Drummer James Gadson, Who Played with Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye, Dies at 86: Report
Drummer James Gadson, Who Played with Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye, Dies at 86: Report
Daniela AvilaFri, April 3, 2026 at 9:05 PM UTC
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James Gadson in Los Angeles in March 2018Credit: Alison Buck/WireImage -
James Gadson, a legendary drummer, died on Thursday, April 2
He was one of the most-recorded R&B drummers, playing on hits like "I Will Survive" and "Dancing Machine"
Questlove and Ray Parker Jr. paid tribute, calling Gadson a legend who changed the world of drumming
James Gadson, a legendary drummer who backed artists ranging from Diana Ross to Kelly Clarkson, has died. He was 86.
The drummer died on Thursday, April 2, his wife Barbara confirmed to Rolling Stone. Barbara told the outlet he recently experienced health challenges — including a surgery and a fall that hurt his back.
"He was a wonderful man," she said. "He was a great husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and one hell of a drummer."
Born on June 17, 1939 in Kansas City, Missouri, Gadson started his career as a drummer in the late 1960s and went on to become one of the most-recorded R&B drummers in the history of music.
At the time, Gadson played drums with Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and recorded three studio albums.
“At first, during the time I didn’t really know how to play R&B, it was awful,” he told Modern Drummer in 2007. "I wouldn’t even charge them it was so bad. I felt bad about wasting their studio time. I couldn’t keep a steady pattern because I was coming from a free-jazz mindset.”
Then, in 1972, his career took off after he played on Bill Withers' Still Bill. From there, he played on 1990 by The Temptations, Larger Than Life by Freddie King, Paul McCartney's Chaos and Creation in the Backyard and so much more. He also worked on hit songs like Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," Marvin Gaye's "I Want You," Jackson 5's "Dancing Machine" and Ross' "Love Hangover."
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James Gadson in Los Angeles in October 2017Credit: Scott Dudelson/Getty
Most recently, Gadson also appeared in the credits for stars like Justin Timberlake, Lana Del Rey, and Harry Styles. In 2014, he played on D'Angelo's Black Messiah song "Sugah Daddy."
In 2009, Gadson also made a cameo as a member of a jam band in Adam Sandler's movie Funny People.
On Instagram, Questlove paid tribute to the late drummer following the news of his death.
"Some drummers are soulful. Some drummers are funky. Some drummer are a rockin. Some drummers are swinging——but NO drummer, has impacted the art of breakbeat drummer (danceable drums) like James Gadson." he wrote.
"James Gadson is breakbeats defined. These are just a fraction of 60 years of quality drumming——even in the last 20 years he did some of his best work," he continued. "The Beat Will Truly Go On…..& On….. Rest In Beats Legend!"
Ray Parker Jr. also paid tribute on social media and shared a throwback selfie.
"RIP James Gadson :( We played together over 50 years. He changed the world," he wrote.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
