Liner Note Legends #8: James Gadson [HD]

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LNL on twitter: @LinerNoteLegend
Special Thanks to the Record Jungle: recordjungle.com, 2459 W. Whittier Blvd., Montebello, CA
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​​​JAMES GADSON looms large in every record collection, though his name doesn't always grace the sleeves.
A native of Kansas City, MO, Gadson first found fame through his recordings with Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, with whom he played the driving drum groove on "Express Yourself" and sang the lead vocal on "Loveland". His affiliation with Wright led to a tenure with Bill Withers that included Gadson playing on the classic albums 'Still Bill', 'Live at Carnegie Hall', and '+'Justments'. His iconic beats on Withers' "Use Me" and "Kissing My Love" alone have been sampled enough to fill a few crates in any Hip-Hop collection.
During the '70s Gadson emerged as one of the most in-demand session drummers in Los Angeles, and his beats gave the shape to countless milestone R&B, Soul-Jazz, and Pop records. A partial list of his credits includes: Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, The Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, Ray Charles, Freddie King, B.B. King, Albert King, Pharoah Sanders, Gary Bartz, Gloria Gaynor, Diana Ross, Cheryl Lynn, Billy Preston, Frank Sinatra, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Isley Brothers, and hundreds of others.
In the past decade+ Gadson has continued to leave his unique mark on popular music via his drumming on albums by Beck, Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake, Joe Cocker, Jamie Lidell, Lana Del Rey, and D'Angelo - among many others.
I met with James at his home studio and at the must-visit Record Jungle in Los Angeles, CA.
photo credit: Brian Merriam
brianhmerriam
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About Liner Note Legends:
Liner Note Legends is a documentary web series profiling veteran session musicians whose playing has been heard by everyone, but who still may not be household names. They are the players behind the scenes, appearing on hundreds of records with everyone from Elvis Presley to Miles Davis to Michael Jackson. They have the unique ability to fit into any musical genre, and likewise this series will attempt to give credit to the men and women who played on records of all musical styles, from experimental jazz to #1 pop records.
Previous episodes have featured P-Funk great Bernie Worrell, master drummer Steve Gadd, Nashville legend Charlie McCoy, Motown / LA studio veteran Ms. Bobbye Hall, New York horn player and multireedist Howard Johnson, guitarist Smokey Hormel, and singer & voiceover artist Frank Simms.

[@JayJackson-hb7ks]

This man has played 1/2 of my life’s soundtrack. Thank you,sir! ❤️❤️

[@coconutgrovemusicnz]

This man is Legend in my musical lifetime. I have followed and studied the chops, the discography of this man since forever. The late Jeff Porcaro credited James Gadson for the 16th note feels Porcaro was known for as well as other things. Brilliant interview and appreciated all the way down here in New Zealand where James Gadson is a household name in my home....

[@BenWidmer]

Awesome!!!!!

[@badhabits25]

Can imagine spending the day with him? I'd just sit there a listen

[@nickmichael5494]

This guy is so humble and that he has played on countless classics,it's incredible.

[@leealtman]

Absolute top of the top groove master drummer- and incredibly underrated. Shame Bill Withers didnt give him his dues for Use Me... he made that track legendary with his unique drumming style, and he could probably do with the extra $. Thanks Mr Gadson for your art - it will be long remembered & imitated 🙏🏼

[@simonmercier2751]

I really like his story, he is so cool

[@Zeesboy]

that bass drum kickoff as well as the beat throughout Dancing Machine made that song. Thanks Mr. Gadson

[@ManMak6]

This cat is smooth af

[@asimnicholsmusic]

One of my inspirations. He always reminds me of one of my Uncles from Tuskegee lol

[@homoerectussemenallyretent6638]

Got the name from comments on Use me, now im totally immersed in this gentleman's career.

[@HarrisPilton789]

Me, too! And he’s from my city!

[@Simonewhitesim-1music]

He is so Killer and under rated..Glad to know he is still rock ing this planet.. Bless you all for posting this..Now i must share it on my production page..

[@edburns00]

I yelped when he mentioned Kissin my love. His groove there is supreme.

[@prosoundsstudio1581]

HOW GREAT TO JUST LISTEN TO A MASTER AND HOW HUMBLE AS IF HE REALLY WAS AS SHOCKED THAT HE IS THAT GREAT BUT HE IS A GREAT DRUMMER THANKS MR GADSON FOR YEARS OF GREATNESS

[@jasonfallon4968]

Thanks.

[@jacobymcgowan1167]

“He hit me in the stomach real hard. And I drew my pistol on him, cause I ain’t know who he was.” 🤣🤣

[@tmaddrummer]

Thanks and Blessings!!! Only one, no others can come close to Brother James Gadson!

