James Gadson, a prolific session drummer who performed on hit data by the likes of Diana Ross, the Jackson 5, and Invoice Withers, has died. “He was a terrific husband, father, grandfather, nice grandfather, and one hell of a drummer,” Gadson’s spouse, Barbara, informed Rolling Stone. She stated that Gadson had just lately undergone surgical procedure and suffered a foul fall. He was 86.
Gadson was born in Kansas Metropolis, Misouri, in 1939. His father, additionally a drummer, purchased James and his brother Thomas cornets so they might be part of the drum corps at their faculty. After serving within the Air Power, Gadson performed keyboards and sang in his brother’s band, earlier than finally switching to the drums. He additionally backed up musicians who got here by Kansas Metropolis on tour, together with Otis Redding and Sam Cooke.
It was after he relocated to Los Angeles that Gadson crossed paths with Motown’s Hal Davis, who tapped him to take a seat in on the session for “Dancing Machine” by the Jackson 5. Gadson’s work behind the equipment can be heard on “Lean on Me” and “Use Me”—each by Withers—Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” and Thelma Houston’s cowl of “Don’t Go away Me This Means.”
There are just a few songs launched below Gadson’s personal identify: the 1976 disco single “Go By What’s in Your Coronary heart” and two 7-inches—“Good Vibrations / Simply to Love You Lady” and “Bought to Discover My Child / Let the Feeling Belong”—that had been later included on Hello Data’ Soul Looking out compilation in 1995. Nonetheless, his later-career credit vary from Beck’s Sea Change to Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveSounds to, extra just lately, Harry Types’ Advantageous Line. That’s additionally him slapping his legs on “Sugah Daddy” from D’Angelo and the Vanguard’s Black Messiah.
“Some drummers are soulful. Some drummers are funky. Some drummer are a rockin. Some drummers are swinging,” Questlove wrote in a tribute on Instagram, “however NO drummer, has impacted the artwork of breakbeat drummer (danceable drums) like James Gadson.”
Flea additionally remembered Gadson: “His legacy will reside on by a zillion joyful dances people will do to his beats, to heal and be happy.”
