Russ Kunkel

Last updated

Russ Kunkel
Birth nameRussell Kunkel
Born (1948-09-27) September 27, 1948 (age 75)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres Rock, pop, country, electronic
Occupation(s)Musician, session musician, record producer
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion
Years active1960s–present

Russell Kunkel (born September 27, 1948) is an American drummer who has worked as a session musician with many popular artists, including Bill Withers,Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Buffett, Harry Chapin, Rita Coolidge, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Cass Elliot, Dan Fogelberg, Glenn Frey, Art Garfunkel, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Carole King, Lyle Lovett, Reba McEntire, Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Seger, Carly Simon, Stephen Stills, James Taylor, Joe Walsh, Steve Winwood, Neil Young, and Warren Zevon. He was the studio and touring drummer for Crosby & Nash in the 1970s and played on all four of their studio albums.

Contents

Early life and education

Kunkel was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [1] and moved to Long Beach, California in when he was 9. [2] There, he was part of an orchestra at the local elementary school. Prior to moving, he was influenced by his brother and the song "Wipe Out" to play drums. During his high school years he lived in Long Beach, California. He played for approximately six different bands, including the Barons, and appeared at many sock hops and high school dances, playing surf music and Beatles songs. In his last two years of high school he was a jazz drummer and later worked for John Stewart and the Kingston Trio. [3]

Kunkel is a 1966 graduate of Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach.

Career

1960s

In 1966, Kunkel moved to Los Angeles.

Kunkel joined the band Things to Come and during the summer of 1968, they performed, for 19 weeks as the opening band, [4] at the Whisky a Go Go, a club on Sunset Strip in Hollywood, while under the alcohol drinking age in California.

Kunkel worked for Bob Dylan and together they released a soundtrack to the movie Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid . In 1970 Kunkel helped Bob Dylan and drummer Billy Mundi release an album titled New Morning . [5]

Kunkel was a part of B.B. King's group, playing with pianist Carole King, and meeting Bill Szymczyk, Leon Russell, and Joe Walsh. He recorded "Hummingbird" for King's album Indianola Mississippi Seeds . [3]

Kunkel's first single was a demo with Joel Sill for Trousdale Music, which included musicians Joe Osborn and Larry Knechtel. [5]

1970s

In early 1970s, while rehearsing for the upcoming tour, he met Chris Darrow, a former player of John Stewart's, [5] who was a friend of Peter Asher.

In 1970, Kunkel through his connection with producer Peter Asher, rehearsed "Fire and Rain" and suggested he use brushes instead of sticks to provide the backing beat to the song. Back in the studio, he asked whether he should use the brushes, to record and Asher said, "do it like we rehearsed". He then helped James Taylor to record the rest of the Sweet Baby James album. [6] Kunkel played on Tony Kosinec's "Bad Girl Songs," which was produced by Peter Asher. In 1971 Kunkel worked with Gerry Goffin, Gary Hart, and Carole King on the Tapestry album, which became a classic. From 1971 to 1972 Kunkel worked with Joni Mitchell on her albums Blue and For the Roses . Along with his bandmates in the Section, he appeared on the first album by Crosby & Nash, and would continue working with the duo through the decade. From 1972 to 1973 he played in the attic of James Taylor's house at Martha's Vineyard where he recorded parts of the One Man Dog album. In 1972 Kunkel helped Willis Alan Ramsey to release the album, Willis Alan Ramsey , which was issued under Shelter Records label. [7]

In 1972, Kunkel with James Taylor and bassist Leland Sklar , guitarist Danny Kortchmar from The Flying Machine, and keyboardist Craig Doerge formed a band called The Section. The group existed between 1972 and 1977, during which time they had recorded three albums. [8] A few years later however, the band got smaller because Sklar preferred to work in the studio, and Doerge had joined another band. [3]

In 1975, Kunkel played on the Carly Simon song "Waterfall" and played a part in James Taylor's album Gorilla in a song "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)". In 1977 during the recording of Jackson Browne's Running on Empty album, Kunkel played on Pearl and North Drum sets, [3] and went on a tour to promote the album. [5] During the same year, Kunkel played hi-hat on the Crosby, Stills & Nash album CSN . A year later, he worked with Warren Zevon on Excitable Boy as part of the Section. [9]

1980s

In 1980 during his tour with Jackson Browne to promote his album Hold Out , he played a tom, a floor tom, a bass drum, a snare drum, and two cymbals. During those years, he also was a drummer for the Lawyers In Love album where he played in a song "Say It Isn't True". [3] In 1980s album Mad Love by Linda Ronstadt, Kunkel along with Waddy Wachtel and Danny Kortchmar performed in the songs "How Do I Make You" and "Mad Love". In 1981, Kunkel joined Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac to create the Bella Donna album, playing on seven out of ten tracks. The same year, Kunkel worked for Bee Gees and performed on three of their songs: "Wildflower", "Cryin' Every Day", and "Be Who You Are", for the album Living Eyes . [10] In 1982, Kunkel, along with Kenny Passarelli, worked with Dan Fogelberg on a song "Tell Me to My Face". [11] In 1983 he helped Jackson Browne and Danny Kortchmar to write a song called "Tender Is the Night" and during that time met with Alan White of Yes. In 1990s he was invited by Joe Walsh to perform the song "I Keep Forgettin'", where he overdubbed with Linn drums. [3]

