R.I.P - Ricky Lawson - Master Drummer - MJ, Steely Dan and much more...

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Thread started 12/23/13 10:36pm

G3000

R.I.P - Ricky Lawson - Master Drummer - MJ, Steely Dan and much more...

Drummer RICKY LAWSON, who suffered an aneurysm last week, was taken off Life Support by his family today. The Detroit native passed away peacefully in Long Beach, California.

Lawson suffered a brain aneurysm while performing at night club on December 13, 2013

Ricky Lawson is an American drummer and composer. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he has worked extensively as a session musician, touring with Michael Jackson and recording with Steely Dan. He co-founded the jazz-fusion band the Yellowjackets and won the 1987 Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for "And You Know That" from their album Shades.

Lawson started playing drums at the age of 16. He would borrow his Uncle's drum set, and would carry it to his house all the way across town via the Detroit Buses that ran in the town. In high school Lawson played in his high school jazz band, which consisted of only 5 members (including the director). Ricky played for The Sons of Soul, who performed at the 1969 Michigan State Fair, opening for The Jackson Five along with The Blazer, a band from Cooley High School in Detroit that included La Palabra. Also in high school he played such sports as water polo and swimming. His swimming talent eventually earned him a scholarship to college.

Though he only spent one year at college and was asked to play drums for Stevie Wonder. Then in the 80's and 90's he played drums for Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. He played on Whitney's famous hit, "I Will Always Love You". Ricky has a one note "solo" in the song, where he kicks the bass drum before Whitney's dramatic vocal finale. He says that this is his favorite solo of his career.

Lawson has collaborated with many artists including Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Phil Collins, Babyface, The Yellowjackets, Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Bette Midler, Russell Ferrante, Toto, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Lionel Richie, George Duke, among others. Lawson, one of the founding members of The Yellowjackets, received a Grammy Award for co-writing their hit song "And You Know That". He also co-authored the Pointer Sisters' hit "Uh-Uh" and co-produced the album Seriously Slammin' and the Fattburger hit "Good News".

Lawson appears on Steely Dan's Two Against Nature tour DVD, Two Against Nature: Steely Dan's Plush TV Jazz-Rock Party.

[Edited 12/23/13 22:41pm]

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Reply #1 posted 12/23/13 10:37pm

G3000

Within a few short years of starting to play the drums at the age of 16, Ricky's natural talent skyrocketed him into a major career. Since then he has played with names like Phil Collins, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Bette Midler, Lionel Richie, George Duke, The Brothers Johnson, Quincy Jones and many more.

Early on, Ricky developed expertise in jazz, country and western, pop, R&B, funk and Latin rhythms - a versatility that allows him to play with anyone he wants to. He has earned his jobs and professional reputation by always being well prepared for his gigs. Some of the biggest Number 1 and multi-platinum singles and albums have featured Ricky's impressive talents, including Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You", Anita Baker's "Sweet Love", James Ingrams' "I Don't Have The Heart" and Lionel Richie's "Dancing On The Ceiling".

A co-founder of the group Yellowjackets, Ricky received a Grammy in 1986 for co-writing the hit song "And You Know That" on the album Shades, which he co-produced. He also co-authored the Pointer Sisters' hit "Uh-Uh" and co-produced the album Seriously Slammin and the Fattburger hit "Good News".

Source: http://clapton.onecom.com

Grammy winning former member of the Yellowjackets Ricky Lawson, affectionately known throughout the music industry as the “Drummer to the Stars”, is the most well known and respected percussionist in the world. Just recently Ricky was the featured drummer on Steely Dan’s Grammy winning Best Album “Two Against Nature”, Lionel Richie’s latest release “Renaissance”, the soundtrack to the blockbuster film “Brothers” and the score for the epic “Anna and The King” starring Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat.

As the most sought-after and requested session musician of his time, Ricky Lawson has more than a decade of experience playing for superstars from all genres, like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Eric Clapton, Lionel Richie, Babyface, Quincy Jones and a host of others. This album, appropriately titled “Ricky Lawson and Friends”, has moved this musical genius towards another bold step in his career by allowing him to write, arrange, produce and perform on every track of his first ever solo project. With a little help from some of his “friends”, including Gerald Albright, Phil Collins, George Duke, Sheila E., James Ingram, Boney James, Al Jarreau, Kirk Whalum and Vesta Williams, Ricky conjures up a unique and engaging blend of R&B, Pop and Jazz guaranteed to satisfy a wide range of musical appetites.