Tag Archives: Fred Below

Odie Payne, Jr. – I Like Melody

SKF NOTE: In the early 1980’s, when I set out to write what became a five-part feature series for Modern Drummer called, The History of Rock Drumming, I thought it would be mostly a cut-and-paste project. That is, I thought … Continue reading

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Fred Below – Full Interview – Tape A Side A (1982)

SKF NOTE: Among my interviews with drummers, a few are the only known interviews – at least full length interviews – with a few drummers. Jim Gordon is one. Frankie Dunlop is another. And Fred Below is a third. Fred … Continue reading

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Fred Below: I’m Thinking Melodically All the Time

SKF NOTE: Fred Below had been an inspiration to me for many years. I was surprised, because it was not typical of blues drummers, to hear Fred Below outline his extensive musical background and his influence in shaping the forms … Continue reading

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Fred Below: Playing with Dynamics

SKF NOTE: This is another excerpt from my July 9, 1982 phone interview with Fred Below. I am a great admirer of dynamics in music – rather than music played loud only. The Chicago blues artists recording for Chess were … Continue reading

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Fred Below: Backgrounder on Childhood, DuSable High, Roy C. Knapp School, US Army, and the Meyers Brothers

SKF NOTE: This is the first 20 minutes of my July 9, 1982 interview with pioneer drummer Fred Below. The interview starts with Mr. Below telling us about his childhood experiences with drumming. Then we talk about Below’s studies at … Continue reading

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