Sealed 2017 Solo Release Of One the Most Recognizable Sounding Drummer. Ranked among the “Top 20 Drummers of All Time” by Rolling Stone Magazine and inducted into Modern Drummer’s “Hall of Fame,” Purdie’s idiosyncratic drum work can be heard on a staggering number of classic albums produced by artists such as The Beatles, James Brown, Nina Simone, B.B. King, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Hall & Oates, and Steely Dan. His drum patterns, a unique merger of urbane swagger and loose Southern funk, have all but defined early hip-hop. Of his many solo recordings, his debut as a leader Soul Drums (1968) and Soul Is…Pretty Purdie (1972) are highly sought-after treasure troves of beats long sampled by DJs and hip-hop producers. Purdie’s extensive list of accolades includes serving for five years as Aretha Franklin’s musical director, and being the drummer for the Broadway revival of Hair in 2009.