Stephen Kendall "Steve" Gadd (born April 9, 1945, in Irondequoit, New York) is an American musician. Gadd is one of the most well-known and highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry. Gadd's groove on Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover", and drum solo on Steely Dan's "Aja", are both examples of his seminal sound and signature style. He has worked with popular musicians from a wide range of genres including notably Simon & Garfunkel, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Eric Clapton, Grover Washington Jr., Chick Corea and Al Di Meola.
Eastman School of Music, Manhattan School of Music
Nationality
American
Children
Meaghan Gadd
Music Groups
Steely Dan, Stuff, Weather Report, Return to Forever, Manhattan Jazz Quintet, The Crusaders, Sunlightsquare
Movies
Live in Hyde Park, Steve Gadd: In Session, Steve Gadd: Master Series, Kimiko Itoh: An Evening with Kimiko Itoh, Modern Drummer: Festival Weekend 1997, Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Star Sign
Virgo
#
Quote
1
[on recording 'Fifty Ways to Leave Your Love] We had been working on that song for a while and the chorus part fell into place easily, but the first part wasn't really feeling the way it should, and we tried a few different things. A lot of times I would stay in the drum booth and Paul Simon and Phil Ramone were discussing what they wanted to do, and I practiced different things. I was practicing a little military beat and Phil heard it and thought we should try it for the first part of the song. We just sort of stumbled on it by chance.
Inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2005.
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...
2008
TV Series musician - 1 episode
Paul Simon: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
2007
TV Special musician: drums
The Last Mimzy
2007
musician: drums
Great Performances
2006
TV Series musician - 1 episode
The Van
1996
musician: drums: Eric Clapton's band
Hors-la-loi
1985
musician: drums
The Wiz
1978
musician: drums - uncredited
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Great Performances
2000
TV Series
Drums
Paul McCartney: Take It Away
1982
TV Movie
Second Drummer
One-Trick Pony
1980
Danny Duggin
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Cándida
2006
performer: "Wish I Were A Cowboy"
Eric Clapton: Sessions for Robert J
2004
Video documentary performer: "Kind Hearted Woman", "They're Red Hot", "Hell Hound on My Trail", "Sweet Home Chicago", "When You Got a Good Friend", "Milk Cow's Calf Blues", "If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day", "Stop Breaking Down", "Little Queen of Spades", "Traveling Riverside Blues"
People: A Musical Celebration
1995
TV Movie "Welcome to Our World", "Festa Brasilera"
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Iron Maiden: Maiden England
1989
Video documentary backliner
Iron Maiden: Behind the Iron Curtain
1985
Video documentary crew: Iron Maiden Tour
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Eric Clapton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
2015
Himself
Jazz for Japan
2015
TV Movie documentary
Himself
There We Were: The Recording of James Taylor's Before This World
2015
Video documentary short
Himself (drums)
Legends: Live at Montreux
2005
Video
Himself
Eric Clapton: Sessions for Robert J
2004
Video documentary
Himself - Drums
Krechetalo
2004
TV Series
Himself
Rendezvous in New York
2004
Video documentary
Himself
Eric Clapton and Friends
2003
Documentary
Himself
Eric Clapton: One More Car, One More Rider - Live on Tour 2001
2002
Video documentary
Himself (Drums)
Eric Clapton & Friends in Concert: A Benefit for the Crossroads Centre at Antigua
1999
TV Movie documentary
Himself (Drums)
Eric Clapton: Live in Hyde Park
1997
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Drums
Chick Corea and Friends: Live
1996
Video documentary
Emporio Armani: A Private Party
1996
TV Movie
Himself
Paul Simon's Concert in the Park
1991
TV Movie documentary
Musician
The Gadd Gang: Live
1988
Video
Himself (Drums)
Frank Sinatra: Portrait of an Album
1985
Video
Himself - drums (uncredited)
The Concert in Central Park
1982
TV Movie documentary
Musician
Watanabe Sadao Live in Tokyo
1980
TV Movie
Himself
Paul Simon: Live at the Tower Theatre 1980
1980
Video
Himself - Drums
Saturday Night Live
1976
TV Series
Himself - drummer
Chuck Mangione: Friends & Love
1971
TV Movie
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Songs
2011
TV Series
Himself
Known for movies
Eric Clapton: Live in Hyde Park (1997) as Himself - Drums
Eric Clapton: Sessions for Robert J (2004) as Himself - Drums
Eric Clapton & Friends in Concert: A Benefit for the Crossroads Centre at Antigua (1999) as Himself (Drums)
Paul Simon: Live at the Tower Theatre 1980 (1980) as Himself - Drums
$950,000
