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May 1985 – Volume 9 • Number 5

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 […]
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Articles in May 1985

Alan Dawson

In the basement studio where Alan Dawson teaches, a concert poster shows Alan dressed in a tuxedo, looking stately on his throne, drumming with Dave Brubeck. Scrawled across the top is a note from Brubeck: "Alan—thanks for the great job…

by Jeff Potter
Aug 30, 2018

May 1985 - Volume 9 • Number 5

Alan Dawson, David Robinson, Steve Ferrone, D.J. Fontana, Barry Keane, Bev Bevan, Garry Peterson, Larrie Londin, Vinnie Colaiuta, Carmine Appice

Modern Drummer
May 1, 1985

Reminiscing with D. J. Fontana

I knew Elvis was different by his clothes and his actions on stage. I said, 'The boy's got something. What it is, I don't know.' The first show at the Louisiana Hayride was kind of lukewarm. It was a country-oriented…

by Robyn Flans
Aug 30, 2018

David Robinson — Driving The Cars

There are a lot of things I want to accomplish as a drummer. There are a lot of things I want to work out and put down on tape where my ideas can take some real form," says David Robinson…

by Robert Santelli
Aug 30, 2018

The Five-Note Fill/Solo Concept

Here is an idea for use in either fills or soloing. The study is based on the following five-note pattern: The five-note pattern, when played as consecutive triplets or 16th notes in 4/4 time, comes back to where it began…

by David Garibaldi
Aug 30, 2018
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Drumming And Sitting In

A young friend of mine from Massachusetts recently told me the following story. He was working in a club with the group he usually plays with. A man came up to him and asked if he could sit in. My…

by Roy Burns
Aug 30, 2018

Garry Peterson — Canadian Beat

What is it about Winnipeg, the lonely western Canada birthplace of two of the country's biggest rock bands, a city that musicians leave for success? Maybe it has to do with the deep chill of the prairie winters and the…

by T. Bruce Wittet
Aug 30, 2018

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