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Sheila E. grew up in the Bay Area with a musical family. Her father was a percussionist, many of her family members were musicians, and instruments were highly encouraged for everyone. Sheila started playing at the age of 3, with a special interest in drums and percussion. Apparently she used to copy her father's hand motions when playing the drums, which likely influenced her interest. She first performed for a public audience at the age of 5, playing alongside her father.

By her mid-20s, Sheila had already played with a number of bands, but her most official "first" band was the George Duke Band (she joined in 1977). Since she has been in the game for five decades, she has played with multitudes of different groups, but notable performances include: playing for Prince during the Purple Rain recordings, performing at the 2007 Latin Grammys, playing with Sheila E. and the E. Family (est. 2007; a group of family members), and providing drums for the soundtracks to the movies Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Boss Baby. In addition to all these things, Sheila also released a few albums, and very recently received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2021). Overall, her style is R&B, and it goes without saying that she is looked on very favorably by the public eye.

"The Glamorous Life" (1984) is both the name of Sheila E.'s debut album and one of the songs on it. It rose to #7 on the Hot 100 list and led to nominations for Best Female Video, Best New Artist, Best Choreography (all MTV Awards), Best New Artist, and Best Pop Vocal Performance Female (both Grammy Awards).

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Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life (Official Music Video)

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Aaron Spears was born in 1976 in Washington DC. Growing up, he was surrounded by music in the Pentecostal Church. Aaron developed his musicianship in church, playing in the praise band and with different musicians within that community. It was in 2003 when Aaron started playing with a band formed from members of his church that got him his big break. Through a mentor named Gerald Heyward, Aaron’s playing was introduced to Usher’s musical director, Valdez Brantley.

Aaron became a member of Usher’s band shortly after and went on to revolutionize the drumming industry. He morphed his gospel chops into the mainstream hip hop/RnB of Usher, essentially creating his own genre of drumming. Outside of Usher’s band, Aaron has toured with Ariana Grande, Gideon Band, Chrisette Michelle, Chamilionaire, David Cook, Joanne Rosario, Lil Wayne, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Chaka Khan, Adam Lambert, Israel Houghton, and The Backstreet Boys. Aaron Spears has also worked with Lady Gaga and Italian Superstar Tiziano Ferro, and as a drummer for the American Idol tour.

Spears is known for his pocket the size of a football field and his crazy chops. In addition to playing drums, Spears has many credits as a producer and was even nominated for his work as a producer on Usher’s tracks "Superstar" and "Confessions(Interlude)".

Sources:
Aaron Spears - DRUMMERWORLD
Aaron Spears (sonor.com)

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Max Roach (born 1924) was one of the pioneers of bebop drumming. Roach was born in North Carolina but grew up in New York and started his musical journey early on. He played bugle in parades from an early age and by age 10 was drumming in gospel bands. Roach made his professional debut at age 18 filling in with Duke Ellington's band. Following high school he studied classical percussion at the Manhattan School of Music while simultaneously pursuing his freelance jazz career. Roach played with many of the biggest names in the jazz world including Ellington, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie (who remained a lifelong friend), Thelonious Monk, and Miles Davis among others. While being at the forefront of the rise of bebop drumming, Roach also showed an interest in many other musical styles, particularly Afro-Caribbean music. Later in his career, Roach was one of the first players to feature the drums as a more melodic instrument, even recording several solo and duet records leaving the sound incredibly open and exposed. One of the most influential groups Roach was a part of was a quintet with trumpet player Clifford Brown. This recording is of the tune "Joy Spring" with Clifford Browns Quintet. Roach takes a fabulously melodic solo at 4:50.

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(posted by Christian A)

(footage of Moe Tucker is VERY difficult to find, so I was lucky enough to find this video with two clips of her drumming)

Early life:

Maureen “Moe” Tucker was born to a middle-class family in Queens, NYC in 1944, and grew up on Long Island. Her older brother was friends with Sterling Morrison, the lead guitarist for the band Velvet Underground.

Education:

Tucker doesn’t have any formal training in music. She instead played along with various songs to gain an understanding of the drums. Before entering the music scene, she was briefly enrolled at Ithaca College.

