Along with other members of Wright's band he went on to appear on many hit records including Dyke & the Blazers
. Gadson started to become well known as a drummer following the release of the album Still Bill
, by Bill Withers
, released by Sussex Records
in 1972. He played on the Temptations album 1990, released on the Motown
label in 1973. In 1975 he played with Freddie King on Larger than life and went on to record with Martha Reeves
, Randy Crawford
, Quincy Jones
, Herbie Hancock
, BB King, Albert King
, Rose Royce
, Elkie Brooks and many more household names.
Gadson appeared on two tracks on the 2005 Paul McCartney
album "Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard", "At The Mercy" and "Riding To Vanity Fair".
He has a brief appearance in the Adam Sandler
2009 movie Funny People
as a member of the jam band that Sandler's character hires to play with him.
In April, 2009, Gadson joined Alex Dixon, grandson of legendary bluesman Willie Dixon
, on his 2009 release titled "Rising From The Bushes," in which he appeared on two tracks, which were "Fantasy" and his grandfather's famous song Spoonful
.
In June, 2009, Gadson joined Beck
, Wilco
, Feist and Jamie Lidell
covering Skip Spence
's Oar
as part of Beck's Record Club series, with videos appearing on Beck's website beginning November, 2009. He has drummed on Beck's albums Sea Change and The Information
, as well as Jamie Lidell
's 2010 album Compass
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
and session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
. Beginning his career in the late 1960s, Gadson has since become one of the most-recorded drummers in the history of R&B music
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Gadson played with the first line-up of Charles Wright's Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and recorded three albums with them between 1968 and 1970. Along with other members of Wright's band he went on to appear on many hit records including Dyke & the Blazers
Dyke & the Blazers
Dyke and the Blazers was an influential American funk band led by Arlester Christian . The band was formed in 1965 and recorded until 1971, when Christian was shot dead...
. Gadson started to become well known as a drummer following the release of the album Still Bill
Still Bill
Still Bill is the second studio album by American soul musician Bill Withers, released in 1972 by Sussex Records. It includes two hit singles: "Lean on Me", which is number 205 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and went to number 1 on the Billboard pop and R&B charts in summer of...
, by Bill Withers
Bill Withers
William Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"...
, released by Sussex Records
Sussex Records
-History:It was founded December 18, 1969 by Clarence Avant. Initially, it was located first at 6430 W Sunset Blvd at the corner of Sunset and Cahuenga Blvds. In 1972, it moved to 6255 W Sunset Blvd Suite 1902 both in Hollywood. From 1969 to 1974, all records were distributed by Buddah Records &...
in 1972. He played on the Temptations album 1990, released on the Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
label in 1973. In 1975 he played with Freddie King on Larger than life and went on to record with Martha Reeves
Martha Reeves
Martha Rose Reeves is an American R&B and Pop singer and former politician, and was the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. During her tenure with The Vandellas, they scored over a dozen hit singles, including "Jimmy Mack", "Dancing in the Street" and "Nowhere to Run"...
, Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford is an American jazz and R&B singer. She has been more successful in Europe than in the United States, where she has not entered the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist...
, Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
, Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
, BB King, Albert King
Albert King
Albert King was an American blues guitarist and singer, and a major influence in the world of blues guitar playing.-Career:...
, Rose Royce
Rose Royce
Rose Royce is an American soul and R&B band. The group is best known for several hit singles including "Car Wash," "I Wanna Get Next to You," "Wishing on a Star", "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" and "I'm Going Down".-Career:...
, Elkie Brooks and many more household names.
Gadson appeared on two tracks on the 2005 Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
album "Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard", "At The Mercy" and "Riding To Vanity Fair".
He has a brief appearance in the Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
2009 movie Funny People
Funny People
Funny People is a 2009 American comedy-drama film written, co-produced and directed by Judd Apatow, and starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, and Leslie Mann. The film was released on 31 July 2009 in North America, and on 28 August 2009 in the United Kingdom. Funny People uses considerably more...
as a member of the jam band that Sandler's character hires to play with him.
In April, 2009, Gadson joined Alex Dixon, grandson of legendary bluesman Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon
William James "Willie" Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the Upright bass and the guitar, as well as his own singing voice, Dixon is arguably best known as one of the most prolific songwriters...
, on his 2009 release titled "Rising From The Bushes," in which he appeared on two tracks, which were "Fantasy" and his grandfather's famous song Spoonful
Spoonful
"Spoonful" is a blues standard written by Willie Dixon and first recorded in 1960 by Howlin' Wolf. It is loosely based on "A Spoonful Blues", a song recorded in 1929 by Charley Patton , itself related to "All I Want Is A Spoonful" by Papa Charlie Jackson and "Cocaine Blues" by Luke Jordan...
.
In June, 2009, Gadson joined Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, Wilco
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
, Feist and Jamie Lidell
Jamie Lidell
Jamie Lidell is an English musician and soul singer living in Nashville, United States...
covering Skip Spence
Skip Spence
Alexander Lee "Skip" Spence was a Canadian-born musician and singer-songwriter. He was co-founder of Moby Grape, and played guitar with them until 1969. He released one solo album, 1969's Oar, and then largely withdrew from the music industry...
's Oar
Oar
An oar is an implement used for water-borne propulsion. Oars have a flat blade at one end. Oarsmen grasp the oar at the other end. The difference between oars and paddles are that paddles are held by the paddler, and are not connected with the vessel. Oars generally are connected to the vessel by...
as part of Beck's Record Club series, with videos appearing on Beck's website beginning November, 2009. He has drummed on Beck's albums Sea Change and The Information
The Information
The Information is the tenth studio album by American alternative rock musician Beck, released in October 2006 on Interscope Records. It was produced and mixed by longtime Beck collaborator Nigel Godrich. Recording began in 2003 concurrently with Guero, but the album was not completed until 2006...
, as well as Jamie Lidell
Jamie Lidell
Jamie Lidell is an English musician and soul singer living in Nashville, United States...
's 2010 album Compass
Compass (album)
Compass is a 2010 album by Jamie Lidell, released May 18. It is produced by Lidell and features additional production by Beck, Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor, Lindsey Rome and Robbie Lackritz.-Track listing:Written by Jamie Lidell...
As sideman
With Blue MitchellBlue Mitchell
Richard Allen Mitchell was an American jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, rock, and funk trumpeter, known for many albums recorded as leader and sideman for Riverside, Blue Note and then Mainstream Records.-Biography:...
- African VioletAfrican Violet (album)African Violet is an album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell which features arrangements by McKinley Mitchell recorded and released on the Impulse! label in 1977.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars.-Track listing:...
(Impulse!, 1977) - Summer SoftSummer SoftSummer Soft is an album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell recorded in 1977 and released on the Impulse! label in 1978.-Reception:Allmusic awarded the album 2 stars with reviewer Scott Yanow stating "Although there are some fine players on this LP they are largely wasted on inferior material and...
(Impulse!, 1978)