Drummers

Bob Bryar (1979–2024), former My Chemical Romance drummer

Bob Bryar was the former drummer for My Chemical Romance, including on their hit 2006 album “The Black Parade.” 

Colin Petersen (1946–2024), original Bee Gees drummer

Colin Petersen was a child actor, musician and record producer best known as the original drummer for pop legends the Bee Gees.

Roy Haynes (1925–2024), legendary jazz drummer

Roy Haynes was a Grammy Award-winning drummer whose career spanned more than 70 years and covered most major forms of jazz.

Freddie Salem (1954–2024), former guitarist for Outlaws

Freddie Salem was a rock guitarist best known for his time with the Southern rock band Outlaws. 

Rusty Golden (1959–2024), country and gospel singer and songwriter

Rusty Golden was a country and gospel singer-songwriter and also the son of The Oak Ridge Boys‘ William Lee Golden.

Jon Wysocki (1971–2024), original drummer for Staind

Jon Wysocki was the original drummer for the nu metal band Staind, playing on their first seven albums and on such hits as “It’s Been Awhile” and “So Far Away.” 

John Barbata (1945–2024), drummer for The Turtles, Jefferson Airplane

John Barbata was a drummer for such bands as The Turtles, Jefferson Airplane and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. 

Dennis Thompson (1948–2024), last surviving member of MC5

Dennis Thompson was the drummer for the groundbreaking Detroit-based rock group MC5, which helped set the stage for punk, and was its last surviving member.

Keith LeBlanc (1954–2024), Grandmaster Flash, Nine Inch Nails drummer

Keith LeBlanc was a drummer whose work can be heard on early hip-hop records by The Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, as well as on tracks by such artists as Nine Inch Nails and R.E.M.

Albert "Tootie" Heath (1935–2024), giant of jazz percussion 

Albert "Tootie" Heath was a jazz percussionist who played with , , Herbie Hancock, and others, including his own brothers in Heath Brothers.0

Gerry Conway (1947–2024), drummer for Cat Stevens, Jethro Tull 

Gerry Conway was a British folk-rock drummer who backed Cat Stevens in the 1970s and was a member of Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention. 

Brit Turner (1967–2024), Blackberry Smoke drummer

Brit Turner was the drummer for the country rock band Blackberry Smoke. 

Jimmy Van Eaton (1937–2024), drummer for Jerry Lee Lewis and others

Jimmy Van Eaton was a drummer in the early days of rock ‘n roll, recording with the likes of , , and others at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.

James Kottak (1962–2024), drummer with Scorpions, Kingdom Come 

James Kottak was a rock drummer who spent 20 years with the band Scorpions and a founding member of Kingdom Come.

George “Funky” Brown (1949–2023), Kool & the Gang drummer  

George “Funky” Brown was the founding and longtime drummer of Kool & the Gang, as well as one of the band’s primary songwriters.

Aaron Spears (1976–2023), drummer for Ariana Grande, Usher

Aaron Spears was a Grammy Award-nominated drummer and producer who worked with such notable artists as Ariana Grande and Usher. 

Dom Famularo (1953–2023), worldwide advocate for drumming

Dom Famularo was a drummer and drum teacher who became renowned and respected for his four decades of advocacy for the art.

Russell Batiste Jr. (1965–2023), renowned funk drummer 

David Russell Batiste Jr. was a New Orleans-based funk drummer who played for the Funky Meters, Nuclear Rhythms, Papa Grows Funk, and Vida Blue, among others.

Fred Lewis (1951–2023), drummer for funk band Lakeside 

Fred Lewis was the drummer for the funk band Lakeside, known for their 1981 hit “Fantastic Voyage.” 

Teresa Taylor (1962–2023), drummer for Butthole Surfers

Teresa Taylor was a drummer for Butthole Surfers, an influential underground rock band out of Texas, best known for their wild experiments and their crossover hit, “Pepper.” 

Blackie Onassis (1965–2023), drummer for Urge Overkill 

Blackie Onassis was a drummer for Chicago-based alternative rock band Urge Overkill during their most successful period. 

Isaac “Redd” Holt (1932–2023), Ramsey Lewis Trio drummer 

Isaac “Redd” Holt was the founding drummer with the Grammy Award-winning Ramsey Lewis Trio.

Isaac “Ike” Wiley (2023), founding drummer for the Dazz Band 

Isaac “Ike” Wiley was the founding drummer for the 1980s R&B/funk band the Dazz Band, known for their hit, “Let It Whip.” 

