E105: Live From My Drum Room With JR Robinson!

John’s guest this week is legendary studio drummer John JR Robinson. In this episode, JR talks about attending Berklee College in Boston in the early/mid 1970s where his classmates included Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Smith, Casey Scheuerell and Kenwood Dennard, and studying with Alan Dawson and Gary Chaffee. Going on the road with his show band and meeting and joining Rufus and Chaka Khan and moving to Los Angeles, which was a pivotal point in his career. After meeting Quincy Jones, JR became one of the busiest and most in-demand studio drummers in LA. John and JR do a deep dive into some of the biggest hits he recorded, and JR shares stories about working with Michael Jackson, Madonna, John Fogerty, Barbra Streisand, Steve Winwood, Lionel Richie, David Lee Roth, as well as his latest project “SRT,” who will be releasing their full record soon. This was only the tip of the iceberg so stay tuned for Part 2!
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[@andrewsandoz8005]

Not only does he play well, seems like a genuinely nice dude and a great hang.

[@drumdiscussion7776]

Thanks to both John's for an enlightening interview. JR is a fascinating drummer with so much thought, preparation and execution in his playing. Definitely an influencer. He can go down in the Hal Blaine, Jeff Porcaro tradition as one of the greats!

[@andrewsandoz8005]

Let's not omit Mr. Gadd from this list.

[@Lukather1979]

Great interview ! Looking forward to the JR book

[@RaincloudmusicTFS6]

JR, and Jeff P! Two of My all-time faves!

[@jimnichols7720]

Can’t wait for part 2. JR is one of thee most entertaining guests so far!!

[@scottstruif3939]

I attended the Abersold camp at Illinois State University in 1971, too. The other drummers made fun of my 16x18 gold sparkle floor tom. They realized they were idiots when Elvin got one.

[@offbeat74]

that JR Book be must 👌

[@UFO_computers]

But 🔵🟢Seahawks🥏🪀🏈

[@janetremsing6988]

👍‼️

[@twoplustwoisnotfour]

Thank you for this great interview. JR seems like such a chilled dude. Modest as for the man who’s responsible for most of the hits of the 20th century

[@drummer37]

Thank you for hosting this John D! JR is one of the greats! Also love to see that lefty Gretsch set up behind you!

[@ChromaticHarp]

Groove Master Supreme!

[@mjulio71]

Already waiting for J.R.'s book!!! My All-time hero for decades, and a superb guy to hang with and talk about sports. My favorite drummer interviews channel, definitely.

[@livefrommydrumroom]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed. We'll definitely do a Part 2 in 2023.

[@noelghallager4672]

fucking love JR

[@luvbasses5487]

Willie played on that famous Donny Hathaway record don’t forget. The guy is an absolute bass monster!

[@joeymyopic]

donny live one of the best of all time but this other willie live track is surprisingly good, too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXicq3iNl9Rrac0 the baaaaaadddddddest bass player in the land

[@bobc.5698]

That Alex Van Halen signature ride JR speaks of is more like a 60's giant beat than a 2002.

[@JohnXDrumLessons]

Thanks. Another home-run, John. What a body of work JR has played on and it doesn't seem like he's slowing down for a minute!

[@eriksmithdrummer]

Thanks for this both Johns! JR was such a great inspiration since i was in my teens. I got to know him when we performed at Yamaha Groove Night LA in 2003. Later that year we did a duo clinic tour around scandinavia and i was pinching myself senseless! What a giant and a gentleman!

[@ALCDNY]

I saw JR play in a jazz club in Ann Arbor Michigan during a PASIC convention in the early 1980s, and JR sat in after Ed Thigpen ( I believe ). Vinnie Colaiuta was just hanging out at the club as well. John swung like he had been playing jazz gigs every night. It was his balance on the kit, and his feel that knocked everyone out. I don't think any other drummers wanted to play after that. JR made it sound and feel perfect.

[@RaincloudmusicTFS6]

"Higher Love" and "Roll with It" were in heavy rotation on FM radio my Senior year of high school. I have always loved those tunes!

[@drumngolf]

An entire generation of musicians who were of the age to see the Beatles on Ed Sullivan in 64 have become my generation of heroes. What momentous event will be next that will inspire hundreds of thousands of artists?

[@briankeith7463]

Great interview!!!!!

[@fortedrummer3026]

I am a huge JR Robinson fan and I really enjoy hearing his stories. Thank you especially for asking him to talk about recording Steve Winwood's "Higher Love" in 1986. I've always been curious about how that most amazing drum track came together, and about the turnaround section. I'm also enjoying SRT's recent performance at DW's 50th anniversary concert. I'm in a cover band that plays Rufus and Chaka Khan's "Sweet Thing"; I tried to transcribe J.R.'s part (which is perfectly stated) so I could work to be faithful to it, and I do my best when I play it. When I was in college, I was listening to JR's work with Winwood and Quincy Jones and again, just trying to sound something like him. I can't wait to read his book!

[@livefrommydrumroom]

Higher Love is probably my favorite JR track, but there are so many great songs he played on.

[@fortedrummer3026]

@@livefrommydrumroom Too many to choose from!