Influences and Inspiration - Steve Ferrone
A new series here on Broadway Drumming 101 for paying subscribers only.
Chaka Khan Live at Roxy (1981)
After watching this video, you’ll have about 90% of the information you’ll need to know about one of my all-time favorite drummers. The other 10% will come from reading more about him, or listening to more of his playing with others. Steve was in his prime during this period, and the music he recorded with Chaka Khan was some of the best stuff he’s done, in my opinion.
I was introduced to Steve through the Average White Band. He played with the band Bloodstone, appearing on their 1975 album Riddle of the Sphinx. Ferrone was asked to join Average White Band and stayed with them for the next eight years, recording and playing concert tours to support several hit albums until AWB broke up in 1982.
Since appearing on Chaka Khan’s 1978 debut album, he went on to play on most of her following albums of the 80s, many of them with former AWB band member Hamish Stuart. The crew who played on those Chaka Khan records are who you see in the video above. That’s why the band is so tight.
In 1985, Ferrone joined the Saturday Night Live house band. He contributed as a session drummer for Duran Duran on the Notorious, Duran Duran, and Thank You albums. He also toured with Duran Duran on the Strange Behaviour tour in support of the Notorious album. He also toured and recorded with Eric Clapton from 1986 to 1992.
He has also appeared on recordings by the Bee Gees, Scritti Politti, Brian May, Anita Baker, George Benson, Jonathan Butler, Bryan Ferry, Climie Fisher, Eric Clapton, Christine McVie, Peter Frampton, Jeff Golub, Rick James, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Freddie King, Tracy Chapman, Pat Metheny, Marcus Miller, Steve Winwood, Michael W. Smith, Morrissey–Mullen, Dick Morrissey, Jeffrey Osborne, Paul Simon, Bernie Worrell, and Jaco Pastorius.
Ferrone substituted for Joey Kramer of Aerosmith during pre-production of the band’s album Nine Lives while Kramer was grieving the loss of his father.
He began recording with Tom Petty for the Wildflowers album, released late in 1994, with his first live Heartbreakers gig on 28 February 1995 in Louisville, Kentucky. He played with him up until Tom’s death.
The thing I adore about Steve’s playing is his feel. His time is impeccable, and his groove is damn near perfect. That’s the kind of drummer I look up to and try to emulate. I gravitate towards drummers with a deep pocket, drummers who play less flashy—musicians who lay down the foundation for the rest of the band.
Steve is one of the many ‘Steve's I love: Gadd, Arrington, Smith, and yes, Stevie Wonder.
The video:
We Can Work It Out
I Know You, I Love You
Medley - Sweet Thing / Everlasting Love/ Tell Me Something Good
Any Old Sunday
What Cha' Gonna Do For Me
Medley Clouds/Love Has Fallen On Me/Naughty
Dancin' In The Streets
I'm Every Woman
Backing Vocals – Lee Maiden, Mark Stevens
Bass – Anthony Jackson
Drums – Steve Ferrone Guitar -David Williams, Hamish Stewart
Horns – Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker
Percussion – Henry Gibson Recorded at the Roxy Theatre, 7 June 1981.
Become a regular listener HERE:
Clayton Craddock, the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain't Too Proud. He hosts the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast and has played drums in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.
You can follow Clayton on the following social media platforms:
For more: claytoncraddock.com