In 1980, Kunkel played in Linda Ronstadt's band for a concert that was shown on HBO, along with the guitarists Kenny Edwards and Danny Kortchmar, bassist Bob Glaub, keyboardist Bill Payne, pedal steel guitarist Dan Dugmore, and backing vocalist Wendy Waldman. Thirty-nine years later, an album of the concert, Live in Hollywood , was produced by Peter Asher and released in CD and vinyl formats by Rhino Entertainment. [12]

Kunkel had a cameo as doomed drummer Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs in the 1984 film This Is Spinal Tap . [13] Before the cameo appearance, he practiced it with Judith Owen and her husband Harry Shearer in Hollywood Hills. [14]

1990s

In 1991, after his appearance in the 1984 rockumentary, Kunkel joined Spinal Tap. [15] The same year, he appeared in Bob Seger's The Fire Inside where he played with former E Streeter Roy Bittan. [16]

2000s and 2010s

In 2004, Kunkel reunited with Crosby & Nash for their eponymous album, acting as both drummer and co-producer. In 2010 Kunkel joined the Troubadour Reunion Tour supporting James Taylor and Carole King. [17]

In 2014, Judith Owen, along with her husband and musician Harry Shearer had issued an Ebb & Flow album where Kunkel, Sklar, and Wachtel performed on songs such as Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime", James Taylor's "Hey Mister", "I've Never Been To Texas", and "I Would Give Anything". Owen invited him to rehearse for the 2016 album of hers called Somebody's Child. [9]

In 2018, Kunkel played on "Small Change", a song written by Harry Shearer. The song featured the Hungarian Studio Orchestra, Judith Owen and Danny Kortchmar and was issued in an album called Smalls Change by Twanky Records/BMG on April 13. [18] [ when? ] He started his own company called Chateau Beach Entertainment in 2019 on which he recorded an album called Rivage. [6]

Kunkel, Kortchmar, Sklar and Wachtel, along with guitarist Steve Postell, reunited to form a new band, The Immediate Family, which released its debut album Honey Don't Leave L.A. in May 2018 from Japanese Vivid Sound label. [19] A live CD Live In Japan 2018 followed in December of that year. [20] The band's U.S. debut single, "Cruel Twist," was released in June 2020. [21] in the first scene. [22]

In 2023, Russ Kunkel was recorded playing the Bongo drums on Playing for Change performance for Doctor My Eyes behind Jackson Browne. [23]

Equipment

Kunkel is a self taught drummer and has a studio at his home, [24] where he plays all kinds of instruments including keyboard, guitar, snare drums, bass drums, various toms, [3] and Zildjian and Paiste cymbals. [1] He endorses DW drums, Evans drumheads, and Pro-Mark sticks. [3] He has previously used Gretsch, Sonor, Yamaha, Pearl and Premier drums, as well as Remo drumheads, prior to switching to Evans in 1983. [1] Other than drumming, he is credited with playing tambourine, shaker, cabasa, congas, timbales, castanets, wood block, hi-hats, cardboard box, cowbell, marimba, bongos, bells, timpani, cajon and percussion. [25]

Personal life

In 1968, Kunkel married Leah Kunkel, née Leah Cohen, who was the younger sister of Cass Elliot of The Mamas & The Papas. [26] Their son Nathaniel, now a Grammy- and Emmy-winning recording engineer and producer, was born in 1970. [27] When Cass Elliot died in 1974, Russ and Leah Kunkel took in her daughter Owen and raised her. [28] In 1990, Kunkel married singer Nicolette Larson, and that same year their daughter Elsie May Larson-Kunkel was born. [29] Kunkel and Larson were married until her death in 1997. [30] In 2014 he married Shauna Drayson Hayword. [31]

Partial discography

Musician

Soundtracks

Producer

Other

Related Research Articles

<i>The Best of James Taylor</i> 2003 greatest hits album by James Taylor

The Best of James Taylor is the fourth compilation album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor released by Warner Bros. Records in 2003. The same album was released in Europe as You've Got a Friend: The Best of James Taylor.

