I have a great Jeff story told to me by Tommy Taylor who was the drummer for Christopher Cross on the first breakthrough record. I’ll try to tell a short version. While recording the debut record at Amigo Studios in 1979 he just couldn’t get the song Sailing to feel right so they called in Jeff. Jeff took a few passes on Tommy’s Sonor kit. During those takes Tommy noticed Jeff was playing uncharacteristically hard... so much so that he broke a tom head... but he was playing beautiful things. Jeff left and they gave Tommy another pass and Tommy played some of the things Jeff played such as the signature tom flam fill into the chorus and that’s what you hear on the record. Tommy feels that Jeff sabotaged his own takes because he knew what it meant to a young up and comer like Tommy to be on the record... but in doing so he sort of showed Tommy what to play on his next shot at it. That is just so Jeffrey. There’s more detail but I don’t want to type a novel. I have a wonderful picture that Tommy shared with me of Jeff sitting behind that Sonor kit at Amigo and Tommy kneeling next to him... I wish I could share it here.
I'm gonna remember this story and share it with other drummer friends (would love to hear the longer version, of course, but this was great). Jeff was cool through and through. And, so was Tommy Taylor for recognizing that Jeff was giving him the insight into the tune, while keeping himself effectively removed from the recording of it. The world needs more great people like Jeff Porcaro, for his talent and for his character. Great family, in fact, from Joe on down.
Dear Mr Sklar and Mr Neal, huge huge thanks from the greatest Jeff fans in Bosnia. Me and my buddy Mladen, we just keep listening and sharing all of Jeff's music constantly. Of course the music of all you guys around. We just research so much of all of your projects. And it all started with hearing Jeff for the first time. I was maybe 15 when I first heard Jeff playing, and I can tell you that it was the first time I got to understand that the drums can be a musical instrument. You can't imagine tha amount of love Jeff has inspired and it keeps on growing. Keep up the true spirit and heart of music alive. All the best from Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
I’m so inspired by Jeff and I love watching everything I can find on him, Glad to hear David Garfields name to, Maybe Leland can get David to share some stories about Jeff
Jeff was my idol, thanks for giving his fans these videos. So heartwarming. "You're Jeff Porcaro! You can have whatever you wan't." Im glad he was aware of his legendary status.
Neil! Great guy. I know him through my time working backstage on the West End show 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical'. Neil was the house drummer who always played brilliantly. And as for Jeff? Legend. End of. RIP.
I echo everyone else's comments Lee and have just spent a wonderful half hour here in sunny liverpool giving me a real insight into someone who who is so sorely missed and respected still. Well done on such an uplifting tribute.
You know what? I'm a Brit and a drummer who has loved Jeff and his music for decades, and I'd never heard of Neal until today, watching a clip of Leland Sklar talking about him within the context of Jeff. I honestly still feel genuine sadness to this day that a man who I never met died so young. He was, by all accounts, a lovely man.
Makes me wish I had known him. I didn't, but he would have been somebody I would have gravitated to. More of these Leland. Jeff deserves to be talked about.
Neal is a good and solid dude-met him in 1991 and hung out a few times in London while I was stationed there in the Air Force. Best time I ever had was going to dinner with him, a pearl drum rep, and Marvin Smitty Smith in Piccadilly Circus. Cheers Leland and Neal.🤙🏽
You had to stay up late listening to 96/our , a FM radio station in central NY , to hear the new bands & different cuts. One night I heard a piano intro , then a drum leading into wall of layered guitar equally in the left and right in my headphones. I loved it . I wrote the songs name down , and the next day went to Gerber Music to ask for the record that has the song *_Hold the Line_* . I followed the dude over to the record bins and he pulled out the album Toto. I went to cut some lawns. For fun Leland . Gerber Music once stopped me from participating in an album giveaway they were having one afternoon. Why ? Simple . I won the first 3 albums in the giveaway.. I new all the questions regarding each album to win, The next album in the giveaway was an Eagles. The question was Rides Again , The answer was Joe of course. Nobody answered . So I bellered out " Joe Walsh " . An audience participant yelled out . " Yeah , what that kid said " . I was asked politely to stop . So I did. Do you know how well loved Toto's song Africa is ? It's incredible how people will stand and just start singing with it. Brilliant work by the Toto boys.
