John Guerin

This article is about the American musician. For the Canadian politician, see James John Edmund Guerin.

John Payne Guerin
Birth name	John Payne Guerin
Born	October 31, 1939(1939-10-31)
Origin	Hawaii, United States
Died	January 5, 2004(2004-01-05) (aged 64)
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Percussion
Associated acts	L.A. Express Joni Mitchell The Byrds Frank Sinatra George Harrison Frank Zappa Thelonious Monk

John Payne Guerin (October 31, 1939 – January 5, 2004) worked as a drummer, percussionist, and recording artist worldwide.

Guerin was born in Hawaii and raised in San Diego. As a young drummer he began performing with Buddy DeFranco in 1960. In the late 1960s he moved to Los Angeles where his talented drum work was utilised by artists including Frank Sinatra, George Harrison, Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, Them, Thelonious Monk, Lou Rawls, Ray Conniff, George Shearing, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Linda Ronstadt, Nelson Riddle and countless others. From July 1972 to January 1973 he was the drummer for The Byrds, and joined the L.A. Express later that year. The band served as Joni Mitchell's back-up on tour during the mid- to late-1970s, with whom Guerin had a brief relationship.

A leading exponent of the jazz-rock style, he is one of the most recorded drummers of all time. Among his many contributions to motion picture and television scores, Guerin worked on the soundtrack to the 1988 film homage to Charlie Parker, Bird by Clint Eastwood. Those are also his drums on the theme song during the opening credits for the television series Hawaii Five-O.

In later years, Guerin worked with Oscar Peterson, John Faddis, Jimmy Heath, Ray Charles, Sonny Rollins, Justin Morell, Andreas Pettersson, David Basse, David Garfield, Gary Lemel, and Mike Melvoin.

Guerin died on January 5, 2004 in West Hills, California due to complications from influenza. He was known for his love of horses which he continued to own and ride until his death.

Discography

As sideman

With Blue Mitchell

• Blues' Blues (Mainstream, 1972)

With Howard Roberts

• Antelope Freeway (Impulse!, 1971)

With Tom Scott

• Rural Still Life (Impulse!, 1968)

With Gábor Szabó

• Light My Fire with Bob Thiele (Impulse!, 1967)
• Wind, Sky and Diamonds (Impulse!, 1967)
• Not of This Earth Neil Norman (GNP Crescendo 1977) #2111

References

• "Obituary – John Guerin". Daily Telegraph. January 14, 2004. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1451652/John-Guerin.html. Retrieved 2008-05-02. 

External links

• John Guerin Remembrance Website