SKF NOTE: Rock/pop historians have not been kind to drummer Willie Davis. Davis is the drummer on the 1960s hit song, “Peppermint Twist,” by Joey Dee and the Starliters.

To my ears, Davis’s playing on “Peppermint” is unique and memorable. Davis, like the rest of his bandmates, was from New Jersey. YouTube videos appear to show Davis and the Starliters playing live with the recorded song used as the video underbed.

Davis plays light and clean, playing a backbeat variation with a jazz drummer’s sensibility. Instead of playing quarter notes on every second and fourth beat on his snare, Davis plays “2 and,” “4 and.” The drumming has a skipping, not quite a shuffle, feel that really fits the uptempo “Peppermint Twist.”

Thank you, Willie Davis, for your noteworthy drumming on one of rock’s memorable songs.

I will continue my search for Davis’s biographical info. Thank you in advance to anyone who will help me help ensure Willie Davis and his drumming are remembered.