Legendary Drummer James Gadson Passes Away

0:00On April 3rd, James Gatson, the legendary drummer behind some of the biggest names in music, has passed away at 86 years old. He backed giants like Diana Ross, Bill Withers, and even Paul McCartney over a six-decker career that defined R&B grooves. His wife Barbara confirmed he died on April 2nd after recent health struggles, including surgery, and a bad fall that injured his back. Born June 17th 1939 in Kansas City, Missouri, Gatson kicked off drumming in the late 1960s with Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. From there, he laid down beats on classics like Gloria Gainer's, I Will Survive, Marvin Gays I Want You, and Jackson Five's Dancing Machine. His pocket was so tight it powered Temptations albums, Freddie King's Records, and Withers' Breakout, still Bill in 1972. Even late in life, Gatson stayed killing it, drumming for Justin Timberlake, Lana Del Rey, Harry Styles, and The Angelo's Black Messiah Track

1:02Sugar. Daddy, back in 2014, he even popped up in Adam Sandler's Funny People movie in 2009. Tributes poured in from Questlove, who called him the King of Breakbeats, and Ray Parker, Jr., who said they jammed over 50 years and he changed. The game forever. Gatson's rhythms will keep echoing through every funky track out there. That wraps music news today, brought to you with AI. I'm Cory with The Story.