It is a bit ironic that Steve Ferrone is still recognized most as being the Average White Band’s drummer (and only non-white), after the banner year he had for himself in 1984, He crashed the R&B charts in a big way with Jeffrey Osborne’s second album, Stay With Me Tonight, and then hit it big again late in the year with Osborne’s Don’t Stop. He got onto the dance charts with Scritti Politti’s Wood Beez 12-inch, and onto the rock charts on Christine McVie’s solo LP. Then the Ferrone beat helped make Chaka Khan’s I Feel For You a crossover smash. The drummer has put together a track record since AWB’s “retirement” that speaks loudly of the respect he has in the industry. People have indeed been listening. The Brighton, England-born Ferrone first came to the United States with Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express in 1973. He recorded Straight Ahead with […]

May 1985 Issue