Roger Hawkins (drummer)

Roger G. Hawkins (October 16, 1945 – May 20, 2021) was an American drummer best known for playing as part of the studio backing band known as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (also known as the Swampers) of Alabama. Rolling Stone ranked Hawkins number 31 on its list of greatest drummers.

Biography

Hawkins's drumming can be heard on dozens of hit singles, including tracks by Percy Sledge ("When a Man Loves a Woman"), Aretha Franklin ("Respect", "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" etc.), Wilson Pickett ("Mustang Sally", "Land of 1000 Dances"), The Staple Singers, Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Womack, Clarence Carter, Etta James, Duane Allman, Joe Cocker, Paul Simon, Bob Seger, Bonnie Bramlett, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Boz Scaggs, Albert King, Traffic, Rod Stewart, Dan Penn, Lulu, and Willie Nelson. He also recorded with Eric Clapton in the early 80's.

"Playing with the same guys for so long, well, it's really hard to impress Barry, David or Jimmy because they've heard me do it before. And it's the same with them. I mean, if Barry plays a hot lick, I don't congratulate him; he's supposed to do that. I don't know what it is, but when the four of us sit down to play, it's almost like a burden has been lifted from our shoulders. It's like, "Hey, we're home."

Hawkins died at age 75 at his home in Sheffield, Alabama. Hawkins had suffered from numerous health problems including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Top 40 US hits

Collaborations

Notes

• Weinberg, Max (2004). The Big Beat: Conversations with Rock's Greatest Drummers. Hudson Music. pp. 44–59. ISBN 978-0634082757.
• Whitburn, Joel (1992). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Billboard Books. ISBN 978-0823082803.
• Muscle Shoals Sound (liner notes). Various Artists. Rhino Records. 1993. R2-71517.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
• The Exciting Wilson Pickett (liner notes). Wilson Pickett. Atlantic Records. 2002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
• Greatest Hits (liner notes). Bob Seger. Capitol Records. 1994.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

References

External links

• Roger Hawkins discography at Discogs
• Roger Hawkins biography at DrummerWorld.com
• Roger Hawkins at AllMusic
• Roger Hawkins at IMDb

1. Taylor Hawkins
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