John Guerin
John Guerin | |
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![]() Guerin in San Francisco, 1976 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | John Payne Guerin |
Born | Hawaii, U.S. | October 31, 1939
Died | January 5, 2004 West Hills, California, U.S. | (aged 64)
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument | Percussion |
John Payne Guerin (October 31, 1939 – January 5, 2004) was an American percussionist. He was a leading proponent of the jazz-rock style, and was one of the most prolific drummers of his time.[1]
Biography
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 utilized by artists including Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, George Harrison, Frank Zappa, The Animals, Bonnie Raitt, 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 band on tour during the mid- to late-1970s; Guerin had a brief relationship with Mitchell during that time. She later wrote the song Hejira about leaving him.
Guerin was a leading exponent of the jazz-rock style, leading it into new territory. He was extremely prolific, and played in many different genres, including for film and television.[1] 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, Jon Faddis, Jimmy Heath, Ray Charles, Sonny Rollins, Justin Morell, Andreas Pettersson, David Basse, David Garfield, Gary Lemel, and Mike Melvoin.
Guerin died of heart failure on January 5, 2004 in West Hills, California.[2]
Selected discography
As sideman
With Gene Ammons
- Brasswind (Prestige, 1974)
With Don Ellis
- Haiku (MPS, 1974)
With Monk Higgins
- Extra Soul Perception (Solid State, 1968)
With Joni Mitchell
- Court and Spark (Asylum Records, 1974)
- The Hissing of Summer Lawns (Asylum Records, 1975)
- Hejira (Asylum Records, 1976)
- Don Juan's Reckless Daughter (Asylum Records, 1977)
- Wild Things Run Fast (Geffen, 1982)
With Blue Mitchell
- Blues' Blues (Mainstream, 1972)
With Barry Mann
- Barry Mann (Casablanca Records, 1980)
With Linda Ronstadt
- What's New (Asylum Records, 1983)
- Lush Life (Asylum Records, 1984)
- For Sentimental Reasons (Asylum Records, 1986)
- A Merry Little Christmas (Elektra Records, 2000)
With Aaron Neville
- The Grand Tour (A&M Records, 1993)
- Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas (A&M Records, 1993)
With Liza Minnelli
- Gently (Angel Records, 1996)
With Oliver Nelson
- Black, Brown and Beautiful (Flying Dutchman, 1969)
- Zig Zag (Original Motion Picture Score) (MGM, 1970)
With Elton John
- Duets (Rocket, 1993)
With Michael Franks
- The Art of Tea (Reprise Records, 1976)
- Sleeping Gypsy (Warner Bros. Records, 1977)
- Blue Pacific (Reprise Records, 1990)
With Sheena Easton
- No Strings (MCA Records, 1993)
With Natalie Cole
- Stardust (Elektra Records, 1996)
With Joan Baez
- Diamonds & Rust (A&M Records, 1975)
With Bonnie Raitt
- The Glow (Warner Bros. Records, 1979)
With Howard Roberts
- Spinning Wheel (Capitol Records, 1969)
- Antelope Freeway (Impulse!, 1971)
With Kenny Rogers
- Timepiece (Atlantic Records, 1994)
With Gram Parsons
- GP (Reprise Records, 1973)
With George Harrison
- Dark Horse (Apple Records, 1974)
With Stephen Bishop
- Careless (ABC Records, 1976)
With Elkie Brooks
- Rich Man's Woman (A&M Records, 1975)
With Sarah Vaughan
- Sarah Vaughan with Michel Legrand (Mainstream Records, 1973)
With Diane Schuur
- Love Walked In (GRP, 1996)
- Music Is My Life (GRP, 1999)
With Art Garfunkel
- Breakaway (Columbia Records, 1975)
With Melanie
- Seventh Wave (Neighbourhood Records, 1983)
With The Byrds
- Banjoman - The Original Soundtrack (recorded 1972, released Sire, 1977) (Various Artists, 2 live tracks by The Byrds)
With Peggy Lee
- Pass Me By (Capitol Records, 1965)
- Mirrors (A&M Records, 1975)
- Close Enough for Love (DRG, 1979)
With Helen Reddy
- Helen Reddy (Capitol Records, 1971)
With Tom Scott
- Rural Still Life (Impulse!, 1968)
With Barbra Streisand
- Butterfly (Columbia Records, 1974)
With Bud Shank
- Magical Mystery (World Pacific, 1967)
- Let It Be (Pacific Jazz, 1970)
With Gábor Szabó
- Light My Fire with Bob Thiele (Impulse!, 1967)
- Wind, Sky and Diamonds (Impulse!, 1967)
With Frank Zappa
- Lumpy Gravy (Capitol, 1967)
- Hot Rats (Bizarre/Reprise, 1969)
- Chunga's Revenge (Bizarre/Reprise, 1970)
- Apostrophe (') (DiscReet, 1974)
- The Lost Episodes (Rykodisc, 1996)
With Seals and Crofts
- Diamond Girl (We May Never Pass this way Again) (Warner Bros, 1973)
References
- ^ a b "John Guerin Obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 15 January 2004.
- ^ "John Guerin, 64, Popular Drummer". The New York Times. Associated Press. 18 January 2004.
External links
- John Guerin at AllMusic
- John Guerin discography at Discogs
- John Guerin at Find a Grave
- 1939 births
- 2004 deaths
- Musicians from Hawaii
- American country rock musicians
- The Byrds members
- Musicians from Los Angeles
- American rock drummers
- American jazz drummers
- American country drummers
- American session musicians
- 20th-century American drummers
- American male drummers
- Male jazz musicians
- Muleskinner (band) members
- L.A. Express members