It really says something positive about Lee Sklar as a human being that at a time when he is garnering attention for his channel, he has made a real effort to shine a light fellow musician who is long departed. It also shows why he is a great bassist in that he has such a profound respect for a primary partner in the rhythm section.
Fantastic !!!! You both played on the Era 2 album (2000) ... I transcribed Infanati years ago!! Would be cool to hear you about that !!! Two legends having a conversation about another legend!!!
Listening to this specific interview brings to mind Richard Hughes, the drummer from the only act whose records I’ve purchased with my own money in the last 15 years, Keane. Richard’s attitude has always been that he’s less “a drummer” than part of a band. Total head spin when I first heard it, but it also made perfect sense.
when you guys were playing with Veronique Samson (back in 92 & 93) : that was a MF band ! And Patrice Cramer did some awsome mixing of the live album at la Rochelle which BTW had some Al Schmitt signature & quality.
this was awesome Neil one of the great just like Jeff American session drummers here's Neil one of the great UK session drummers played on so many great stuff...Paul McCartney stuff Van Morrison stuff Joan armatrading and more.. to when you take a look at profile on one of the drum websites cuz he doesn't have a Wiki. of course he was one of the barefoot servants too😃
I have a great Jeff story told to me by Tommy Taylor who was the drummer for Christopher Cross on the first breakthrough record.
I’ll try to tell a short version.
While recording the debut record at Amigo Studios in 1979 he just couldn’t get the song Sailing to feel right so they called in Jeff.
Jeff took a few passes on Tommy’s Sonor kit.
During those takes Tommy noticed Jeff was playing uncharacteristically hard... so much so that he broke a tom head... but he was playing beautiful things.
Jeff left and they gave Tommy another pass and Tommy played some of the things Jeff played such as the signature tom flam fill into the chorus and that’s what you hear on the record.
Tommy feels that Jeff sabotaged his own takes because he knew what it meant to a young up and comer like Tommy to be on the record... but in doing so he sort of showed Tommy what to play on his next shot at it.
That is just so Jeffrey.
There’s more detail but I don’t want to type a novel.
I have a wonderful picture that Tommy shared with me of Jeff sitting behind that Sonor kit at Amigo and Tommy kneeling next to him... I wish I could share it here.
Anthony Amodeo Awesome story!!!! Thank you!!!
I'm gonna remember this story and share it with other drummer friends (would love to hear the longer version, of course, but this was great). Jeff was cool through and through. And, so was Tommy Taylor for recognizing that Jeff was giving him the insight into the tune, while keeping himself effectively removed from the recording of it. The world needs more great people like Jeff Porcaro, for his talent and for his character. Great family, in fact, from Joe on down.
Wow, what a story.
chills, wow
AWESOME
Beautiful, Porcaro really means a lot to many of us. Thanks for sharing Lee!
Dear Mr Sklar and Mr Neal, huge huge thanks from the greatest Jeff fans in Bosnia. Me and my buddy Mladen, we just keep listening and sharing all of Jeff's music constantly. Of course the music of all you guys around. We just research so much of all of your projects. And it all started with hearing Jeff for the first time. I was maybe 15 when I first heard Jeff playing, and I can tell you that it was the first time I got to understand that the drums can be a musical instrument. You can't imagine tha amount of love Jeff has inspired and it keeps on growing. Keep up the true spirit and heart of music alive. All the best from Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Huge fan of Jeff, but also Neal, who is a class act himself. Really lovely interview.
Wow, what a great interview. Thanks Leland!
Thanks for pulling back the curtain on so many wonderful behind the scenes stories.
Thank you, Neil Wilkinson!