Career:

Tucker was asked to join Velvet Underground in 1965 after the previous drummer quit. She would occasionally pick up bass guitar and vocals during live performances. She left the band in 1970 while pregnant with her first child. She returned later in the year and toured through 1971. She quit the music industry entirely shortly thereafter. She was present during the 1993 reunion of Velvet Underground, and she has sparsely appeared as a guest artist for other groups as well.

Musical style:

Tucker is notable for her unusual playing posture and minimalistic drum arrangement. She often played standing up, which she claims gave her better access to the bass drum. Cymbals were almost never a part of her kit; she felt that they overpowered the other instruments.

Reception:

Tucker is considered one of the most influential drummers in rock band history. Her minimalistic drumming style is sometimes considered a precursor to the punk/punk rock genre.

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Maureen (Moe) Tucker and Half Japanese - Eye Of The Hurricane

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Max Roach (born 1924) was one of the pioneers of bebop drumming. Roach was born in North Carolina but grew up in New York and started his musical journey early on. He played bugle in parades from an early age and by age 10 was drumming in gospel bands. Roach made his professional debut at age 18 filling in with Duke Ellington's band. Following high school he studied classical percussion at the Manhattan School of Music while simultaneously pursuing his freelance jazz career. Roach played with many of the biggest names in the jazz world including Ellington, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie (who remained a lifelong friend), Thelonious Monk, and Miles Davis among others. While being at the forefront of the rise of bebop drumming, Roach also showed an interest in many other musical styles, particularly Afro-Caribbean music. Later in his career, Roach was one of the first players to feature the drums as a more melodic instrument, even recording several solo and duet records leaving the sound incredibly open and exposed. One of the most influential groups Roach was a part of was a quintet with trumpet player Clifford Brown. This recording is of the tune "Joy Spring" with Clifford Browns Quintet. Roach takes a fabulously melodic solo at 4:50.

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Described as one of the most influential reggae drummers, Carlton Barrett launched a number of tracks for tom musicians and solo bands like the Wailers, and Bob Marley (Bob Marley and the Wailers).
Barrett was born December 17th, 1950 in Kingston, Jamaica. When he was just a teenager, his passion for drumming was evident in his making of his first ever drum set made from paint cans he found on the street. In 1960 was when he began performing with his brother Aston "Familyman" Bennett in a group they called 'The Soulmates' and/or 'The Rhythm Force.' Eventually they renamed the group to 'The Hippy Boys.' Carlton and his brother were seeking to reinvent music on the streets of Jamaica, which at the time consisted mostly heavy metal rock. Bennett appreciated the way reggae music had a more subtle, but not too soft approach. The locked-in style in slow grooves were reminiscent of original roots reggae. With this style, Carlton fell in love with what became his signature technique, "One Drop." Barrett truly popularized this style for bands like Bob Marley and the Wailers, and it is still emulated today despite his death at the young age of 36.
Before Bennett passed away on April 17th 1987, people got an insight on his thoughts about drumming. To Bennet, drums weren't just something he made sound with. He believed they had great attachment to culture and society. He said, "...drums are from the slavery days from Africa; hence it is tied to a lot of history." Because of this, his approach to drumming was highly respected, and taken very seriously. He was even said to be one of the best performers of his generation.

Sources:
https://zerotodrum.com/carlton-barrett/
https://wbssmedia.com/artists/detail/3169

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Bob Marley and The Wailers - Lively Up Yourself (Carlton Barrett Raw Drum Track)

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Buddy Rich was a Jazz drummer born in 1917 in Brooklyn, New York. Primarily a Jazz drummer, he redefined what jazz drumming was. Was considered a child prodigy and was highly paid before he left the music scene in 1942 to serve in the Marines. Formed a band in 1946 due to financial support from Frank Sinatra. Buddy played with many big names including: Charlie Parker, Benny Carter, Les Brown, Lois Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Brown, and Herb Ellis.

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Steve Gadd was born in Rochester, New York in 1945. He was introduced to the drum set at the age of 7 by his uncle, who was also a percussionist as well. By the age of 11, he had already been playing with Dizzy Gillespie. He eventually studied at the Eastman School of Music, and was taking night gigs with Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione, Joe Romano, and Frank Pullara.

