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When thinking about the greatest drummers of all time, there are a lot of factors to consider. Talent, creativity, technical ability, and influence are just some of the things that make a drummer great.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the top 15 greatest drummers of all time.
1. John Bohnam
John Bohnam was born on October 9th, 1885 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He began playing drums when he was just a child and by the time he was a teenager, he was already performing professionally. Bohnam’s style was influenced by the music he heard growing up in New Orleans, as well as the sounds of the drums he heard while marching in parades. He was a master of improvisation and could make his drums sing.
Bohnam’s most famous performance was with the band The Grateful Dead on their album Live/Dead. He also played with other well-known bands such as Jefferson Airplane and Quicksilver Messenger Service .
Bohnam’s drumming was revolutionary for its time and his influence can still be heard in the playing of modern-day drummers. He passed away on March 26th, 1967.
2. Keith Moon
Keith Moon was an English drummer who was best known for his work with the rock band The Who. Moon began playing drums at the age of fifteen, and by the early 1960s, he was already playing professionally.
Moon remained with The Who for over a decade, and during that time he helped to define the sound of British rock music. He also played on a number of classic rock recordings, including The Who’s “My Generation” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”
Moon’s personal life was plagued by drug and alcohol addiction, and in 1978 he died of an overdose at the age of thirty-two .
3. Neil Peart
Neil Peart is a Canadian drummer and songwriter who is best known for his work with the rock band Rush. Peart began playing drums at the age of thirteen, and by the early 1970s he was already playing professionally. He created his unique style from early ages, and in 1974 he joined Rush. Peart remained with Rush for over three decades, and during that time he helped to define the sound of progressive rock music. He also wrote a number of Rush’s most popular songs, including “Tom Sawyer” and “YYZ.”
Peart announced his retirement from touring in 2018, due to health problems. He died in 2020 at the age of sixty-seven.
4. Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker is an English drummer who is best known for his work with Cream, but he also played with a number of other notable musicians, including Fela Kuti and Blind Faith.
Baker began playing drums at the age of fifteen, and by the 1960s he was already playing professionally. He quickly developed a reputation as a talented and versatile drummer, and in 1966 he joined Cream. Baker remained with Cream for over two years, and during that time he helped to define the sound of psychedelic rock music. He also played on a number of other classic rock recordings, including Cream’s “Disraeli Gears” and Blind Faith’s “Do What You Like.”
After leaving Cream, Baker continued to play with a number of different musicians, but he also began to suffer from health problems. He underwent open-heart surgery in 2016 and has since been diagnosed with dementia. He died in 2019.
5. Clyde Stubblefield and John “Jabo” Starks
Clyde Stubblefield and John “Jabo” Starks were American funk drummers who are probably the most famous drum duo of all time. They are best known for their work with James Brown, but they also played with a number of other notable musicians, including George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic.
Stubblefield and Starks began playing drums at an early age, and by the 1960s they were already playing professionally. They quickly developed a reputation as talented and versatile drummers, and in 1965 they joined James Brown’s band. Stubblefield and Starks remained with Brown’s band for over five years, and during that time they helped to define the sound of funk music. They also played on a number of other classic funk recordings, including Brown’s “Sex Machine” and Parliament-Funkadelic’s “One Nation Under a Groove.”
6. Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine is an American drummer who is considered to be one of the greatest drummers of all time. He is best known for his work with The Beach Boys, but he also played with a number of other notable musicians, including Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.
Blaine began playing drums at the age of fifteen, and by the age of eighteen he was already playing professionally. He quickly developed a reputation as a talented and versatile drummer, and in 1966 he joined The Beach Boys. Blaine remained with The Beach Boys for over two years, and during that time he helped to define the sound of surf music. He also played on a number of other classic pop recordings, including The Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds” and “Good Vibrations.”
After leaving The Beach Boys, Blaine continued to play with a number of different musicians, but he also began to suffer from health problems.
7. Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz drummer who is considered to be one of the greatest drummers of all time. He is best known for his work with Benny Goodman, but he also played with a number of other notable musicians, including Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.
