These are mine. Who are yours?

Clyde Stubblefield and Jab'o Starks (James Brown Orchestra/J.B.'s)



Tony Cook (J.B.'s / Soul Generals)


Melvin Parker (James Brown Orchestra / J.B.'s)


Neftali Santiago (Mandrill)


Al Jackson (Booker T. & The M.G.s ? Stax house band)


Zigaboo Modeliste (The Meters)

Tony Allen (Fela Kuti & Afrika 70)

Harvey Mason


John Manuel (RAMP / The Spinners)

Kensuke Okuse (Osaka Monaurail)

Mostly from a previous post on Funky drummers, a few other candidates.

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...Earl Palmer

Though you might not recognize the name Earl Palmer, he has rocked, swung and thrilled American music for over 50 years. The New Orleans­born, Los Angeles­based drummer is an essential force in our musical culture, having defined the rock & roll idiom with the likes of "Tutti Frutti," "Lucille," "Summertime Blues," "Red Hot," "La Bamba," "Hippy Hippy Shake," "Dead Man's Curve" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," and having graced innumerable pop staples by Doris Day, Frank Sinatra, Herb Alpert and Andy Williams, and scads of jazz classics by Dizzy Gillespie, Dinah Washington, Count Basie and Sarah Vaughan. That's Earl driving the Batman and Mission: Impossible themes and dozens of motion-picture and Looney Tunes scores; he's recorded with Sam Cooke, Ricky Nelson, James Brown, Buck Owens, the Byrds, Sonny & Cher, Phil Ochs, the Monkees, Neil Young, Ike & Tina, the Beach Boys, Speedy West, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Waylon Jennings, Ray Charles, Bobby Darin, Willie Nelson, Vic Damone, Tom Waits, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Elvis Costello, even modern rock generics Cracker (they asked, "Do you need to rehearse?" "Nah," Palmer replied, "I invented this shit").

Give the Drummer Some
Earl Palmer, rock & roll's heavy hitter
by Jonny Whiteside
http://www.laweekly.com/i...teside.php

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...Roger Hawkins (Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin)

Roger Hawkins worked as a drummer at dances and clubs throughout North Alabama and Southern Tennessee before securing a position with the rhythm section at FAME studio. He was soon pounding out the rhythm for acts such as Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett.


In 1969, he and Jimmy Johnson formed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and invited fellow studio musicians, David Hood and Barry Beckett to join them. This associaion of musicians became known as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.


As a member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Hawkins has played with such artists as, Paul Simon, the Staple Singers, Leon Russell, Sam and Dave, Cher, Bob Seger, Eddie Rabbitt, Rod Stewart, Willie Nelson, Joe Cocker, Linda Ronstadt, Percy Sledge, and many others.


During the early 70s his solid backbeat brought him to the attention of Steve Winwood, who asked that he join the group "Traffic" for tours of the U.S. and Europe. Eric Clapton recruited his talents for a tour in the early 80s and he has appeared live and on television with Glenn Frey, Peter Yarrow, Ronee Blakely and others.


Along with partner Barry Beckett he co-produced the classic Mel and Tim hit "Starting All Over Again". Other production credits include Canned Heat, Bob Seger, Paul Simon and others.
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And it would be terribly unfair to list Clyde Stubblefield and John "Jabo" Starks without including the 3rd side of the mighty James Brown funky drumming triangle and the one who preceeded Clyde and Jabo...



...Maceo's brother, Melvin Parker (Out of Sight, I Got You)

Now these 3 weren't the only ones, but according to the Funky Drummers (written by Harry Weinger and Adam Budofsky) article in ModernDrummer...
But three drummers in particular - Clyde Stubblefield, John "Jabo" Starks, and Melvin Parker - made an indelible mark on JB's most creative period. These are the drummers who are sampled the most. These are the drummers who were part of the classic JB bands that could burn up halls like the Apollo Theater hotter than any band before or after.

According to Melvin, "Our differences were what attracted James to all of us. Clyde Stubblefield was funky. Jabo had the jazz feeling and flavor. I was different. Prior to me, Nat Kendrick and Clayton Fillyau were all fatback. I added a little taste of New Orleans funk. I played hi-hat more than anyone at the time. Everyone used the ride cymbal and accented on the backbeat."