<i>Lawyers in Love</i> 1983 studio album by Jackson Browne

Lawyers in Love is the seventh album by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1983 by Asylum Records. It was Browne's fourth straight Top 10 album and stayed on the charts for 33 weeks, peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard 200. Out of eight tracks, four were released as singles. The title song reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was accompanied by one of Browne's first music videos released on MTV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Newmark</span> American session drummer (born 1950)

Andrew Newmark is an American session drummer who was a member of Sly and the Family Stone and has played with George Harrison, John Lennon, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Carly Simon, Ron Wood and Roxy Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Kortchmar</span> American guitarist, producer, and songwriter

Daniel "Danny Kootch" Kortchmar is an American guitarist, session musician, producer and songwriter. Kortchmar's work with singer-songwriters such as Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, David Crosby, Carole King, David Cassidy, Graham Nash, Neil Young, Steve Perry, and Carly Simon helped define the signature sound of the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s. Jackson Browne and Don Henley have recorded many songs written or co-written by Kortchmar, and Kortchmar was Henley's songwriting and producing partner in the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waddy Wachtel</span> American musician

Robert "Waddy" Wachtel is an American musician, composer and record producer, most notable for his guitar work. Wachtel has worked as session musician for other artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Beth Hart, Stevie Nicks, Kim Carnes, Randy Newman, Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones, Jon Bon Jovi, James Taylor, Iggy Pop, Warren Zevon, Bryan Ferry, Michael Sweet, Jackson Browne, Karla Bonoff, and Andrew Gold, both in the studio and live.

<i>Graham Nash David Crosby</i> 1972 studio album by Crosby & Nash

Graham Nash David Crosby is the first album by Crosby & Nash, the partnership of David Crosby and Graham Nash, released on Atlantic Records in 1972, catalog SD 7220. It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and a single taken from the album, "Immigration Man", peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 17 and 24, 1972. It was certified gold by the RIAA, and it was dedicated to Joni Mitchell, as "to Miss Mitchell".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Lala</span> American musician

Joseph Anthony Lala was an American musician and actor. In 1966, he co-founded the rock band Blues Image.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crosby & Nash</span> Musical duo

Crosby & Nash were a musical duo that maintained a separate career in addition to the solo endeavors of David Crosby and Graham Nash, and separate from the larger aggregate of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Crosby and Nash performed and recorded regularly during the 1970s, issuing five albums including three of original studio material. After the more or less permanent reformation of Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1976, the duo continued to play sporadic concerts from the 1980s through the second decade of the 21st century, issuing another studio album in 2004 and going on an extended concert tour in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Taylor (drummer)</span> American rock drummer (1948–2015)

Dallas Woodrow Taylor Jr. was an American session drummer who played drums on several rock albums in the 1960s and 1970s.

<i>Wind on the Water</i> 1975 studio album by Crosby & Nash

Wind on the Water is the second album by Crosby & Nash, released on ABC Records in 1975. Cassette and 8-track tape versions of the album were distributed by Atlantic Records, to which Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were signed. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 album chart and was certified gold by the RIAA. Three singles were released from the album, "Carry Me", "Take the Money and Run", and "Love Work Out", of which only the first charted, peaking at No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

<i>Whistling Down the Wire</i> 1976 studio album by Crosby & Nash

Whistling Down the Wire is the third album by Crosby & Nash, released on ABC Records in 1976, the second of the duo's three-album deal with ABC Records. Cassette and 8-track tape versions of the album were distributed by Atlantic Records, to which Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were signed. It peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 album chart and was certified gold by the RIAA. Two singles were released from the album, "Out of the Darkness" and "Spotlight," of which only the first charted on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #89.

<i>The Best of Crosby & Nash</i> 1978 compilation album by Crosby & Nash

The Best of Crosby & Nash is a compilation album by Crosby & Nash released in 1978. It features tracks from the artists' solo albums as well as by the duo, although does not contain their biggest hit as a pair, "Immigration Man." Their final album on ABC Records, it is out of print, superseded in 2002 by a survey of their work for ABC released on compact disc.

Craig Doerge is an American keyboard player, session musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his keyboard work with Crosby Stills and Nash, James Taylor, and Jackson Browne.

The Section was a US instrumental rock/jazz fusion band formed in the early 1970s by guitarist Danny Kortchmar, keyboardist Craig Doerge, bassist Leland Sklar, and drummer Russ Kunkel. Other musicians associated with the group include multi-instrumentalist David Lindley and guitarist Waddy Wachtel. They are best known for both studio and stage work in support of some of the best selling singer-songwriters and solo singers of that decade. Their frequent appearances on the records of artists signed to Asylum Records made them the label's de facto house band. Their close association with the singer-songwriter and soft rock genres of the 1970s also led to their alternate moniker of "The Mellow Mafia".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Vitale (musician)</span> American musician

Joseph Anthony Vitale is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. In a career spanning more than 55 years, Vitale has played with many of the top names in music during a career dating back to the 1970s.

