From time to time, readers ask us to spotlight qualified drummers who aren’t in the public eye as much as some others. Several months ago, I was on the phone with Roger Hawkins. In the course of our conversation, Roger mentioned Owen Hale as a new studio drummer in Muscle Shoals who deserved some attention. When Roger Hawkins puts his stamp of approval on a drummer, it’s a good idea to pay attention. What follows is the result of a phone interview with Owen. He is indeed a relative newcomer to the studio world, but many readers will recognize the names of the hits he’s played on. This is a classic story. A trumpet player for fifteen years, Owen didn’t start playing drums until he was about twenty years old. Too many drummers would consider that an excuse for failure, but on top of that, Owen plays his drumset backwards! […]

November 1982 Issue