For more reasons, other than i've told you so on numerous occasions , get...



...this particular record, Sex Machine

This record also spotlights the creation of the original JBs (featuring Bootsy & Catfish Collins) after the famous mutiny of Brown's prior band.

Another one of Jabo and Clyde's original and innovative nightly double-drumming performances is recorded on "Sex Machine." The live portion of this album, from Augusta, Georgia, also features Melvin Parker, the only recorded glimpse of these three great drummers working together. The energy and power they created, reinforcing and complimenting each other with accents and cymbal crashes, is truly incredible.

From Give The Drummers Some! by Jim Payne
http://www.funkydrummer.com/

Other JB drummers include Clayton Fillyau, Tiger Martin, Jimmy Madison & Allan Schwartzberg.
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George "Funky" Brown...



...drummer for Kool & the Gang (couldn't locate an individual photo)

The band that made James Brown say, "They're the second-baddest out there...They make such bad records that you got to be careful when you play a new tape on the way home from the record store. Their groove is so strong you could wreck."


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Buddy Miles...



...Ruby & The Romantics, Wilson Pickett, Buddy Miles Express, Jimi Hendrix


IMO, some of the late 60s/early 70s Buddy Miles Express albums...



...helped to update the horn driven R&B Soul Revue concept by bringing the musicians out of the background.

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tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Since I am a Motown fanatic:


Benny "Papazita" Benjamin
(1925-1969)


Richard "Pistol" Allen
(1932-2003)


Uriel Jones

After all, they WERE "The Funk Brothers".

Nice list up there, Neal. If we mention James Brown, we shouldn't forget Nate Jones, who played on a lot of later 1960s material. He also doubled with Clyde on the "Live in Dallas" album. Amazing drummer, but he had some mental issues which is why JB fired him after a few years.
Tiger Martin also could have went places, but he didn't get along with Bootsy (who had brought him along), so he got fired as well.

Kinda surprised no one mentioned Diamond Williams from the Ohio Players. I think he was definately one of the best drummers period. But since we must stay in the the box of funk, I'll throw in John Bonham from Zeppelin. Please no one have a fit cuz trust me, I KNOW he played in a "rock" band. But John was definately funky. Great pocket and excellent double kick. He patterned his style after the sounds of Motown. His words. But James from Ohio Players is my favorite drummer by far. He played jazz type fills combined with rock style licks all in the context of a funk groove. Also Tony Thompson of Chic is underrated.

blackguitaristz said:

Oh and Jerome Brailey and Bootsy.

Diamond Williams definetely is one of the top notch Funk drummers. So is Jerome, but I'm not really much into P-Funk .. my kinda drum sound is more dirty.


I also should mention Bernard Purdie and C.C. Coleman, who played with the Winstons. Their track "Amen, Brother" (B-Side of "Color him father") is one of the most sampled drum loops ever.

Mad props the funky drummers:

Clyde Stubblefield (JB's secret weapon)
Greg Errico (The Family Stone)
Diamond Williams (Ohio Players)
Larry Blackmon (Cameo)
Jellybean Johnson (The Time)
Daniel Lemelle (Stone City Band)
Fred White (EWF)
Tony Thompson (Chic)
Donald Johnson (A Certain Ratio)
Tiki Fulwood (P-Funk)

MrSoulpower said:

Huuuuuh?!!!! You're not really into P-Funk?!!! ....somebody call the police and arrest this brutha! Nah, I'm just fucking with u.

Beyond the obvious brothers already discussed, I would like to add JB early '70s drummer John Morgan. He may have been filling some pretty big shoes after/ alongside Clyde and Jabo etc, but Morgan imo brought plenty of funk to the table in the JB '70s with Bernard Odum and others on bass.

I will also add further respect to Buddy Miles, Bigfoot Brailey, and Tony Allen of Fela Kuti fame.

And I'm glad tA mentioned Earl Palmer. The man is a legend. Just look at tA's post, and all the people the man's played with.

And, if IIRC, Stevie Wonder played drums on his own 'Superstition', that alone makes him one master of the funky drums .