After college, he was drafted into the Army, and played in Military bands before making a trio group in 1972, which eventually led to Gadd to becoming a studio musician. He then played other gigs throughout the 70's and 80's with artists such as Chick Corea and Paul Simon. In 1976 he joined a group, and arguably became on of the most prominent drummers in the world at that time.

In today's world, Steve Gadd is still a very prominent drummer with artists like Paul Simon, Chick Corea, who recently passed away, Eric Clapton, and James Taylor. He is most well known for his drum solos, with many transcriptions having been made of them, especially in Asia.

Sources:
https://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Steve_Gadd.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Gadd

Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RIHoPG17S0

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Terri Lyne Carrington is an American jazz drummer, producer, composer, and educator. She has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample, and many other artists.

Early Life:
She was born in 1965 into a musical family, her father being the head of the Boston Jazz Society. She was gifted a drum set at a young age, took three years of private lessons, and received a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music at age 11.

Career:
Encouraged by her mentor, Carrington moved to New York in 1983. In the following years she toured with groups, played on late shows, and recorded her own music. She won many awards for her music, including three Grammys! In 2007 she was appointed professor at Berklee College of Music, and is the founder and artistic director of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice.

Fun fact- Carrington was the first woman to win a Grammy for the Best Jazz Instrumental Album!

Video:
https://youtu.be/z4hALATGEDY?t=221

This is an awesome drum solo that Carrington played in a song called "Love for Sale" with vocalist Diane Reeves.

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Aaron Spears was born in 1976 in Washington DC. Growing up, he was surrounded by music in the Pentecostal Church. Aaron developed his musicianship in church, playing in the praise band and with different musicians within that community. It was in 2003 when Aaron started playing with a band formed from members of his church that got him his big break. Through a mentor named Gerald Heyward, Aaron’s playing was introduced to Usher’s musical director, Valdez Brantley.

Aaron became a member of Usher’s band shortly after and went on to revolutionize the drumming industry. He morphed his gospel upbringing into the hip hop/RnB of Usher, essentially creating his own genre of drumming. Outside of Usher’s band, Aaron has toured with Ariana Grande, Gideon Band, Chrisette Michelle, Chamilionaire, David Cook, Joanne Rosario, Lil Wayne, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Chaka Khan, Adam Lambert, Israel Houghton, and The Backstreet Boys. Aaron Spears has also worked with Lady Gaga and Italian Superstar Tiziano Ferro, and as a drummer for the American Idol tour.

Spears is known for his pocket the size of a football field and his crazy chops. In addition to playing drums, Spears has many credits as a producer and was even nominated for his work as a producer on Usher’s tracks "Superstar" and "Confessions(Interlude)".

Sources:
Aaron Spears - DRUMMERWORLD
Aaron Spears (sonor.com)

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Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF1xaa65w1o
This is the song Where's My Thing, Here it Is! from Rush's Clockwork Angel tour. Neil Peart takes a drum solo at about 3:50.

Neil Peart was born in 1952 on the family dairy farm in Ontario, Canada. He began drum lessons at the age of thirteen and at only eighteen, he moved to England “seeking fame and fortune.” He was not successful. He moved back to his family farm a few years later and worked with his dad selling farm equipment.

He played with several local bands before joining Rush in July of 1974 just two weeks before their first US tour. He quickly became the primary lyricist for the band, a role he maintained for the rest of his time in the band. In 1975, Rush recorded their second album, Fly by Night, which was Peart’s first recorded album with the band. It was fairly successful, but it wasn’t until their fourth album, 2112, that they gained a major following in the US.

Neil Peart was known for his complex fills and his over-the-top drum kits. He was a perfectionist who never stopped trying to get better and learn more about his craft. In the 90s, halfway through his career, he reinvented his style and relearned the drums from the ground up with the help of teachers Freddie Gruber and Peter Erskine. He recorded two Buddy Rich tribute albums while learning to loosen up and incorporate more jazz, but ultimately he remained a rock drummer.

He continued playing, touring, and recording with Rush into the 2010s, taking a hiatus only after his daughter died. He died in 2020 from glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, after battling it in secret for three and a half years.