I’m so inspired by Jeff and I love watching everything I can find on him, Glad to hear David Garfields name to, Maybe Leland can get David to share some stories about Jeff
Jeff was my idol, thanks for giving his fans these videos. So heartwarming. "You're Jeff Porcaro! You can have whatever you wan't." Im glad he was aware of his legendary status.
Neil! Great guy. I know him through my time working backstage on the West End show 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical'. Neil was the house drummer who always played brilliantly. And as for Jeff? Legend. End of. RIP.
I echo everyone else's comments Lee and have just spent a wonderful half hour here in sunny liverpool giving me a real insight into someone who who is so sorely missed and respected still. Well done on such an uplifting tribute.
Thank you Lee and Neal.
Met Neal in a drum shop a while back, I walked in and he's just noodling on a snare trying a few out. Great player and a gentleman
You know what? I'm a Brit and a drummer who has loved Jeff and his music for decades, and I'd never heard of Neal until today, watching a clip of Leland Sklar talking about him within the context of Jeff. I honestly still feel genuine sadness to this day that a man who I never met died so young. He was, by all accounts, a lovely man.
Thanks Sklar and Neal.
Makes me wish I had known him. I didn't, but he would have been somebody I would have gravitated to. More of these Leland. Jeff deserves to be talked about.
Agreed. well said.
Great stuff to listen to...Mr. Sklar thank,you.
Neal is a good and solid dude-met him in 1991 and hung out a few times in London while I was stationed there in the Air Force. Best time I ever had was going to dinner with him, a pearl drum rep, and Marvin Smitty Smith in Piccadilly Circus. Cheers Leland and Neal.🤙🏽
You had to stay up late listening to 96/our , a FM radio station in central NY , to hear the new bands & different cuts.
One night I heard a piano intro , then a drum leading into wall of layered guitar equally in the left and right in my headphones.
I loved it . I wrote the songs name down , and the next day went to Gerber Music to ask for the record that has the song
*_Hold the Line_* . I followed the dude over to the record bins and he pulled out the album Toto.
I went to cut some lawns.
For fun Leland .
Gerber Music once stopped me from participating in an album giveaway they were having one afternoon.
Why ? Simple . I won the first 3 albums in the giveaway.. I new all the questions regarding each album to win,
The next album in the giveaway was an Eagles.
The question was Rides Again , The answer was Joe of course.
Nobody answered . So I bellered out " Joe Walsh " .
An audience participant yelled out . " Yeah , what that kid said " .
I was asked politely to stop . So I did.
Do you know how well loved Toto's song Africa is ?
It's incredible how people will stand and just start singing with it.
Brilliant work by the Toto boys.
It really says something positive about Lee Sklar as a human being that at a time when he is garnering attention for his channel, he has made a real effort to shine a light fellow musician who is long departed. It also shows why he is a great bassist in that he has such a profound respect for a primary partner in the rhythm section.
Neal Wilkinson. One of the nicest people in the world and. GREAT drummer.
Fantastic !!!! You both played on the Era 2 album (2000) ... I transcribed Infanati years ago!! Would be cool to hear you about that !!! Two legends having a conversation about another legend!!!
Great informative stuff. Nice words Neal...
Listening to this specific interview brings to mind Richard Hughes, the drummer from the only act whose records I’ve purchased with my own money in the last 15 years, Keane. Richard’s attitude has always been that he’s less “a drummer” than part of a band. Total head spin when I first heard it, but it also made perfect sense.
If anybody has a claim to be the English Jeff Porcaro, it's Neal Wilkinson, a brilliant and very underrated player! Also a lovely man...
when you guys were playing with Veronique Samson (back in 92 & 93) : that was a MF band ! And Patrice Cramer did some awsome mixing of the live album at la Rochelle which BTW had some Al Schmitt signature & quality.
this was awesome Neil one of the great just like Jeff American session drummers here's Neil one of the great UK session drummers played on so many great stuff...Paul McCartney stuff Van Morrison stuff Joan armatrading and more.. to when you take a look at profile on one of the drum websites cuz he doesn't have a Wiki. of course he was one of the barefoot servants too😃
he played with Véronique Sanson if i remember
6:01 I do too.