Ricky Lawson

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ricky Lawson (born 1954 in Detroit , Michigan , † December 23, 2013 in Long Beach , California ) was an American drummer and songwriter . He worked particularly as a session musician , among others with Stevie Wonder , Michael Jackson , Eric Clapton , Phil Collins , Whitney Houston , Steely Dan and many more. He was co-founder of the fusion band Yellowjackets - with her he won a Grammy in 1987 in the category "Best R&B Instrumental Performance" for And You Know That from the album Shades .

biography

Lawson started drumming at 16. He played in the high school jazz band. With the band "The Sons of Soul" he played in the opening act of the Jackson Five at the Michigan State Fair in 1969. He dropped out of college after a year when he was invited to drums for Stevie Wonder. He played drums for Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston in the 1980s and 1990s. It can be heard, for example, on Whitney's world hit I Will Always Love You .

Lawson has worked with numerous artists including Michael Jackson , Eric Clapton , Steely Dan , Phil Collins , Babyface , Yellowjackets , Whitney Houston , Quincy Jones , Stevie Wonder , Bette Midler , Russell Ferrante , Toto , Al Jarreau , George Benson , Lionel Richie , George Duke and many more. In the field of jazz / fusion, where he was involved in 63 recording sessions between 1975 and 2010, he also played a. a. with Roy Ayers , Flora Purim , David Sanborn , Earl Klugh , Kirk Whalum and Tom Scott . Lawson, co-founder of Yellowjackets, received a Grammy for co-authoring her hit And You Know That . He was also co-author of the song Uh-Uh by the Pointer Sisters from the album Seriously Slammin (1988), which he co-produced, as well as the hit "Good News" (1987) by the fusion band Fattburger.

On December 13, 2013, Lawson collapsed during an appearance. A brain aneurysm was diagnosed and he died of complications 10 days later at the age of 59.

Discography

With the yellowjackets

  • 1981: Yellowjackets
  • 1983: Mirage a Trois
  • 1985: Samurai Samba
  • 1986: Shades

solo

  • 1999: First Things 1st
  • 2001: Ricky Lawson and Friends
  • 2002: Pride & Joy
  • 2008: Christmas with Friends

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Ricky Lawson on Drummerworld.com (English)
  2. ↑ Tom Lord : The Jazz Discography (online, accessed December 28, 2013)
  3. ↑ Drummer Ricky Lawson died at 59 after a cerebral haemorrhage . Die Welt, December 26, 2013
personal data
SURNAME Lawson, Ricky
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American drummer and songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH Detroit , Michigan, United States
DATE OF DEATH December 23, 2013
Place of death Long Beach (California)