[@JohnWilson-po2uk]

James is also the drummer on " Express Yourself "

[@derekdauchan2741]

Growing up, I remember a lot of drummers trying to play that 16th note hi hat groove Mr. James is well known for. His work with Charles Wright as well as David Garibaldi's with The Tower influenced so many drummer's back in the day, but the effect of those beats and grooves are still very relevant today. There's a reason why he's in that handful of the "most sampled drummers".

[@shawnamontgomery930]

Coolest drummer ever!

[@bigsby19]

This is truly amazing. I could listen to him talk all day. A legend.

[@RoninAli1]

That’s a BAAAAD Cat right there! Just like me...didn’t start til after the Air Force!

[@jracerichards]

This video made my day and it just started Mind officially blown I heard of James Gadson but had no idea Wow

[@judeduverger167]

Wow..At first, I got hit by that hair do! Then the magic started to sip in as I listen..and listen to him. Man! I could listen to this dude for hours and hours! Please bring more of him..A thousand thanks!!!

[@wannabeadrummer]

Great to know he started drumming late, 21 turned it into Funky one.

[@Drumminsince89]

This was nothing short of spectacular. What you guys recorded and captured, seriously I could’ve listened to another hour of this.

[@vaughnchauncy8360]

Alright,great stories and this guy is one of the very very best ever

[@TheWriter86]

Man, super happy I searched for the legend. Found this great interview and also a great bunch of videos from you guys. New subscriber. Thanks for these. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@andytupaia]

Hey guys thanks for putting James Gadson into the light it takes us right back in time

[@VitriolMusicOfficial]

You’re an amazing man with an awesome talent. I remember when you recorded Loveland. I know things got strange, but, God really blessed you. Hang in there. A friend from the past-- Dorothy

[@reverandscales]

One of the best ever!

[@cherylbianchi9616]

he played The Write Off Room (in LA) almost every Thursday for two years...when they reopen, he'll be back!

[@petersonalkintor4266]

The Great Mr. James Gadson......no one.....absolutely No One has played what he played exactly how he played on Bill Withers Use Me Up..NOT one........

[@jamescox8402]

Nice work, thank you.

[@bertramattles1695]

Also there is a track that he plays on by Leon Ware called "Holiday" the groove on this track from the opening note is truly funky any Gadson fan should listen to it. It is without a doubt my favorite groove by him. Here is the link to the song. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqfYaWiXrNakiJo. Side note Leon Ware wrote many songs for Motown and should be in the writers hall of fame in my opinion, he also wrote Sumthin Sumthin for Maxwell. The man was still writing hits well into his 70's.

[@ianhendrytube]

Amazing thank you for this!

[@vladimiroborin]

what a great channel! thank you!

[@herbieberieherb]

that dude is thr badest mo fo on the planet.....i was in the room at the Cheryl Lynn session,...that was a true story.....he was thr go to drummer in the 70's 80's period.

[@nastyhardcore7641]

I'd love to hear the full length with no edits. Dude has some stories to tell for sure

[@pepesilvia429]

Amazing musician, but to me he'll always be the cool guy in the background of the Think I'm In Love MV

[@teamaculate]

That wig is "Legendary". Lol.

[@Josh3sh]

14:45 "Kissing my love" - Bill Withers

[@funkybottomsfb1]

Good Vibrations is a such an underrated 7inch !!

[@CosimoKeitaCadore]

❤🎶🥁

[@murenismail1399]

James cool 1

[@dikbeats2720]

With skills, knowledge and funk like that you almost forget about the wig

[@MrSilas-xo9np]

Cool dude.!!

[@LocaliLLocano]

Etta James opening for Richard Pryor. Wow

[@biggdee441]

when I was 5 I played drums at his house right there! lee hayes son DERRICK HAYES

[@soulshouter109]

Loved his work with Joe Cocker.

[@user-gm5by6dj3d]

Check him out with Doyle bramhall . Mama can’t help you no more

[@hzrgf]

listen to some covers by the Scary Pockets or songs by Vulfpeck. he plays the drums on a few

[@stevecnote7359]

He should be the one getting paid when his drums beats are sampled

[@akmalaslam3167]

What was the song groove he played at the beginning of the video

[@thedculturenetwork4174]

Exactly! Sounds so familiar and funky as Hell

[@BluesBoy-ij2rb]

he never mentions his first 2 recordings as lead singer for a doowop group called the carpets "why do i" and "lonely me".......federal records around 1956..................Erik Von

[@HGH44309]

This dude is awesome. But this hairpiece... ouch

[@Joesfosterdogs]

had to be said!

[@jimbobmaximus515]

drummers always seem to get screwed out of royalties because they werent part of the creative process. I call bullshit on that

[@bluesky6449]

what's on top of his head?