Roger Humphries
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Roger Humphries (born January 30, 1944) is an American jazz drummer.
Born into a family of ten children in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Humphries began playing drums at age four, and went professional at age 14. He led an ensemble at Carnegie Hall at age 16. Early in the 1960s, he began touring with jazz musicians; one of his more prominent gigs was in a trio with Stanley Turrentine and Shirley Scott in 1962. In 1964, he played with Horace Silver, including on the album Song for My Father, where he plays on side 1 (Roy Brooks drums on side 2). Following this Humphries drummed for Ray Charles.
Humphries's list of credits in jazz, R&B, and pop is extensive. Musicians he has played with, in addition to the above, include Lee Morgan, Grant Green, Billy Taylor, Bill Doggett, Benny Green, Lionel Hampton, Coleman Hawkins, Clark Terry, J. J. Johnson, Billy Preston, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Jack McDuff, Gene Harris, George Harris, George Benson, John Faddis, Slide Hampton, Johnny Griffin, Herbie Mann, Randy Brecker, Joe Williams, Milt Jackson, and Jimmy Witherspoon.
Humphries led his own band in the early 1970s, R.H. Factor, and led ensembles under other names into the 1990s. He has also held a teaching position at the University of Pittsburgh. He released albums under his own name in 1993 and 2003.