Sources:

https://www.rush.com/band/neil-peart/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Peart#Joining_Rush

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/neil-peart-rush-drumming-tribute-936430/

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Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF1xaa65w1o
This is the song Where's My Thing, Here it Is! from Rush's Clockwork Angel tour. Neil Peart takes a drum solo at about 3:50.

Neil Peart was born in 1952 on the family dairy farm in Ontario, Canada. He began drum lessons at the age of thirteen and at only eighteen, he moved to England “seeking fame and fortune.” He was not successful. He moved back to his family farm a few years later and worked with his dad selling farm equipment.

He played with several local bands before joining Rush in July of 1974 just two weeks before their first US tour. He quickly became the primary lyricist for the band, a role he maintained for the rest of his time in the band. In 1975, Rush recorded their second album, Fly by Night, which was Peart’s first recorded album with the band. It was fairly successful, but it wasn’t until their fourth album, 2112, that they gained a major following in the US.

Neil Peart was known for his complex fills and his over-the-top drum kits. He was a perfectionist who never stopped trying to get better and learn more about his craft. In the 90s, halfway through his career, he reinvented his style and relearned the drums from the ground up with the help of teachers Freddie Gruber and Peter Erskine. He recorded two Buddy Rich tribute albums while learning to loosen up and incorporate more jazz, but ultimately he remained a rock drummer.

He continued playing, touring, and recording with Rush into the 2010s, taking a hiatus only after his daughter died. He died in 2020 from glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, after battling it in secret for three and a half years.

Sources:

https://www.rush.com/band/neil-peart/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Peart#Joining_Rush

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/neil-peart-rush-drumming-tribute-936430/

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Meg White was born on December 10th, 1974 in Grosse Point Farms, MI (a suburb of Detroit). She first met Jack Gillis while working at a local restaurant, and the two got married in 1996, with Jack taking Meg's last name. Jack and Meg are infamous for being very private people and would often create stories to spread to the public about their backgrounds that were heavily falsified (e.g. the two presenting themselves as siblings for many years until their marriage was exposed).

According to the two, they formed the duo The White Stripes in 1997 after Meg decided to play Jack's drum set on a whim one day. The White Stripes are notable for only consisting of Meg (mostly playing drums, sometimes providing backup vocals) and Jack (providing vocals and either piano or guitar, depending on the song) and never performing songs that couldn't be played by just the two of them.

Meg's style of drumming has received both heavy praise and criticism over the years. She never took lessons in her youth or received any formal training on a drum set, but her more simple style has been referred to as illustrating "visceral, raw, and urgent stories that tell of the human experience." While others may have called her drumming "maddeningly rudimentary," Jack White would often defend her style by responding that some were more eager to criticize her because she was a female presence in a genre that may not see many female drummers.

After a 2007 show, The White Stripes cancelled a large remainder of their scheduled tour dates, citing Meg's acute anxiety and desire to step out of the public eye. Jack continued to create music and work as a solo artist over the next few years, and despite attempts to get back on the track of releasing new music in 2009, The White Stripes announced that they were disbanding in February of 2011. Since then, Meg has mostly remained out of the public eye and has not embarked on any public music endeavors since.

Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SicUcvP_P7k
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-mysterious-case-of-the-white-stripes-75345/
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/mar/29/artsfeatures.popandrock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meg_White

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"The Original Funky Drummer" - Clyde Stubblefield

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"The Original Funky Drummer" - Clyde Stubblefield

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In this video Stubblefield talks about his famous sample from "Funky Drummer."

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Description of Video:
1. Clyde Stubblefield playing drums for James Brown's "Cold Sweat" at the Boston Garden. This incredibly powerful concert was performed the night after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. This is often referred to as "The night James Brown saved Boston."

Biography:
Clyde Stubblefield was born on April 18, 1943 in Chattanooga Tennessee. He was first inspired to play the drums after seeing drummers in a parade as a youth. When he was first starting out, he got his rhythm from the sound of nearby factories and trains and would play "on tin can lids, pasteboard boxes-- everything." Stubblefield began playing professionally as a teen in local bands. In 1960, he moved to Georgia to tour with Otis Redding. Only a few years later, in 1965, James Brown asked him to audition for his group after seeing him perform. He got the job, and worked closely with Mr. Brown and the band's other drummer, John "Jab'o" Starks. Neither drummer had any formal training and as Stubblefield put it, "We just played what we wanted to play."

