I'm sitting here listening to James Taylor - JT. On it, Russ Kunkel plays drums. Was there a more prolific drummer in the 70s? Just this week, I've played numerous albums at random, and Russ has been on many of them:

Dan Fogelberg
Steve Winwood
Jimmy Buffett
Jackson Browne
Joni Mitchell

I'm sure he played with others, but that's just the artists I've played this week featuring Russ.

JD

Linda Ronstadt immediately comes to mind.
Tom

Wasn't he like an LA session guy?
I think he did stuff for Carole King and maybe Warren Zevon too

Google'd this up:

"Famous drummer Russell Kunkel, better known as Russ, has been a part of the music world for more than two memorable decades. Serving as drummer, and sometimes even as producer, Kunkel has appeared and performed with top musical artists in almost every genre and style known to fans, including Sydney Forest, Stevie Nicks, Wynonna Judd, Aaron Neville, Dan Fogelberg, James Taylor, the Bee Gees, Dolly Parton, Jimmy Buffet, B. B. King, Bob Segar, Carly Simon, and many, many others. Kunkel has also been featured in, and been on the cover of, magazines such as Modern Drummer."

I saw him banging skins with Jackson Browne in the early 80's- he is one HELL of a drummer.

I also saw him drumming for Jackson Browne and as noted he has quite a number of credits to his name.

I saw him banging skins with Jackson Browne in the early 80's- he is one HELL of a drummer.

Speakin of bangin skins, I could have the wrong guy, but I think he's the one who was smart enough to bang Carly Simon when James Taylor decided he was more into ramblin or druggin or womanizin or whatever it was. The really bizarre thing is I have "One Man Parade" playin on the turntable right now for the first time in years...

He also played for Stevie Nicks during her first solo tour.

From his website:


SHORT LIST OF MUSICIANS THAT KUNKEL HAS RECORDED AND TOURED WITH:

The Bee Gees
Jackson Browne
Jimmy Buffett
Beverly Craven
Crosby Stills, Nash & Young
Neil Diamond
Bob Dylan
Dan Folgelberg
Glenn Fry
Wynonna Judd
Carole King
Lyle Lovett
Reba McEntire
Joni Mitchell
Stevie Nicks
Linda Ronstadt
Bob Seger
Carly Simon
James Taylor
Joe Walsh
Steve Winwood

And that's a short list?

JD

Russ Kunkel and Leland Sklar. (And "Kootch")

While JT mostly uses Steve Gadd for touring these days, Russ can be seen on JT's DVD "Pull Over" Very understated, to a point where it's easy to forget that the man can ROCK!

I read somewhere that James stopped using Sklar when Sklar had to turn down an offer to tour, because he was already on tour with Phil Collins "But Seriously"

Sounded like Leland to this day would like to hook up with JT again, and doesn't know why JT gives him the cold shoulder.


Here an excerpt:

Lee: Yeah! So, it was kind of a weird turn, but I also recognize with James that this is one of the most gifted people I’d ever worked with.

Mike: You’d worked with him for so long, how did that relationship – at least on the professional end – how did that stop? As far as you being the bass player

Lee: This to me is the weirdest thing: I don’t even know.

Literally - in 1989, we did Phil Collins' BUT SERIOUSLY album and I called James and I said, “Are you working in 1990 – Do we have any plans to work?” and he pretty much said “No.”

And I said, “’cause we just finished Phil’s record and they want to go on the road and it’s a year long tour with Phil.”

About three months into Phil’s tour, James decided he wanted to work. He called me up and asked if I could leave the tour. And I said “No” I said, “beyond the fact that it’s WRONG to do that, I’m under contract for this thing.”

And that was the last time we ever spoke. It was like I was disloyal or something.

Here the interview:

http://www.mikevisceglia.com/jan2003.html

A charity concert featuring the music of JT aired last week on PBS. I'm pretty sure that was Russ on the drums.

A charity concert featuring the music of JT aired last week on PBS. I'm pretty sure that was Russ on the drums.

If it's the same show I saw, It's Steve Gadd.

Add Art Garfunkel to the list.

http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Russ_Kunkel.html