TOP 15 GREATEST DRUMMERS OF ALL TIME (Ultimate List)
by jamesburk-04954 | created - 26 Dec 2019 | updated - 26 Dec 2019 | PublicCompiled list of the most talented and popular drummers for people who have a background knowledge of music history.
1. Buddy Rich
Soundtrack | Whiplash
Buddy Rich was born on September 30, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Whiplash (2014), Motherless Brooklyn (2019) and Ship Ahoy (1942). He was married to Marie Allison. He died on April 2, 1987 in Santa Monica, California, USA.
2. Gene Krupa
Soundtrack | Avengers: Age of Ultron
Gene married Ethel McGuire in 1934. She was the switchboard operator at the Dixie Hotel where Gene was living while he was working in the pit band of "Girl Crazy." They were divorced in 1942 and remarried in 1946. Ethel died in 1955. Gene then married Patty Bowler in 1959 and they adopted two ...
3. Eddie Rubin
Self | Shindig!
A drummer and composer most widely recognized for his performances and album recordings with artists Neil Diamond, Billie Holiday, Johnny Rivers, and many other rock and jazz artists.
Eddie was born as Edward Donald Rubin in Ohio, and raised in Venice, Los Angeles, California. His passion and love ...
Member of Neil Diamond's band and played for Johnny Rivers.
4. Ginger Baker
Soundtrack | The Harder They Fall
Ginger Baker was born on August 19, 1939 in Lewisham, London, England, UK. He was an actor and composer, known for The Harder They Fall (2021), Casino (1995) and Gonks Go Beat (1964). He was married to Kudzai Machokoto, Karen Loucks Rinedollar, Sarah Dixon and Elizabeth Ann Finch. He died on ...
5. D.J. Fontana
Actor | From Nashville with Music
D.J. Fontana was born on March 15, 1931 in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. He was an actor, known for From Nashville with Music (1969), Tupelove (2012) and Elvis & June: A Love Story (2002). He was married to Karen Arrington and Barbara Tullier. He died on June 13, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
6. Neil Peart
Soundtrack | Small Soldiers
Neil Peart was one of the most universally respected rock drummers, and was best known for his nearly superhuman, pyrotechnic drum playing, and for providing intellectual lyrics for his band's songs. Neil served as both drummer and lyricist for the rock band Rush since 1974, joining bassist/...
7. Keith Moon
Actor | Tommy
Keith John Moon was born to working class parents in Wembley, London, England, on the 23rd August, 1946. At the age of 12, he had joined the Sea Cadet Corp and was given his first musical instrument, the bugle. He left school by 15 and was in his first band, The Beachcombers; this was around the ...
8. John Bonham
Soundtrack | The Song Remains the Same
John Bonham is still regularly voted in polls as the greatest and most influential rock drummer of all time, an opinion which has also been expressed by the likes of Roger Taylor of Queen, Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
He started playing drums at the age of five ...
9. Burleigh Drummond
Composer | 40 Point Plan
Burleigh Drummond is known for 40 Point Plan (2012), Inside Moves (1980) and Ambrosia: Life Beyond L.A. (1978).
10. Max Weinberg
Soundtrack | Bewitched
Max Weinberg is the drummer of E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen's major band. His snare drum from the "Born In The USA" tour, "The Big Beat", is on display at the Hard Rock Cafe in NYC. Max started up his own record label and production company in 1990 called Hard Ticket Entertainment. He produced ...
11. Jim Keltner
Music_department | Man of Steel
Jim Keltner was born on April 27, 1942 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. He is an actor, known for Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Across the Universe (2007).
12. Jim Gordon
Soundtrack | Goodfellas
Jim Gordon backed many significant rock recordings of the 1960s and '70s, including Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'," Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" and, most famously, "Layla," as a member of Eric Clapton's band Derek and the Dominos. Gordon played with an understated yet ...
13. Richard Hayward
Actor | The Buddy Holly Story
Richard Hayward was born on February 6, 1946 in Clear Lake, Iowa, USA. He was an actor, known for The Buddy Holly Story (1978), Le mythomane (1981) and Les monte-en-l'air (1976). He died on August 12, 2010 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
14. Levon Helm
Actor | Shooter
Levon Helm was in the right place at the right time. He saw the birth of rock and roll and, though he was too much of a gentleman to say it, his role in helping to keep that rebellious child healthy was more than just instrumental.
On May 26, 1940, Mark Lavon Helm was the second of four children born...
15. Hal Blaine
Soundtrack | Love & Mercy
Hal Blaine was an American drummer and session musician of Jewish descent, with a career that lasted about 70 years. He was born in 1929 as "Harold Simon Belsky", son to Meyer Belsky and Rose Silverman. Both of his parents were immigrants from Eastern Europe.
Blaine was born in Holyoke, ...
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