Sticks and Stories: The Steve Gadd Drumming Experience
Decades of Rhythm with a Session Drumming Master
Imagine thousands of songs resonating in your life, their melodies and rhythms familiar, yet the artists behind them remain shadows to all but the most discerning ears. These unsung heroes, the studio musicians, have been instrumental in crafting the soundtrack of the last six to seven decades, yet they largely remain enigmatic figures to the mainstream audience. To delve into their world and stories, I recommend documentaries like “The Wrecking Crew” and “Twenty Feet From Stardom.” These films not only peel back the curtain on the hit-making process during the golden age of pop and rock but also celebrate the talents of these hidden virtuosos.
While the majority of these musicians maintain a veil of anonymity, a select few have emerged from the background, gaining recognition for their prolific contributions and enduring careers. Their stories, often as compelling as the music they helped create, offer a rare glimpse into the heart of the music industry's unsung legacy.
Steve Gadd is one of them.
I recently found myself on a two-hour quest, rummaging through old digital memories for a photo of me with Steve Gadd taken about fifteen years ago at a drum clinic in Seattle. The photo remains missing! But the experience remains vivid enough to warrant a write-up.
It was a spontaneous decision when my friend George and I decided to make a day trip to Seattle. The draw? A drum clinic featuring the legendary Steve Gadd. The journey north on I-5 was well worth it as we immersed ourselves in the rhythmic mastery of Gadd. He shared techniques and tales from his drumming journey, punctuated by a surprise appearance from his percussionist peer, Alan White. For those unfamiliar, White is the steadfast beat behind Yes after Bill Bruford's departure, a constant alongside bassist Chris Squire (a brief mix-up in my past had me conflating him with Andy White, the temporary Beatle who drummed on "Love Me Do." Not so!).
Born in 1945, Steve Gadd's reputation as one of the most sought-after session drummers has been unwavering for half a century. A 1984 inductee into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame, his stickwork has propelled countless classics. Perhaps most iconic are his contributions to Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover," “Late in the Evening,” and Steely Dan's "Aja."
Comparisons in the session world are inevitable, and Hal Blaine is often a reference point. With over 150 top-ten hits and an astonishing session record, Blaine's pop credentials are unmatched. However, Gadd's versatility across genres—from jazz to rock to R&B—speaks to a breadth of skill that, in my view, edges him ahead.
Gadd's storied career began with recordings like Gap Mangione's "Diana in the Autumn Wind" and exploded in the 70s with a host of high-profile gigs, especially in the jazz world, backing artists such as Milt Jackson, Chet Baker, Jim Hall, Hubert Laws, and more. Gadd also played on the aforementioned Paul Simon hits, as well as Van McCoy’s disco hit “The Hustle” (1975), Rickie Lee Jones’s “Chuck E.’s In Love” (1979), Leo Sayer’s “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” (1976), Carly Simon’s “You Belong to Me” (1978), Steely Dan’s “Gaucho” album (tracks including “My Rival,” “Glamour Profession,” “Third World Man” and percussion on “Hey Nineteen”), and apparently about a million more.
Funny story: An English band called Charlie was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. Charlie released several albums and had a few minor hits in the States, including “Turning to You” (1977), “She Loves to Be In Love” (1978), and “Killer Cut” (1979). I was a music director at a Top 40 station in Salem from 1976 – 1983, and we played the Charlie albums a lot. They were good, but despite some minor hits, they never broke big in the States.
The drummer for Charlie? A guy named Steve Gadd.
No, not the same Steve Gadd, but I didn’t know that at the time. In fact, for a while, I was convinced that the drummer Steve Gadd, who played on so many big hits and albums, must be the same Steve Gadd drummer in Charlie. I even had a fellow radio music director from a station in Portland tell me that was the case. I didn’t completely believe it, but when George and I went to the Steve Gadd Drum Clinic in Seattle, I took a pair of Charlie albums to have him sign. After standing in line for a while, it was my turn, and I said hello, laid the albums down in front of him, and asked him to sign them. He picked them up with an odd look on his face, looked at them, and handed them back, saying, “That’s not me! That’s a different Steve Gadd!”
I told him I was a radio station music director and had always thought it had to be him, then he smiled and said, “Nope. But—one time, I was in a hotel on tour, and the other Steve Gadd with the band Charlie was in the same hotel. I kept getting his messages, and he kept getting mine!”
“Did you meet him?” I asked.
“Nope, never did.”
That was that. He did sign a poster, which I still have.
By the way, the Steve Gadd that was in Charlie became a drum tech in the early 80s when Charlie split. He worked with Iron Maiden, Status Quo, the Scorpions, and many more and continues playing with bands.
Meanwhile, our Steve Gadd continued to awe with performances on tracks like "Aja" and live recordings, such as Simon and Garfunkel's Central Park reunion and Eric Clapton’s “Slowhand at 70,” a 2015 concert at Royal Albert Hall. Once you start trolling YouTube and Wikipedia, it becomes apparent that you could spend weeks or months going down that rabbit hole to listen to tracks that Steve Gadd has played on, both live in concert and in the studio.
What did I actually learn from Steve at the Drum Clinic? It’s been at least a decade and a half, but I remember coming away with a feeling of empowerment and a desire to keep drumming (not that I need much prodding). Every drummer has to find their own way, and the encouragement and willingness that Steve discussed, more than actual techniques (although he did demonstrate several), were the big takeaways.
Steve's drumming prowess defies simple classification. His technique is not just about keeping time but shaping the songs themselves. Whether driving a song's energy or subtly enhancing the melody, his influence is profound.
For those intrigued by the drumming life of Steve Gadd, I've compiled a playlist. It's a mere glimpse into the vast landscape of music he's helped shape. Venture down the rabbit hole of Gadd's work, and you'll emerge with a newfound appreciation for the drummer's art.