It was during his time with James Brown's Band that Clyde Stubblefield earned most of his fame. He performed on hit singles like "Cold Sweat," "Say it Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud, "Ain't It Funky Now" as well as the album Sex Machine. Even more well known than all of this is Clyde's sampling of "Funky Drummer" where Stubblefield laid down a funk groove which would become the most sampled patterns in the world, though he was never credited or paid for the use of that sample.

In 1971, Clyde left the James Brown Band and moved to Madison Wisconsin where he would spend the remainder of his career performing Monday nights with his own band, recording three solo albums, and collaborating frequently with Jab'o.

In 2000, Clyde Stubblefield began to have health problems, starting with bladder cancer. Stubblefield beat the cancer, and he received $80,000 from Prince-- who greatly admired Clyde and his music-- to help pay his hospital bills. Starting in 2002, Clyde began a battle against a kidney disease which he later passed away from on February 18, 2017.

Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Clyde-Stubblefield.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clyde_Stubblefield
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/clyde-stubblefield-james-browns-funky-drummer-dead-at-73-124337/
https://www.yamaha.com/artists/clydestubblefield.html

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James Brown performs "Cold Sweat"  at the Boston Garden (Live)

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Born on December 12, 1957 in Oakland, CA. She was born as Shiela Cecilia Escovedo.

Sheila E. was the first child of Latin Jazz percussionist, Pete, a Mexican, and Juanita Escovedo, who is Creole. She has two brothers named Juan and Peter Michael, and a sister named Zina.

She went to school in Oakland while her family was very tight with money. Her mother worked at a dairy factory at night and her father forced her to go to his club appearances. She was unable to join girl scouts because her parents couldn't afford buying the uniform.

Sheila E. began her musical career in the 1980s after singing "Erotic City" with Prince, which was his song he wrote.  She had two hit albums, "Sheila E. in the Glamorous Life" and "Sheila E. in the Romance 1600." She started playing percussion at the age of 3 and still continues to today. She records with her father, as well as her band, the E-Train.

Those who have attended a Sheila E. concert have said they enjoy the pace of her music the most. The way she keeps the tempo and holds the drumsticks is quite fascinating. There has been a comparison of her drum set and "The Big Bang Theory." Her playing is like telling the story of the entire show. She has done live performances with Ringo Starr, Freddie Stone, and George P-Funk Clinton

Sources
https://biography.jrank.org/pages/3596/E-Sheila-1957-Percussionist-Singer-Composer-Producer.html

https://sheilae.com/about/

https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/a14436645/the-beat-goes-on-for-sheila-e/

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Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life (Official Music Video)

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Signs read "Bing Bang Boom Pretty Purdie 'At It Again' The Hit Maker! Did It Again! The Little Old Hit Maker Pretty Purdie

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Don't know why I can't edit my name here, but this is Nick Miller PRESENTING The Glorious Bernard "Pretty" Purdie

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Don't know why I can't edit my name here, but this is Nick Miller PRESENTING The Glorious Bernard "Pretty" Purdie

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Born June 11, 1939 (or 1942 according to his site) in Elkton, MD.

Bernard was the 11th of 15 children and was providing for the family in his teens by playing drums with carnival and country bands.

In 1960, Purdie moved to New York where he played with Lonnie Youngblood and King Curtis.

Purdie caught the attention of Aretha Franklin in 1970, who he then acted as music director for for 5 years.

He has been hugely prolific as a recording artist, working with the likes of Miles Davis, Hall & Oates, Cat Stevens, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Joe Cocker, B.B. King, Isaac Hayes, Tom Jones, The Rolling Stones, and James Brown; just to name some of the acts that have accompanied Purdie on his 3,000+ records.

He is known for his precise rhythms, his attention to subtle detail, and is said by many to have "the funkiest soul beat", but extends his talent across many genres. He has even branched into the world of musical theater by appearing on the original cast recording and in the 2009 revival of "Hair".

Sources
https://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Bernard_Purdie.html

https://www.bernardprettypurdie.com/bio

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Bernard "Pretty" Purdie: The Legendary Purdie Shuffle