Timeline Of Influential Rock & Blues Drummers

Just like our jazz article, here is a chronological list of many (but not all!) of the most influential blues and rock drummers.

Blues Drummers:

• William "Big Bill" Broonzy (June 26, 1893 - August 15, 1958) - A blues musician and songwriter who often played with a washboard, but also played drums on occasion.
• Fred Below (September 6, 1926 - August 13, 1988) - A blues drummer who played with Muddy Waters and Little Walter, known for his strong shuffle rhythm.
• Francis Clay (April 24, 1923 - January 12, 2008) - A blues drummer who played with Muddy Waters and later with Otis Rush, known for his driving, propulsive style.
• Sam Lay (March 20, 1935 - ) - A blues drummer who has played with Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and Paul Butterfield, known for his versatile and energetic style.

Rock 'n' Roll Drummers:

• Earl Palmer (October 25, 1924 - September 19, 2008) - A session drummer who played on many early rock 'n' roll recordings, including Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" and "Long Tall Sally."
• Gene Krupa (January 15, 1909 - October 16, 1973) - A jazz and swing drummer who is considered one of the pioneers of rock 'n' roll drumming.
• Hal Blaine (February 5, 1929 - March 11, 2019) - A session drummer who played on numerous hits in the 1960s and 1970s, including The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" and Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water."
• Ringo Starr (July 7, 1940 - ) - The drummer for The Beatles, known for his steady, straightforward style and creative use of fills and accents.

1970s Drummers:

• John Bonham (May 31, 1948 - September 25, 1980) - The drummer for Led Zeppelin, known for his powerful and inventive drumming style, particularly his use of bass drum triplets.
• Neil Peart (September 12, 1952 - January 7, 2020) - The drummer for Rush, known for his virtuosic and complex drumming style, incorporating elements of jazz, Latin, and classical music.
• Bill Bruford (May 17, 1949 - ) - The drummer for Yes and King Crimson, known for his precise and inventive playing, incorporating elements of jazz and electronic music.
• Stewart Copeland (July 16, 1952 - ) - The drummer for The Police, known for his energetic and syncopated playing, incorporating elements of reggae and world music.

1980s Electronic Music Drummers:

• Stephen Morris (October 28, 1957 - ) - The drummer for Joy Division and New Order, known for his innovative use of drum machines and electronic percussion.
• Bill Rieflin (September 29, 1960 - March 24, 2020) - A session drummer who played with numerous electronic and industrial bands, including Ministry, KMFDM, and Nine Inch Nails.
• Martin Atkins (August 3, 1959 - ) - A drummer who played with Public Image Ltd and Killing Joke, and later became a prominent figure in the industrial and electronic music scenes as a producer and label owner.
• Alan Myers (1955 - June 24, 2013) - The drummer for Devo, known for his precise and mechanical playing, incorporating elements of electronic and new wave music.

R&B and Hip-Hop Drummers:

• Clyde Stubblefield (April 

  18, 1943 - February 18, 2017) - A drummer who played with James Brown and is considered one of the most sampled drummers in hip-hop.

• Questlove (January 20, 1971 - ) - The drummer for The Roots and a highly sought-after session musician, known for his versatile and creative playing, incorporating elements of jazz, funk, and hip-hop.

• Bernard Purdie (June 11, 1939 - ) - A session drummer who has played with numerous R&B and soul artists, including Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Steely Dan, known for his "Purdie Shuffle" groove.

• J Dilla (February 7, 1974 - February 10, 2006) - A hip-hop producer and rapper who is also known for his innovative and influential drum programming.

R&B and Hip-Hop Drummers:

• Clyde Stubblefield (April 18, 1943 - February 18, 2017) - A drummer who played with James Brown and is considered one of the most sampled drummers in hip-hop.

• Questlove (January 20, 1971 - ) - The drummer for The Roots and a highly sought-after session musician, known for his versatile and creative playing, incorporating elements of jazz, funk, and hip-hop.
• Bernard Purdie (June 11, 1939 - ) - A session drummer who has played with numerous R&B and soul artists, including Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Steely Dan, known for his "Purdie Shuffle" groove.
• J Dilla (February 7, 1974 - February 10, 2006) - A hip-hop producer and rapper who is also known for his innovative and influential drum programming.

Gospel and Funk Drummers:

• Al Jackson Jr. (November 27, 1935 - October 1, 1975) - The drummer for Booker T. & the M.G.'s, known for his tight and groovy playing, incorporating elements of R&B, soul, and funk.
• Zigaboo Modeliste (December 28, 1948 - ) - The drummer for The Meters, known for his funky and syncopated playing, incorporating elements of jazz and New Orleans music.
• Steve Gadd (April 9, 1945 - ) - A session drummer who has played with a wide range of artists, including Steely Dan, Paul Simon, and Eric Clapton, known for his precise and musical playing.
• Dennis Chambers (May 9, 1959 - ) - A drummer who has played with numerous funk and fusion artists, including Parliament-Funkadelic, John McLaughlin, and Santana, known for his virtuosic and dynamic playing.

Fusion and Latin Drummers:

• Tony Williams (December 12, 1945 - February 23, 1997) - A jazz and fusion drummer who played with Miles Davis and later led his own bands, known for his innovative and aggressive playing.
• Billy Cobham (May 16, 1944 - ) - A jazz and fusion drummer who played with Mahavishnu Orchestra and later led his own bands, known for his powerful and virtuosic playing.
• Sheila E. (December 12, 1957 - ) - A drummer who has played with Prince, George Duke, and many other artists, known for her dynamic and versatile playing, incorporating elements of Latin and funk music.
• Antonio Sanchez (November 1, 1971 - ) - A jazz drummer who has played with Pat Metheny and numerous other artists, known for his technical and expressive playing.

Overall, the influence of these drummers on the development of blues, rock, R&B, hip-hop, funk, and jazz music cannot be overstated. They have helped shape the sound of popular music for decades, and their innovative and creative playing continues to inspire and influence new generations of drummers.

Also, many of these drummers are true cross over artists, that that they have played with a wide range of artists from contrasting genres. Take Vinnie Colaiuta for example; he has played jazz fusion with Chick Corea, Heavy Rock with Megadeath and pop with Sting.