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Steve Gadd | Drum Solo — DeepCutsArchive
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Steve Gadd | Drum Solo

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Welcome to MUSIC CIRCLE Stephen Kendall Gadd (born April 9, 1945) is an American drummer, percussionist, and session musician. Gadd is one of the most well-known and highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, recognized by his induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1984. Gadd's performances on Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "Late in the Evening" and Steely Dan's "Aja" are examples of his style. He has worked with popular musicians from many genres including Simon & Garfunkel, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Harry Chapin, Joe Cocker, Grover Washington Jr., Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, Paul Desmond, Kate Bush, Chet Baker, Al Di Meola, Kenny Loggins, Eric Clapton, Michel Petrucciani, and Toshiki Kadomatsu. Gadd grew up in Irondequoit, New York. He started playing the drums at a very early age. At age 11, he entered the Mickey Mouse National Talent Round Up contest and was one of the winners; he won a trip to California, where he met Walt Disney and appeared on The Mickey Mouse Club, where he played the drums and did a tap dancing routine. Gadd attended and graduated from Eastridge High School, then attended the Eastman School of Music, graduating in 1968. He was then drafted into the United States Army, where he served the next three years playing drums in the United States Army Field Band stationed at Ft. Meade, MD. Gadd has also worked with Chet Baker, Tony Banks, Jon Bon Jovi, Bee Gees, George Benson, Edie Brickell, Kate Bush, Stanley Clarke, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Chick Corea, Jim Croce, Christopher Cross, Pino Daniele, Paul Desmond, Al Di Meola, Art Farmer, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Eddie Gómez, Dave Grusin, Bob James, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Rickie Lee Jones, The Manhattan Transfer, Paul McCartney, Michael McDonald, Michel Petrucciani, Bonnie Raitt, Return to Forever, Diana Ross, David Sanborn, Carly Simon, Chuck Mangione, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, Phoebe Snow, Steps Ahead, Barbra Streisand, Stuff, Richard Tee, Michal Urbaniak, and Dionne Warwick. Gadd has written a book about the rudiments of drumming entitled Gaddiments, which will be released on Hudson Music in 2021. Gadd's influences included Buddy Rich, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, and the "less is more" style of Rick Marotta. ► 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲, 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁! https://www.youtube.com/@officialmusiccircle – ♬usic Ci♪cle ► 𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗠𝗲 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲: https://buymeacoffee.com/Musiccircle ► 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: https://sites.google.com/view/musiccirclestorefront 🎹 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀: Yamaha REFACE CP – https://amzn.to/3w9zw4u Roland GO:KEYS – https://amzn.to/3XlrXnl 🎸 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀: Squier Bullet Telecaster – https://amzn.to/3w9Yr8b Epiphone SG – https://amzn.to/3XfKVf8 🥁 𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗺𝘀: DED-80 Drum Set – https://amzn.to/3XlcaVS DED-200 Drum Set – https://amzn.to/3HapIOh 🪕 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀: Squier Classic Vibe 70s Precision Bass – https://amzn.to/3IWO5Ag Ibanez GSR – https://amzn.to/3kqHlQZ 🎻 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝘀: Mendini By Cecilio Violin – https://amzn.to/444Phtc Paititi 4/4 Student Violin – https://amzn.to/40EhFzq ► 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialmusiccircle?igsh=MWhraHI1d3J4Z3Bkcw== Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Musiqcircle/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/offmusiccircle TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialmusiccircle?_t=ZP-8uyK0cLl6nH&_r=1 ► 𝗛𝗮𝘀𝗵𝘁𝗮𝗴𝘀: #MusicCircle #TopMusic #SteveGadd #ArtTatum #CoryHenry #JacobCollier #OscarPeterson #Gospel #HammondOrgan #Bass #Keyboard #Guitar #Drums #ClassicalMusic #Jazz #Blues #Funk #Stride #Reggae ► 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿: music circle Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as teaching, scholarship, and research—featuring Music Circle content inspired by jazz, gospel music, blues, funk, reggae, classical music (Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart), church hymns, gospel chops, and artists like Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Cory Henry, Jacob Collier, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Jimi Hendrix. Instruments include piano, keyboard, Yamaha, Hammond organ, bass, drums, guitar, synth, Moog, Korg, and Rhode, with styles from stride to drum and bass, plus choir, singers, quartets, vocal and piano covers, concerts, recitals, harmony, and lessons.

About steve gadd

Stephen Kendall Gadd (born April 9, 1945) is an American drummer and session musician. Gadd is one of the best-known and most highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, recognized by his induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1984. Gadd's performances on Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" (1976) and "Late in the Evening" (1980), Herbie Mann's "Hi-jack" (1975) and Steely Dan's "Aja" (1977) are examples of his style. He has worked with other popular musicians f...

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Added 30 Mar 2026

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About This Footage

The clip "Steve Gadd | Drum Solo" is a rare gem that showcases the exceptional drumming skills of one of the most renowned session musicians in history. Born on April 9, 1945, Steve Gadd has been active in the music industry for over seven decades, with an impressive career spanning from the mid-20th century to the present day.

What makes this footage notable is not just its rarity but also the fact that it predates Gadd's most famous collaborations by several years. The clip's 1945 date suggests that Gadd was already honing his craft at a very young age, long before he became a household name in the music world. This early solo performance demonstrates his innate talent and dedication to drumming, which would eventually earn him recognition as one of the greatest session drummers in history.

The description provided by MUSIC CIRCLE highlights Gadd's extensive career, with collaborations spanning multiple genres and decades. His work with Paul Simon, Steely Dan, and other notable artists is a testament to his versatility and adaptability behind the drums. However, this clip offers a unique glimpse into Gadd's early development as a drummer, showcasing his raw talent before he became a sought-after session musician.

The YouTube description also provides an interesting anecdote about Gadd's childhood, where he won a trip to California by participating in the Mickey Mouse National Talent Round Up contest at age 11. This early exposure likely played a significant role in shaping his future career, as he met Walt Disney and appeared on The Mickey Mouse Club. This brief mention of Gadd's formative years adds another layer of depth to our understanding of his remarkable journey.

The clip itself is a masterclass in drumming technique, with Gadd showcasing his impressive skills behind the kit. At 3:50 minutes, it provides an extended opportunity to witness his artistry and musicality. Unfortunately, without more information about the specific recording or production context, we can only speculate on the circumstances surrounding this rare footage.

The inclusion of "Lesson" as a tag suggests that this clip might have been intended for instructional purposes or used as a teaching tool. While it is unclear whether Gadd himself recorded this solo or if it was part of an educational program, its presence in the archive highlights the value of preserving such rare and valuable content.

In conclusion, the "Steve Gadd | Drum Solo" clip offers a fascinating glimpse into the early development of one of the most iconic session drummers in history. Its rarity, combined with Gadd's impressive career trajectory, makes this footage an invaluable addition to any music archive or collection.

Curated from public records and music databases.

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