b. James Edward Gadson, 17th June 1939, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A.
Hailing from Kansas City, Missourri, James Gadson is a highly accomplished American drummer and session musician.
He is the son of the Jazz drummer, Harold Gadson.
James began his career in the late Sixties, becoming one of the most recorded drummers in the history of R&B music since that time.
His first experiences of playing in a band came with the early incarnation of the Charles Wright's Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and as part of the group The Carpets.
James appeared on three albums with the group between 1968 and 1970.
He also appeared in the group, Dyke & the Blazers, who featured many musicians from the Charles Wright band.
For many years, James became associated with the singer Bill Withers, playing sessions on several of the artists albums, including 'Still Bill', which was released on th Sussex Records imprint in 1972.
good vibrations b/w just to love you girl - 1972 / got to find my baby b/w let the feeling belong - 1972
In 1972, he released a single for the Cream Records imprint, entitled 'Good Vibrations' b/w 'Just To Love You Girl'.
James appeared on the Temptations album '1990', which was an album, actually released on the Motown label in 1973.
During 1975, he appeared on the Freddie King album 'Larger Than Life'.
go by what's in your heart b/w when you're in the dark - 1976
He recorded with the group Zoom in 1981 on their album 'Saturday, Saturday Night', and has recorded with many artists, including Martha Reeves, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers, Randy Crawford, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, BB King, Albert King, Rose Royce and Elkie Brooks amongst others.
James was a member of the group Was (Not Was) for a short period.
He also played on the 2005 Paul McCartney album 'Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard'.
James, additionally, made an appearance in the Adam Sandler 2009 movie 'Funny People' as a member Sandler's backing group.
In 2009, he played on Willie Dixon's grandson's album 'Rising From The Bushes'.
The same year he joined Beck, Wilco, Feist and Jamie Lidell as part of Beck's Record Club series.
James also featured on Jamie Lidell's 2010 album 'Compass'.
