Legendary Drummer James Gadson Passes Away

0:00On April 4th, legendary drummer James Gatson has passed away at 86 years old. He laid down the grooves for giants like Diana Ross, Bill Withers, and Marvin Gaye, shaping the sound of funk, soul, and disco back in the 1970s. His wife, Barbara, confirmed the news, saying he had been battling health issues lately, including a recent surgery and a bad fall that hurt his back. She called him a wonderful husband, father, and one hell of a musician. Gatson grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, born on June 17th, 1939, in a musical family. His dad was a drummer too. He started with Dewap as a teen, discovered funk in the Air Force, then hit the scene with Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd street rhythm. Banned, dropping beats on tracks like Withers' lean on me and use me, plus Jackson Five's Dancing Machine. Over decades, this session king worked with everyone from the temptations and Ray Charles to modern cats like Beck, DeAngelo, and Harry Styles,

1:00always. Keeping it simple and danceable. Tributes poured in from Beck, who said Gatson shaped his records for years. Questlove praising his break the mastery and Ray Parker Jr. noting, they jammed together over 50 years. Gatson's pocket will echo through those classics forever. Music news today, powered by AI bringing you what's trending in sound.