Krupa began playing drums at the age of eleven, and by the age of nineteen, he was already playing professionally. He quickly developed a reputation as a talented and versatile drummer, and in 1934 he joined Benny Goodman’s band. Krupa remained with Goodman’s band for over three years, and during that time he helped to define the sound of swing music. He also played on a number of other classic jazz recordings, including Goodman’s “Sing, Sing, Sing” and Ellington’s “Take the ‘A’ Train.”
After leaving Goodman’s band, Krupa continued to play with a number of different musicians, but he also began to suffer from health problems. He died of cancer in 1973 at the age of sixty-six.
8. Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr is an English rock drummer who is considered to be one of the greatest drummers of all time. He is best known for his work with The Beatles, but he also played with a number of other notable musicians, including George Harrison and Eric Clapton.
Starr began playing drums at the age of seventeen, and by the age of twenty-one he was already playing professionally. He quickly developed a reputation as a talented and versatile drummer, and in 1962 he joined The Beatles. Starr remained with The Beatles for over ten years, and during that time he helped to define the sound of pop music. He also played on a number of other classic rock recordings, including The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “The End.”
After leaving The Beatles, Starr continued to play with a number of different musicians, but he also began to suffer from health problems. He underwent open heart surgery in 1998 and has since been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Despite his health problems, Starr continues to be an active musician, and his drumming continues to influence generations of musicians.
9. Mitch Mitchell
Mitch Mitchell was an English rock drummer who is considered to be one of the greatest drummers of all time. He is best known for his work with The Jimi Hendrix Experience, but he also played with a number of other notable musicians, including Jeff Beck and Pete Townshend.
Mitchell began playing drums at the age of sixteen, and by the age of eighteen, he was already playing professionally. He quickly developed a reputation as a talented and versatile drummer, and in 1966 he joined The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Mitchell remained with The Jimi Hendrix Experience for over two years, and during that time he helped to define the sound of psychedelic rock. He also played on a number of other classic rock recordings, including The Who’s “My Generation” and The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Purple Haze.”
After leaving The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Mitchell continued to play with a number of different musicians, but he also began to suffer from health problems. He died of a heart attack in 2008 at the age of sixty-four. Despite his untimely death, Mitchell’s drumming continues to influence generations of musicians.
10. Benny Benjamin
Benny Benjamin was an American jazz and R&B drummer who is considered to be one of the greatest drummers of all time. He is best known for his work with Motown’s in-house band, The Funk Brothers, but he also played with a number of other notable musicians, including George Clinton, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin.
Benjamin began playing drums at the age of twelve, and by the age of eighteen, he was already playing professionally. He quickly developed a reputation as a talented and versatile drummer, and in 1959 he joined The Funk Brothers. Benjamin remained with The Funk Brothers for over ten years, and during that time he played on some of the most iconic recordings in Motown history, including The Supremes’ “Baby Love” and Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”
After leaving The Funk Brothers, Benjamin continued to play with a number of different musicians, but he also began to suffer from health problems. He died of a heart attack in 1969 at the age of forty-two. Despite his untimely death, Benjamin’s drumming continues to influence generations of musicians.
11. Al Jackson Jr.
Al Jackson Jr. was an American soul and R&B drummer who is considered to be one of the greatest drummers of all time. He is best known for his work with Booker T. & the M.G.’s, but he also played with a number of other notable musicians, including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Albert King.
Jackson began playing drums at the age of eight, and by the age of eighteen, he was already playing professionally. He quickly developed a reputation as a talented and versatile drummer, and in 1961 he joined Booker T. & the M.G.’s. Jackson remained with Booker T. & the M.G.’s for over ten years, and during that time he helped to define the sound of Memphis soul. He also played on a number of other classic soul recordings, including Otis Redding’s “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” and Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man.”
After leaving Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Jackson continued to play with a number of different musicians, but he also began to suffer from depression and alcoholism. In 1975, he was shot and killed by his wife during a domestic dispute. Despite his tragic end, Jackson’s drumming continues to influence generations of musicians.
12. Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts is an English jazz drummer who is considered to be one of the greatest drummers of all time. He is best known for his work with The Rolling Stones, but he has also had a successful solo career and has played with a number of other notable musicians, including Ronnie Scott, Jeff Beck, and Stan Getz.
