Daily Archives: May 12, 2022

Doc Gibbs

Leonard “Doc” Gibbs Jr., also known as Doc Gibbs, was an American percussionist. He acquired the nickname “Doc” after suggesting herbal remedies to jazz saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in the early 1970s, and toured with artists such as Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Bob James, Al Jarreau, Erykah Badu, and of course, for a long time, Grover Washington, Jr. Doc also led the house band on the popular Food Network television show Emeril Live, hosted by Chef Emeril Lagasse. Gibbs died from cancer in September 2021, at the age of 72.

Roger Hawkins

Roger Hawkins was 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. 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”), Wilson Pickett (“Mustang Sally”), The Staple Singers, Bobby Womack, Clarence Carter, Etta James, Paul Simon, Boz Scaggs, Rod Stewart, Willie Nelson and Bob Seger. He also recorded with Eric Clapton in the early 80’s. Roger Hawkins died at age 75 in May 2021.