NEM#228: John “JR” Robinson: Omnipresent Drummer

Nakedly Examined Music Podcast

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2M ago 1:12:05

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JR is one of our most recorded session drummers, playing on over 200 US Billboard Hot 100 songs and 50 Grammy winning tunes. He was Quincy Jones’ drummer of choice and played on “We Are the World” and with Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie, Herbie Hancock, Barbara Streisand, Daft Punk, Lady Gaga, and too many others to name. He was a member and contributing songwriter for Rufus in the late 70s/early 80s, has released two solo albums, written for soundtracks, produced other artists, and has led various combos over the years. He is currently promoting his auto-biography King of the Groove.

We discuss “Gonna Be Alright” (with Maya Azucena) from The Bronx, USA soundtrack (2020), “Flight 81” from his first solo album, Funkshui (2004), and “You’re Really Out of Line” by Rufus (written with Hawk Wolinski) from Seal in Red (1983). End song: “Tal Shia” by SRT from Vanguards of Groove (2023). Intro: “Higher Love” by Steve Winwood (1986). More at johnjrrobinson.com.

Watch JR play along to one of his songs for his group TRW. Watch SRT play a whole concert. JR refers to his reworked version of Foreigner’s “Cold As Ice” where you can clearly hear him singing the choral parts. Here’s a tune from his duo Bridge 2 Far from 1989. JR mentions his first song for Rufus (with Chaka): “Dancing for Your Love.”

Watch him tell the story and play along to Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You.” Here he is playing along with an Eric Clapton tune that he played the studio version of. He tells the story about the intro to “Higher Love” and much more length in this interview. JR in our interview mentions his electronic drum work on “Ya Mo Be There.”

Listen to my interview with Ivan Neville, featured on “You’re Really Out of Line.”

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