Clarence “Fuzzy” Haskins (1941–2023), Parliament-Funkadelic cofounder

Clarence “Fuzzy” Haskins was a singer who cofounded the legendary funk collective Parliament-Funkadelic.

Jim Gordon (1945–2023), Derek and the Dominos drummer

Jim Gordon was the drummer for Derek and the Dominos, who cowrote their song “Layla” and also played on many other hits of the 1960s and ‘70s.

John Adams (1951–2023), Cleveland Indians’ drumming superfan

John Adams was a Cleveland Indians (renamed the Guardians in 2021) superfan known for playing the bass drum at home games for decades.

Floyd Sneed (1942–2023), Three Dog Night drummer

Floyd Sneed was the drummer for Three Dog Night, known for hits including “Joy to the World” and “Mama Told Me Not to Come.”

Robbie Bachman (1953–2023), Bachman-Turner Overdrive drummer

Robbie Bachman was the drummer for Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO), known for 1970s hits including “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet.”

Jeremiah Green (1977–2022), Modest Mouse drummer 

Jeremiah Green was the drummer for the indie rock band Modest Mouse, known for hits including “Float On.”

Fred White (1955–2023), Earth, Wind & Fire drummer

Fred White  was the drummer for Earth, Wind & Fire in the 1970s and ‘80s, including on such hits as “September” and “Shining Star.”

Dino Danelli (1944–2022), drummer for The Rascals 

Dino Danelli was a drummer and founding member of the rock/soul band The Rascals, known for their hit “Good Lovin.”  

Mimi Parker (1967–2022), singer and drummer for Low

Mimi Parker was the drummer and co-vocalist for the indie rock band Low, known for their slow and ethereal music.

D.H. Peligro (1959–2022), Dead Kennedys drummer 

D.H. Peligro was the longtime drummer for the legendary punk rock band the Dead Kennedys.

John Hartman (1950–2021), Doobie Brothers drummer

John Hartman was the founding drummer for the Doobie Brothers, who played on hits including “Black Water” and “Listen to the Music.”

Jerry Allison (1939–2022), Buddy Holly and The Crickets drummer 

Jerry Allison was the drummer for Buddy Holly and the Crickets (The Crickets), the highly influential early rock and roll band fronted by Buddy Holly.

Frederick Waite Jr. (1967–2022), “Pass the Dutchie” drummer

Frederick Waite Jr. was the drummer for the British reggae band Musical Youth, known for their 1982 hit “Pass the Dutchie.”

Alan White (1949–2022), longtime drummer for the band Yes  

Alan White was the legendary drummer for the classic progressive rock band Yes.

Ric Parnell (1951–2022), Spinal Tap drummer 

Ric Parnell was a rock drummer best known for playing Mick Shrimpton in the cult classic film “This Is Spinal Tap.”

Taylor Hawkins (1972–2022), Foo Fighters drummer  

Taylor Hawkins was the longtime drummer for the popular alternative rock band Foo Fighters.   

Howard Grimes (1941–2022), drummer for Al Green, Ann Peebles

Howard Grimes was a drummer with the Memphis soul session band the Hi Rhythm Section, who backed singers including Al Green and Ann Peebles.

Sam Lay (1935–2022), legendary Chicago blues drummer

Sam Lay was a legendary Chicago blues drummer who played with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

Graeme Edge (1941–2021), Moody Blues co-founder

Graeme Edge was a co-founder and drummer for the classic progressive rock band the Moody Blues.

Ronnie Tutt (1938–2021), drummer for Elvis Presley, Jerry Garcia

Ronnie Tutt was a drummer who performed and recorded with artists including and .

Dottie Dodgion (1929–2021), pioneering jazz drummer

Dottie Dodgion was a drummer who worked with jazz icons including and .

Roberto Roena (1940–2021), legendary salsa percussionist

Roberto Roena was a Puerto Rican salsa percussionist known for his work with legendary bands including El Gran Combo and Fania All Stars.

Leonard “Doc” Gibbs (1948–2021), celebrated percussionist and “Emeril Live” bandleader

Leonard “Doc” Gibbs was a master percussionist known for his time as the leader of the house band on “Emeril Live.”

Kenny Malone (1938–2021), drummer on Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’

Kenny Malone was a Nashville session drummer who played on classic hits including Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” and Crystal Gayle’s “Don’t it Make My Brown Eyes Blue.”

Ron Bushy (1941–2021), drummer for Iron Butterfly

Ron Bushy was the drummer for Iron Butterfly, known for their classic 1968 song “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.”

Charlie Watts (1941–2021), Rolling Stones drummer

Charlie Watts was the legendary drummer for the Rolling Stones who was considered to be one of rock's greatest drummers.