No one seems to have mentioned this but Earl Palmer the drummer has passed. He played on most of the definitive Little Richard cuts. RIP.

Well I noticed.

I'd only heard of him as the lynchpin of David Axelrod's band on Songs Of Innocence and Songs Of Experience, which was probably the only "headline" drumming he did, musically speaking. (Download the tracks "Song Of Innocence" and "Holy Thursday" to find out why his name's etched onto my brain.)

Turns out he played on pretty much every hit recorded in L.A. in the 50s, 60s and 70s, including Spector's classic Wall Of Sound stuff, The Supremes, everyone really. And, he's been credited with translating the "dancing for dimes" busking rhythms he grew up with into drumming on record, which was a big influence on James Brown (who grew up doing the same).

Originally from New Orleans, the secret laboratory of rhythm.

Song of Innocence care and share

Obituary