Jeff Hale
Drummer/Producer/Songwriter
(Check out my other playlist for some funk I played on that I can't up-load)With the release of Tony Joe White’s
“Uncovered†CD, featuring rock heavyweights,
Eric Clapton, JJ Cale, Michael McDonald, and
Mark Knopfler, as well as a posthumous
contribution by the legendary Waylon
Jennings, Jeff explains that his work on this
project has brought him significantly closer
to his drumming goals. “I understand the
groove and melody better than ever."
We
didn’t use a click track or charts for these
recordings and the result is raw and real.
Covering the musical
gambit from "Sesame
Street" to "Lollapalooza,"
Jeff began drumming at
the age of eight. He cut
his teeth in the lounges
of downtown Memphis
while majoring in per-
cussion and classical
guitar at Memphis State
University where he
achieved the esteemed
drummer position for
the “A†level Jazz Band.
Jeff began touring and
recording with Tony Joe
White after Tony heard
some demo recordings
Jeff did with Jim Stewart
of Stax Records. Later,
Waylon Jennings was
recording some of Tony
Joe’s material, and since
the producers were
unable to improve upon
the feel of Jeff’s playing
on the demo, Waylon
decided to use Jeff’s
original tracks for
“Waylon and Co.â€
Waylon then made Jeff a
permanent fixture in his
band and Jeff spent the
next fourteen years
honing his skills and
learning every aspect of
the music business from
the undisputed “rebelâ€
of outlaw country music.
When asked about his
tenure with Waylon, Jeff
remarks “Waylon commanded perfection on
stage. It was a level of
professionalism that
could only be learned
from the great masters
of any art.†Jeff observed
Waylon’s passing by
honoring his privilege to
have been influenced by
a true legend and moves
his legacy forward with
a personal and profes-
sional attitude that is
admired both on stage
and in the studio.
Jeff received recognition
from Modern Drummer
magazine for “Best
Country Drummer†and
through the years has
shared the stage with
many artists, but he
maintains his ever-humble attitude by summing
up his credentials with
“You’re only as good as
your last show.â€
