James Gadson has sadly died at the age of 86. Gadson, a legendary drummer whose career spanned multiple decades, had been battling multiple health issues in recent years. His wife, Barbara, confirmed his death in a statement to Rolling Stone.
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"Gadson's wife, Barbara, confirmed the news to Rolling Stone, saying he'd had some health challenges recently, including surgery and a bad fall that hurt his back," Rolling Stone reported. "He was 86."
Barbara also shared a short loving statement with the outlet.
"He was a wonderful man," she said. "He was a great husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and one hell of a drummer."
Gadson's career saw him become part of countless global hits. He worked with musical icons such as Sir. Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and many others. His catalog includes "Lean On Me," "I Will Survive," "I Want You," and even "Good Vibrations."
Later in his career, Gadson showed his versatility by collaborating with more modern stars such as Harry Styles and Justin Timberlake.
Furthermore, Gadson is widely viewed as a defining part of the disco sound due to his consistent work throughout the 70s. The fact that he was able to change his style throughout his career is a testament to his talent and love for music.
Tributes Have Poured in for James Gadson
Following the news of his Gadson's death, tributes have begun to flood social media.
"RIP James Gadson 🙁 We played together over 50 years," multi-platinum recording artist, Ray Parker Jr wrote on Instagram. "He changed the world."
"Some drummers are soulful, some drummers are funky, some drummer are a rockin, and some drummers are swinging——but NO drummer, has impacted the art of breakbeat drummer (danceable drums) like James Gadson," QuestLove of The Roots wrote on his own Instagram post.
"I just heard moments ago that the great James Gadson has left our dimension for the next adventure. James was one of my all-time favorite drummers and his mark on music will forever reign," fellow musician Nick Perri wrote. "Truly, the best."
No details regarding Gadson's funeral have been made public. That information will likely remain private, for family and close friends. The world has lost another legend. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.
