On January 17, 2016, Terence Dale “Buffin” Griffin died aged 67. He was musician (drums) and music producer. He was member of the band The British Lions, but was best known as founding member and the drummer of Mott the Hoople. As producer he worked with Hanoi Rocks and Cult, and produced numerous BBC Radio 1 John Peel sessions from 1981 to 1994.
Tag Archives: drums
Spencer Dryden
On January 10, 2005, Spencer Dryden died aged 66. He was musician (drums), member of the bands New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Ashes (later The Peanut Butter Conspiracy), The Dinosaurs, but was best known as the drummer of Jefferson Airplane. In 1996, Dryden was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
Michael Lee
On November 24, 2008, Michael Gary Pearson aka Michael Lee died aged 39. He was musician (drums), recorded and performed with Little Angels, The Cult, Echo & the Bunnymen, Aerosmith, Thin Lizzy, Lenny Kravitz, Jeff Martin, and The Quireboys, but was best known for his work with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.
Jeff Porcaro
On August 5, 1992, Jeffrey Thomas Porcaro died aged 38. He was a songwriter, musician (drums), and record producer, best known as the drummer with Toto. He was one of the most south after session drummers in popular music, played on hundreds of albums and worked with numerous artists such as Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, George Benson, Greg Lake, Seals & Crofts, Les Dudek, Joe Cocker, Steely Dan, The Jacksons, Tommy Bolin, Jackson Browne, Leo Sayer, Boz Scaggs, Carly Simon, Eric Carmen, Valerie Carter, Lisa Dal Bello, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Colin Blunstone, Larry Carlton, Allen Toussaint, Dave Mason, Warren Zevon, Ruben Blades, Bim, Jerry Williams, Al Stewart, Marc Jordan, Rickie Lee Jones, Janne Schaffer, Lowell George, Aretha Franklin, Jon Anderson, Luis Miguel, Love and Money, Patti Austin, Mariya Takeuchi, The Brothers Johnson, Peter Frampton, Bee Gees, Char, Christopher Cross, Randy Crawford, Al Jarreau, Amii Ozaki, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Eye to Eye, Donna Summer, Elton John, Melissa Manchester, Donald Fagen, Herbie Hancock, Don Henley, Michael McDonald, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Russ Taff, Chicago, David Gilmour Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Peter cetera, Earth Wind & Fire, roger Hodgson, David Benoit, Dr. John, Steve Porcaro, Nik Kershaw, Poco, Clair Mario, Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Madonna, Jude Cole, Sandy Patty, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Bolton, Cher, Dire Straits, Richard Marx, Bonnie Raitt, Rod Stewart, B-52’s, Go West, 10CC, Roger Waters, Paul Young, and David Crosby. In 1993, Porcaro was posthumously inducted into the “Modern Drummer Hall of Fame”.
James Oldaker
On July 16, 2020, James Oldaker died aged 68. He was musician (drums, percussions), member of Rogues Five, Bob Seger Band, Leon Russell Band, Frehley’s Comet, and The Tractors, but was best known as the drummer for Eric Clapton. Oldaker recorded with musicians and bands such as The Bellamy Brothers, Asleep at the Wheel, Peter Frampton, The Gap Band, Marcy Levy, Stephen Stills, Leon Russell, Ace Frehley, Freddie King, and The Bee Gees. In August 2005, Oldaker released “Mad Dogs & Okies”, a collection celebrating the music and musicians of Oklahoma, with guest musicians Eric Clapton, Vince Gill, J. J. Cale, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Dunn, and Bonnie Bramlett.
Jonathan Melvoin
On July 12, 1996, Jonathan David Melvoin died aged 34. He was a musician (vocal, keyboards, piano, drums, percussion), member and performed with The Dickies, The Family (Prince side project band), Wendy & Lisa, Prince, and the Revolution, and Smashing Pumpkins.
Alan Myers
On June 24, 2013, Alan Myers died aged 58. He was musician (drums, percussion), music programmer, and electrical contractor. He performed with bands Babooshka, Jean-Paul Yamamoto, Skyline Electric, but was best known as the drummer of Devo.
Wilbur Cobb
On May 24, 2020, Wilbur James Cobb died aged 91. He was musician (drums), one of the most influential and respected drummers in Jazz music. He has recorded and performed with many musicians including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Dinah Washington, Pearl Bailey, Clark Terry, Cannonball Adderley, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Wynton Kelly, Stan Getz, Wes Montgomery, Art Pepper, Gil Evans, Paul Chambers, Kenny Burrell, J. J. Johnson, Sonny Stitt, Nat Adderley, Phil Upchurch, Benny Golson, Hank Jones, Ron Carter, George Coleman, Fathead Newman, Geri Allen, Earl Bostic, Leo Parker, Charlie Rouse, Ernie Royal, Philly Joe Jones, Bobby Timmons, Walter Booker, Jerome Richardson, Joey DeFrancesco, Keter Betts, Jimmy Cleveland, Sam Jones, Red Garland, Joe Henderson, Eddie Gómez, Bill Evans, Jeremy Steig, Richard Wyands, Peter Bernstein, Walter Bishop, Jr., Richie Cole, Nancy Wilson, Ricky Ford, David Amram, Donald Byrd, Kenny Barron and Toshiko Akiyoshi. Cobb recorded 17 albums as a leader.
Bobby Gregg
On May 3, 2014, Robert Grego aka Bobby Gregg, died aged 78. He was musician (drums) and record producer, he was member of the band The Hawks, which later become known as The Band. Gregg was best known for his work with Bob Dylan (Like a Rolling Stone), Simon & Garfunkel (The Sound of Silence), Peter, Paul & Mary and John Cale.
Tony Allen
On April 30, 2020, Tony Oladipo Allen died aged 80. He was composer, songwriter and musician (drums), regarded as one of the primary co-founders of the genre of Afrobeat music. He has recorded and performed with Fela Kuti, Roy Ayers, Ernest Raanglin, Zap Mama, Sébastien Tellier, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Moritz Von Oswald Trio, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jimi Tenor, Rocket Juice & The Moon, Gonjasufi and Hugh Masekela. Brian Eno described Allen as “perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived”.
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