That Prince guy ain't no slouch sometimes too.

The Osmonds drummer; some damned Mormon.

blackguitaristz said:

A lot of people who are into late 1960s/early 1970s Funk don't dig P-Funk too much .. I've got most of the essential albums, but I have to admit that I rarely listen to them. Most of Bootsy's solo albums bore the hell out of me. And I have to say that I don't dig the slap bass ... it kinda destroyed the true art of the Funk bass. Many bass players try to hyde behind the slap the fact that they don't really know how to walk that walk ..

Miles said:

I was going to mention Stevie but then I thought of his drumming on "Livin For The City". Ummm, ...I love the song. One of the best ever recorded by anyone but uh...Stevie's fills....And P's drumming is kinda liked that. He's at his best when he stays in the pocket. P can play druns but he's not a drummer. There's a difference.

blackguitaristz said:

I think Stevie can be a pretty impressive drummer, but you're right I've always thought his drumming on living for the city was a little flat. I understand he was probably going for more of a "pocket" feel but he should have played louder and harder if he's going to play so simplistic. Of course I could post yet another link to the Stevie drum solo on youtube

2freaky4church1 said:

Their version of "I Can't Get Next To You" has a funky drum break on it, no lie..

MrSoulpower said:

Well I dig the late 60's and early 70's funk and I still adore Parliament. So I don't fit in that category. Bootsy ain't for everybody. But neither was Hendrix. I can respect your thought process about the form of slapping. I don't know if cats tried to hide behind anything as much as it was they just dug the sound of it. I know James Jamerson, who is number one in my book when it comes to bass, had a definite fluid style. Then u had cats like Stanley Clarke, who is well versed in the more classic fingering style, could also "slang" and thump with the best of them. Bootsy wasn't thumping at all when he was with James. Bootsy wanted to seperate himself from cats like Graham and others so he delved head first with the Mutron. That was his thing, which also brought him closer to Jimi. Which is what he really wanted. Like I said, it ain't for everybody.

2freaky4church1 said:

Man, u funny as hell. That's some true shit though. That's what makes it funny.

blackguitaristz said:

Agreed ... I really dug Bootsy's sound when he was with James and also his early Funk 45s that he cut right after leaving James.

does Paulino DaCosta count?

love that guys cadence

DirtyChris said:

I think that's Paulinho DaCosta. I wouldn't really consider him a Funk drummer, since he's rather a percussionist and he has not performed on Funk records that I know of.

MrSoulpower said:

Man, you crazy as hell

FuNkeNsteiN said:

Naw, man I'm serious .. ain't nothing worse than a bass player who doesn't know when it's time to stop that slappin' and really get down. Check out bass players like Bernard Odum or Charles Sherrell of the James Brown Orchestra .. simplicity is where it's at. It's really not about the notes you play, but those you don't play ..

MrSoulpower said:

Yea, I know... I can dig it
I agree with you, sometimes the slapping can get a little excessive, though I am a big fan of the aforementioned style of playing. I dig the finger funkers too. Whichever I prefer more at any given moment depends on my mood.

Oh and yea, the JB cats were baaadd
[Edited 1/26/08 15:07pm]

As for my favorite drummers, y'all have done a pretty good job in mentioning most of the ones that I also like.

My favorites are prolly 'Diamond' Williams of the Ohio Players and Zigaboo Modeliste of the Meters.

NWF said:

Danny LeMelle plays saxophone. The drummer for Stone City Band is Lanise Hughes.

I think my favourite is Diamond Williams of "The Ohio Players".
He was a major part of that sound.
/peace Manki

Dont forget Maurice White who was EWF's main drummer before he brought his brother Fred into the Band,

Lots of folk who complain (not myself, but that is a topic for anothe time) that EWF went pop to their detriment, talk about their funky period up thru 1974-75 have to thank Maurice for that more raw sound and feel.

MrSoulpower said:

MrSoulpower said:

His credit list is so extensive, he must be on somebody's Funk album somewhere.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

You're probably right .. I still wouldn't consider him a Funk drummer. He's more one of those ueberhuman allround-percussionists who'd turn up on anything from a Celine Dion record to the Sesame Street soundcheck.