Scott K Fish
Silver Member
Clifton James: I Wanted My Own Style of Playing
SKF NOTE: If you have read any of my Modern Drummer History of Rock Drumming backgrounder interviews on this blog, you need only know that this interview with drummer Clifton James is another backgrounder interview. It, as with all the others, is published here for the first time.
If you have not read any other of these background interviews, the back story is here.
In the early 1980's I was having a very tough time identifying the drummer on Bo Diddley's rock classics. I found out doing another background interview with Blues giant Willie Dixon.
Somehow I was able to get Clifton James on the phone from his workplace in Chicago, the Ace Hose & Rubber Company. I always hoped, while conducting them, these background interviews would yield new information about the History of Rock Drumming. Like mining for gold or buried treasure. Mr. James mentions two blues musicians I have not heard to this day: L.C. McKinley and McKinley Mitchell.
Clifton James was not very talkative. His answers were polite and direct, but giving minimum information. He had been off of the music scene for awhile, with little -- almost no -- interest in playing again.*
But, thank you, Clifton James filling in several historic blanks for me. You will always*remain in the top tier of my favorite rock and blues drummers.
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Clifton James: I did a lot of things with all of them: [Howlin'] Wolf, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, Jr.... Well, you name them.
Scott K Fish: You were the drummer on the Bo Diddley stuff, right?
CJ: Yeah, I'm his original drummer. We started out together. I'm the one that gave him that beat.
Scott K Fish Blog: Life Beyond the Cymbals Click Here to Read Full Clifton James Interview
SKF NOTE: If you have read any of my Modern Drummer History of Rock Drumming backgrounder interviews on this blog, you need only know that this interview with drummer Clifton James is another backgrounder interview. It, as with all the others, is published here for the first time.
If you have not read any other of these background interviews, the back story is here.
In the early 1980's I was having a very tough time identifying the drummer on Bo Diddley's rock classics. I found out doing another background interview with Blues giant Willie Dixon.
Somehow I was able to get Clifton James on the phone from his workplace in Chicago, the Ace Hose & Rubber Company. I always hoped, while conducting them, these background interviews would yield new information about the History of Rock Drumming. Like mining for gold or buried treasure. Mr. James mentions two blues musicians I have not heard to this day: L.C. McKinley and McKinley Mitchell.
Clifton James was not very talkative. His answers were polite and direct, but giving minimum information. He had been off of the music scene for awhile, with little -- almost no -- interest in playing again.*
But, thank you, Clifton James filling in several historic blanks for me. You will always*remain in the top tier of my favorite rock and blues drummers.
==========
Clifton James: I did a lot of things with all of them: [Howlin'] Wolf, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, Jr.... Well, you name them.
Scott K Fish: You were the drummer on the Bo Diddley stuff, right?
CJ: Yeah, I'm his original drummer. We started out together. I'm the one that gave him that beat.
Scott K Fish Blog: Life Beyond the Cymbals Click Here to Read Full Clifton James Interview
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