Born: April 9, 1945 Primary Instrument: Drums
Steve Gadd, b. Rochester, New York, April 9, 1945. Uncle, a drummer in the army, encouraged him. Drum lessons from age seven; sat in with Dizzy Gillespie at 11. Studied music at Eastman College, Rochester, playing in wind ensemble and concert band, and at nights in a club with Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione, Joe Romano and Frank Pullara.
After college, drafted into army and spent three years in a military band. After the army, gigged and worked with a big band in Rochester. 1972, formed a trio with Tony Levin and Mike Holmes, going to New York with it. The trio fizzled out, but Gadd began to work extensively as a studio musician.
He also played with Corea's first Return to Forever. 1970's and 1980's, toured internationally, recorded with Paul Simon and with Al Di Meola's Electric Rendezvous Band. By the end of the 1970's Gadd was the most in-demand and probably the most imitated drummer in the world.
In Japan transcriptions of his solos were on sale, and all the leading Japanese drummers were sounding like him. Chick Corea commented, “Every drummer wants to play like Gadd because he plays perfect... He has brought orchestral and compositional thinking to the drum kit while at the same time having a great imagination and a great ability to swing.”
Steve Gadd is one of the most sought-after studio musicians, in the world. Regarded as the most influential drummer in contemporary music, Gadd can play anything, easily bridging different musical styles. His feel, technique, and musicality on such tunes as Paul Simon's “Fifty Ways”, Steely Dan's “Aja”, and Chick Corea's “Nite Sprite” were so awe-inspiring and his concepts so innovative that they instantly assured his special position in the history of the percussive arts.
Awards:
Steve Gadd has won many prestigious awards in recognition for his outstanding, versatile work in music world. In 2002, he was presented Drummer’s Collective Award. In 2003, he won Zildjian American Drummer’s Achievement Award. In 2005, Gadd received honorary doctorate from renowned Berklee School of Music. In the same year, he was inducted in the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.Gadd About (1984)
The Gadd Gang (1986)
Pigs and Wizards (1987)
Here & Now (1988)
Live at Bottom Line (1988)
Gadd Gang (1991)
With Stuff:
Stuff (1976)
Stuff It (1978)
Live Stuff 1978)
Live In New York (1980)
East (1981)
Best Stuff (1981)
With B.B. King:
Riding with the King
With Chick Corea:
My Spanish Heart
Friends
Three Quartets
The Leprechaun
The Mad Hatter
Rendezvous in New York
The Ultimate Adventure
(
the unreleased version of Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy)
With Steely Dan:
Aja on (title track)
Gaucho on ("Glamour Profession", "My Rival", "Third World Man" and 'percussion' on "Hey Nineteen")
With Simon and Garfunkel:
The Concert in Central Park
With The Manhattan Transfer:
Mecca for Moderns
Pastiche
With Paul Simon:
One-Trick Pony
Still Crazy After All These Years (50 Ways To Leave Your Lover)
Hearts and Bones
You're the One
Paul Simon's Concert in the Park, August 15, 1991
Surprise
Late in the Evening
With Steps Ahead:
Smokin' in the Pit
With George Benson:
Bad Benson
Pacific Fire
GB
In Your Eyes
Livin' Inside Your Love
Good King Bad
In Concert-Carnegie Hall
With Joe Brucato:
Free (2007)
Acoustic Joe Vol. 1 (2009)
Thank You Soldier (2010)
With Eric Clapton:
Live at Hyde Park (DVD)
Pilgrim
Reptile
Riding with the King
One More Car, One More Rider
Me and Mr. Johnson
Sessions for Robert J.
Crossroads Guitar Festival 2004
Back Home
Clapton Chronicles
With Dr. John:
City Lights
Tango Palace
With James Brown:
Black Caesar
With Al Jarreau:
Tenderness
Breakin' Away
Jarreau
This Time
With Rickie Lee Jones:
Rickie Lee Jones
Pirates
Magazine
With Paul McCartney:
Tug Of War
Pipes Of Peace
With Chuck Mangione:
Disguise
Tarantella
Main Squeeze
Land of Make Believe
Alive
Together
Friends And Love
With Michel Petrucciani:
Trio in Tokyo
Both Worlds
With Al Di Meola:
Casino
Elegant Gypsy
Orange and Blue
Tour de Force Live
Electric Rendezvous
Splendido Hotel
Land of the Midnight Sun
Consequence of Chaos
With Lee Ritenour:
Feel the Night
Captains Journey
Friendship
With Bob James
BJ4 (1977)
Touchdown (1978)
Lucky Seven (1979) (Tracks "Rush Hour" and "Blue Lick")
With Michel Jonasz:
Michel Jonasz au Zénith (1993)
Où vont les rêves (2002)
With Sunlightsquare:
Urban Sessions (2006)
With Weather Report
Mr Gone (1978) (Tracks "Young and Fine" and "And Then")
With Funk Factory
Funk Factory (1975) (Tracks "Watusi Dance", "Rien Ne Va Plus", "Funk It" and "Lilliput")
With James Taylor
New Moon Shine, 1993
October Road, 2002[6]
James Taylor: A Christmas Album, 2006
With Art Garfunkel
Some Enchanted Evening, 2007
Songs from a Parent to a Child, 1997
With L'Image
L'Image 2.0, 2009
With Lesley Meguid
The Truth About Love Songs, 2010
With Chet Baker
She Was Too Good to Me, 1974
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