By Bruce Warren, Program Director for WXPN

Here’s a significant drummer that Dan The List guy left off his list today of great drummers. This drummer’s name may not be familiar to you, but my bet is you have heard his work. As a distinguished session drummer he’s played on many of the solo Beatles albums, and on records by Jerry Garcia, Elvis Costello, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Ry Cooder, the Steve Miller Band, Lucinda Williams, Rufus Wainwright, and dozens of others. His name is Jim Keltner .

Keltner’s drumming style is deceptively simple, casual, and loose but with extraordinary precision. Songs he’s played on include “Jealous Guy” by John Lennon, “Lay Down Sally” by Eric Clapton, Steely Dan’s “Josie,” and “Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright. In the early 90’s he joined with Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe and John Hiatt to form Little Village. What else has Keltner played on? That’s him on John Lee Hooker’s “Mr. Lucky.” He was the “other drummer” at the Concert For Bangladesh. And he was the Wilbury not pictured on the cover of any of the Traveling Wilburys albums, and Keltner played drums on them all.

Like other legendary session musicians including Steve Jordan, Russ Kunkel; The Funk Brothers’ drummers Benny Benjamin and “Pistol Allen”, Hal Blaine, Kenny Aronoff, and Bernard Purdie, Jim Keltner’s contributions to music have resulted in more than his share of significant musical moments.

Related links:
Jim Keltner discography

Interview with Jim Keltner from Drummer World

Little Village - “She Runs Hot”