Richard Thomas Marotta is an American drummer and percussionist. He has appeared on recordings by leading artists such as Aretha Franklin, Carly Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Paul Simon, John Lennon, Hall & Oates, Stevie Nicks, Wynonna, Roy Orbison, Todd Rundgren, Roberta Flack, Peter Frampton, Quincy Jones, Jackson Browne, Al Kooper, Waylon Jennings, Randy Newman, Kenny G, The Jacksons, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Boz Scaggs, Warren Zevon, and Linda Ronstadt. He is also a composer who created music for the popular television shows Everybody Loves Raymond and Yes, Dear.

Bob Glaub is an American bass player and session musician. He has played with such artists and bands as Dave Mason, Journey, Steve Miller Band, John Fogerty, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ringo Starr, Dusty Springfield, Aaron Neville, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Donna Summer, John Lennon, Rod Stewart, Crosby, Stills & Nash Bee Gees and many others.

<i>Thoroughbred</i> (album) 1975 studio album by Carole King

Thoroughbred is the seventh album by American singer-songwriter Carole King, released in 1975. Her final release on Ode Records, it was produced by Lou Adler, who had been her collaborator since Tapestry (1971). After Carole King self produced for a number of years on Capitol and Atlantic Records, Lou Adler later rejoined King to produce her 1984 album Speeding Time.

"Only Love Is Real" is a song written and performed by Carole King. The song was included on her 1976 album, Thoroughbred. The single peaked at No. 28 in the Billboard Hot 100 and was King's fourth and final No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart, where it remained for one week in March 1976. It is ranked as the 40th biggest AC/Easy Listening hit of 1976.

Jimmy Wachtel is an American photographer, art director and designer based in Los Angeles. He has designed album covers for big artists such as Joe Walsh, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Michael Stanley, Jo Jo Gunne, John Cougar, and Buckingham Nicks, among others.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Biography". Paiste . Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Legendary Percussionist Russ Kunkel Talks about His Life in Music, The Immediate Family and a Cruel Twist". Guitar International Magazine. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Russ Kunkel". Modern Drummer . November 1984.
  4. ↑ "Russ Kunkel". Drummerworld.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Chris Burke (July 5, 2016). "Russ Kunkel: Laurel Canyon session legend". Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019– via PressReader.
  6. 1 2 "Russ Kunkel - Drumming for the Song". Yamaha Entertainment Group . Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  7. ↑ Jedd Beaudoin (July 13, 2018). "Willis Alan Ramsey Finds Comfort In Old, New Songs". KMUW . Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Session legend/Producer Russ Kunkel on 13 career-defining records". Musicradar.com. April 2, 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Russ Kunkel on Record Key Albums you must hear". Rhythm. PressRreader. July 5, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Gibb Songs: 1981". Columbia.edu. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  11. ↑ Gene Triplett (January 30, 1982). "Dan Fogelberg Strums Music From Another Era". The Oklahoman .
  12. ↑ Stephen L. Betts (January 30, 2019). "See Linda Ronstadt's Commanding 'You're No Good' From New 'Live in Hollywood'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  13. ↑ John Beck (July 16, 2014). "Lovett and Large Band are Texas Big". The Press Democrat . Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Russ Kunkel Judith Owen". Rhythm. May 10, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2019– via PressReader.
  15. ↑ "Spectrasonic". Spectrasonics.net. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  16. ↑ Jim Beviglia (October 23, 2017). "Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band, "The Fire Inside"". American Songwriter .
  17. ↑ "Carole King, James Taylor: Together, 40 Years Later". NPR. July 7, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  18. ↑ Ryan Reed (January 17, 2018). "Spinal Tap Bassist Returns With David Crosby, Peter Frampton on Solo LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  19. ↑ Waddy Wachtel. "Waddy Wachtel Discography". Waddywachtelinfo.com. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Live In Japan At Billboard Live Tokyo". Cdjapan.co.jp. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  21. ↑ Shawn Perry. "The Immediate Family: Enduring Hardship With Music And Old Friends". vintagerock.com. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Russ Kunkel". Playingforchange.com.
  23. ↑ "Unveiling the Vision: Behind Jackson Browne's…". Playingforchange.com.
  24. ↑ Susan Alexander. "Russ Kunkel: On Call". Modern Drummer.
  25. ↑ Russ Kunkel at AllMusic . Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Leah Kunkel". AllMusic. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Nathaniel Kunkel". IMDb. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  28. ↑ Weller, Sheila (February 1, 2021). "Cass Elliot's Daughter Talks About the Star's Pain and Bravery". NextTribe. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Nicolette Larson". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  30. ↑ Cramer, Christina (December 18, 1997). "Music World Says Goodbye To Nicolette Larson". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Keeping the Beat - Russ Kunkel: a Rock & Roll Story | Celebrating Life in San Clemente". Sanclementejournal.com. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Certain Fury O.S.T. (1985)". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on February 13, 2005.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.