Birth name Roger G. Hawkins Role Drummer Name Roger Hawkins | Instruments Drums Occupation(s) Session musician | |
Born October 16, 1945 (age 78)
Mishawaka, Indiana
United States ( 1945-10-16 ) Associated acts Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section Albums Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory, On the Road Music groups Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (Since 1967), Traffic (1972 – 1973) Organizations founded Muscle Shoals Sound Studio Similar People Barry Beckett, David Hood, Jimmy Johnson, Spooner Oldham, Eddie Hinton |
Roger Hawkins (born October 16, 1945) is an American drummer best known for playing as part of the studio backing band known as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (Also known as the Swampers) of Alabama.
Biography
Hawkins's drumming can be heard on dozens of hit singles, including tracks by Percy Sledge ("When a Man Loves a Woman"), Aretha Franklin ("Respect", "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" etc.), Wilson Pickett ("Mustang Sally", "Land of 1000 Dances"), The Staple Singers, Johnnie Taylor, Cat Stevens, Duane Allman, Joe Cocker, Paul Simon, Bob Seger, Rod Stewart, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Albert King, Traffic and Willie Nelson. He also recorded with Eric Clapton in the early 80's.
Playing with the same guys for so long, well, it's really hard to impress Barry, David or Jimmy because they've heard me do it before. And it's the same with them. I mean, if Barry plays a hot lick, I don't congratulate him; he's supposed to do that. I don't know what it is, but when the four of us sit down to play, it's almost like a burden has been lifted from our shoulders. It's like, "Hey, we're home."