Watts began playing drums at the age of fifteen, and by the age of eighteen, he was already playing professionally. He quickly developed a reputation as a talented and versatile drummer, and in 1962 he joined The Rolling Stones. Watts has been a member of The Rolling Stones for over fifty years, and he has appeared on all of their studio albums. He is also a highly respected jazz drummer and has played on a number of jazz recordings, including Jeff Beck’s Blow by Blow and Ronnie Scott’s Live at the Ronnie Scott’s Club.
In addition to his work with The Rolling Stones and other musicians, Watts has also released several solo albums, most notably 1969’sCharlie Watts Quintet and 1986’s Charlie Watts/The Roof Gardeners. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2002.
13. D. J. Fontana
D. J. Fontana was an American jazz drummer who is considered to be one of the greatest drummers of all time. He was a pioneer of Jazz fusion and he played with some of the most influential musicians in history, including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Sonny Rollins. Fontana was known for his incredible technical ability, as well as his use of space and dynamics in his playing. He was also a master of improvisation and could make up solos on the spot that sounded like they had been meticulously rehearsed
Fontana began playing drums at the age of thirteen, and by the age of eighteen, he was already playing professionally. He quickly developed a reputation as a child prodigy, and at the age of twenty-one, he was invited to join Miles Davis’s band. Fontana remained with Davis for three years, and during that time he made some of the most important recordings in jazz history, including “Sorcerer,” “Nefertiti,” and “Bitches Brew.”
After leaving Davis’s band, Fontana went on to play with a number of different groups and musicians, including the Tony Williams Lifetime, Return to Forever, and Weather Report. He also released a number of solo albums, most notably 1968’s Life Time and 1975’s Foreign Intrigue. He also pioneered licks from the jumpy snare hits in Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes”. There is a popular opinion that he actually “set Elvis free”.
In the later years of his career, Fontana suffered from drug addiction and mental illness, but he continued to play drums until his death in 1996.
14. Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich was an American jazz drummer who is considered to be one of the greatest drummers of all time. He was known for his incredible technique, speed, and power. He was also a master of improvisation and could make up solos on the spot that sounded like they had been meticulously rehearsed.
Rich began playing drums at the age of two, and by the age of four, he was already playing professionally. He quickly developed a reputation as a child prodigy, and by the age of eighteen, he was already appearing on Broadway. Rich toured with a number of different bands in the 1930s and 1940s, including those led by Tommy Dorsey and Harry James.
In 1952, Rich formed his own band, the Buddy Rich Orchestra. The band was highly successful and toured extensively throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Rich continued to lead his own band until his death in 1987.
Buddy Rich was one of the most influential and groundbreaking drummers in jazz history. His technical ability, sense of improvisation, and use of dynamics helped to redefine the role of drums in jazz. He was a true pioneer of jazz drumming, and his contributions to the music continue to be felt today.
15. Tony Williams
Tony Williams was an American jazz drummer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest drummers of all time. He was a pioneer of jazz fusion and he played with some of the most influential musicians in history, including Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter. Williams was known for his incredible technical ability, as well as his use of space and dynamics in his playing. He was also a master of improvisation and could make up solos on the spot that sounded like they had been meticulously rehearsed
Williams began playing drums at the age of eight, and by the time he was thirteen, he was already playing professionally. He quickly developed a reputation as a child prodigy, and at the age of seventeen, he was invited to join Miles Davis’s band. Williams remained with Davis for three years, and during that time he made some of the most important recordings in jazz history, including “Sorcerer,” “Nefertiti,” and “Bitches Brew.”
After leaving Davis’s band, Williams went on to play with a number of different groups and musicians, including the Tony Williams Lifetime, Return to Forever, and Weather Report. He also released a number of solo albums, most notably 1968’s Life Time and 1975’s Foreign Intrigue.
In the later years of his career, Williams suffered from drug addiction and mental illness, but he continued to play drums until his death in 1997.
Tony Williams was one of the most influential and groundbreaking drummers in jazz history. His technical ability, sense of improvisation, and use of dynamics helped to redefine the role of the drums in jazz. He was a true pioneer of jazz fusion, and his contributions to music continue to be felt today.
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