Jim Keltner
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Jim Keltner (born April 27, 1942 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is a distinguished session drummer who has contributed to the work of many well-known artists.
Keltner is best known for his session work on solo recordings by three of the Beatles, working often with George Harrison, John Lennon (including Lennon solo albums, as well as albums released both by the Plastic Ono Band and Yoko Ono), and Ringo Starr. He and Starr were the drummers on the Concert for Bangladesh, rock's first charity benefit, initated by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, in August, 1971. Keltner later joined the 1974 George Harrison/Ravi Shankar after many phone calls on the road from Harrison to him. His first gig on the tour was Memphis November 20, 1974.
Keltner's relationship with the former Beatles was such that he was parodied on albums released by both Harrison and Starr in 1973. Early that year, Paul McCartney, the only Beatle not to have worked with Keltner, included a note on the back cover of his Red Rose Speedway album, encouraging fans to join the "Wings Fun Club" by sending a "stamped addressed envelope" to an address in London. Later that year, both Harrison's Living in the Material World and Starr's "Ringo" contained a similar note encouraging fans to join the "Jim Keltner Fun Club" by sending a "stamped undressed elephant" to an address in Hollywood. Keltner plays the role of the judge in the video for George Harrison's 1976 Top 30 hit, "This Song".
In the late 1980s, Keltner toured with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band. He also played drums on both albums released by Harrison's 1980s supergroup, the Traveling Wilburys, playing under the pseudonym Buster Sidebury.
As a percussionist, Keltner started out in jazz, although his first session was recording "She's Just My Style" for the pop group Gary Lewis and the Playboys. In addition to his work with three of the Beatles, Keltner, as a free-lance drummer, has also worked with Jerry Garcia, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Van Dyke Parks, the Rolling Stones, Ronnie Wood, Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Brian Wilson, Bill Frisell, Neil Young, Phil Keaggy, Steve Jones, Crowded House, Fiona Apple, Elvis Costello, The Bee Gees, Ry Cooder, Sam Phillips, Los Lobos, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Rufus Wainwright, Tom Petty, Gillian Welch, the Steve Miller Band and Lucinda Williams among many others. He is featured on Carly Simon's 1971 album, Anticipation.
He has specialized in R&B, and is said to have influenced Jeff Porcaro and Danny Seraphine of Chicago. His drumming style typically melds deceptively simple drum patterns and a casual, loose feel with extraordinary precision. Demonstrations of his style and range can be found from Jealous Guy on John Lennon's Imagine, the hit single Dreamweaver by Gary Wright, Josie on Aja by Steely Dan, Lay Down Sally on Slowhand by Eric Clapton and The Thorns' debut, in which he provides a master class in sensitive musicianship alongside Matthew Sweet, Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins. Has performed as a session artist on many of the classic recordings by J. J. Cale. Often double billed with bassist Tim Drummond - a formidable combination.
In 1987 Keltner, along with guitarist Ry Cooder, and bassist Nick Lowe came together to play on John Hiatt's critically acclaimed Bring The Family. Five years later the four musicians reunited as the band Little Village, recording an album of the same name.
In 2002, he played in Concert For George, a tribute to Harrison a year following his death. He reprised his role as the Wilburys' drummer, joining Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne for "Handle with Care."
In 2006 he toured with T Bone Burnett in "The True False Identity" tour and featured on Jerry Lee Lewis' album Last Man Standing. In 2007 Money Mark's record "Brand New By Tomorrow" was released featuring Jim Keltner and bassist Carol Kaye.
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