Steve Jordan (drummer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steve Jordan
|
|
|---|---|
Jordan in 2006
|
|
| Background information | |
| Born | January 14, 1957 New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Labels |
|
Steve Jordan (born January 14, 1957) is an American musician, producer, and songwriter. He is best known as a drummer. Steve Jordan is currently the drummer for the famous band The Rolling Stones. In the 1970s and 1980s, he played in the bands for popular TV shows like Saturday Night Live and Late Night with David Letterman.
In the early 1980s, Jordan was part of a band called Eyewitness. He played with guitarist Steve Khan, bassist Anthony Jackson, and percussionist Manolo Badrena. Since the mid-1980s, Jordan has also been a member of the X-Pensive Winos. This band is a side project of The Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. Jordan and Richards have worked together on many of Richards's solo songs and albums. In 2005, he joined the John Mayer Trio. Jordan also started his own band, The Verbs, with his wife Meegan Voss. In August 2021, Steve Jordan began playing drums for The Rolling Stones. He filled in for Charlie Watts who was recovering from surgery. After Watts passed away, Jordan continued to play with the Stones for their live shows and studio recordings.
Contents
Early life and first bands
Steve Jordan grew up in New York City. He went to the High School of Music and Art and finished in 1974.
When he was a teenager, Jordan became an honorary member of Stevie Wonder's band, WonderLove. In 1976, he also filled in as a drummer for the band Stuff. He played with Joe Cocker on his American tour. Later, in the 1970s, he played drums for the Saturday Night Live band. When John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd formed The Blues Brothers, Jordan was their drummer. He recorded on their albums. He also played in the New York 24th Street Band. This band later became Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band. They played on Late Night with David Letterman from 1982 to 1986.
Music career highlights
Working with Keith Richards and Chuck Berry
In 1986, Jordan played percussion on The Rolling Stones' album Dirty Work. After that, Keith Richards asked Jordan to play on Aretha Franklin's song "Jumpin' Jack Flash".
Jordan then joined Richards for a documentary film called Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll. This film was a tribute to the legendary musician Chuck Berry. Jordan appeared in many scenes with Berry and Richards. This project led to Jordan becoming a member of Keith Richards and the X-pensive Winos. This band toured and recorded three albums: Talk Is Cheap (1988), Main Offender (1992), and Crosseyed Heart (2015). Jordan helped produce all three albums. He also wrote songs with Richards. One of their songs, "Almost Hear You Sigh", was even on The Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels album in 1989.
The Verbs band
Jordan started a band called The Verbs with his wife, Meegan Voss. She used to be in punk bands like the PopTarts. They have toured and recorded music together. In 2007, they toured Japan to support their first album, And Now... The Verbs. Their next album was called Trip. Both albums featured Tamio Okuda on guitar and Pino Palladino on bass.
Producing and performing
Steve Jordan has recorded music with many famous artists. These include Don Henley, John Mellencamp, Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, and Neil Young. He also appeared on James Taylor's 1998 DVD, Live at the Beacon Theatre.
Jordan is a Grammy Award-winning producer. He won a Grammy for Robert Cray's album Take Your Shoes Off. He also produced John Mayer's Grammy-winning album Continuum (2006). He worked on albums for Herbie Hancock and Patti Scialfa.
In 2005, Jordan was a musical director for the documentary film Make It Funky!. This film explored the history of New Orleans music.
In 2006, Jordan joined Eric Clapton's touring band. They played many sold-out shows, including at the Royal Albert Hall. He continued to tour with Clapton in 2007.
In 2009, Jordan was nominated for another Grammy Award. This was for his work on the soundtrack for the movie Cadillac Records. In 2013, he produced the album Memphis for Boz Scaggs.
John Mayer Trio
Jordan is a member of the John Mayer Trio. This is a blues rock band with Jordan on drums, Pino Palladino on bass, and John Mayer on guitar and vocals. John Mayer formed the group in 2005. The trio released a live album called Try! on November 22, 2005. This album included cover songs and new songs written by Mayer, Jordan, and Palladino. Jordan and Mayer produced the album together.
The trio also performed at a charity event in Los Angeles in 2007. Their performance was released on a DVD/CD called Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles. Jordan also helped write the song "In Repair" for Mayer's 2006 album Continuum. He also worked on Mayer's fourth album, Battle Studies.
Super Soul Band
Jordan is also part of an amazing funk group called the Super Soul Band. This band includes Jordan on drums, a horn section, Willie Weeks on bass, Mix Master Mike, Isaiah Sharkey, and Ray Parker Jr. on guitar.
Joining The Rolling Stones
On August 5, 2021, it was announced that Steve Jordan would play drums for The Rolling Stones' US tour. He was filling in for their longtime drummer Charlie Watts, who had health issues. Charlie Watts sadly passed away on August 24, 2021. Keith Richards had said in his autobiography that if he ever needed another drummer, "Steve Jordan’s your man." Jordan has since played on the group's album Hackney Diamonds and their tours.
Discography
Steve Jordan has played on many albums throughout his career. Here are some of the artists he has worked with:
- With The Blues Brothers: Briefcase Full of Blues (1978), Made in America (1980)
- With Arcadia: So Red the Rose (1985)
- With Beyoncé: I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008)
- With J. J. Cale and Eric Clapton: The Road to Escondido (2006)
- With Kelly Clarkson: Stronger (2011)
- With Robert Cray: Take Your Shoes Off (1999), That's What I Heard (2020)
- With Sheryl Crow: C'mon, C'mon (2002), Threads (2019)
- With Bob Dylan: Down in the Groove (1988)
- With Donald Fagen: The Nightfly (1982)
- With Aretha Franklin: Aretha (1986)
- With Herbie Hancock: Possibilities (2005)
- With Don Henley: The End of the Innocence (1989)
- With Alicia Keys: The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003), As I Am (2007)
- With B.B. King: Deuces Wild (1997)
- With Cyndi Lauper: At Last (2003)
- With John Mayer: Heavier Things (2003), Continuum (2006), Battle Studies (2009)
- With John Mayer Trio: Try! (2005)
- With John Mellencamp: Cuttin' Heads (2001)
- With Stevie Nicks: Rock a Little (1985)
- With The Pretenders: Get Close (1986)
- With Keith Richards: Talk Is Cheap (1988), Main Offender (1992), Crosseyed Heart (2015)
- With The Rolling Stones: Hackney Diamonds (2023)
- With Mark Ronson: Uptown Special (2015)
- With Boz Scaggs: Memphis (2013)
- With Patti Scialfa: 23rd Street Lullaby (2004)
- With John Scofield: That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles (2005)
- With Bruce Springsteen: Devils & Dust (2005), Wrecking Ball (2012)
- With Cat Stevens: Back to Earth (1978)
- With Rod Stewart: Soulbook (2009)
- With James Taylor: New Moon Shine (1991)
- With Toto: Fahrenheit (1986)
- With Neil Young: Landing on Water (1986)
Equipment
Steve Jordan uses Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals, and Remo drumheads. He also has his own special drumsticks from Vic Firth.
His drum setup usually includes:
- A 14" × 6.5" or 13" × 6.5" snare drum (which is his signature model).
- A 20" × 16" bass drum.
- A 12" × 8" rack tom.
- A 14" × 14" floor tom.
For cymbals, he uses:
- A 17" Signature Traditionals Thin Crash (as the top hi-hat).
- A 17" Signature Dark Energy Crash (as the bottom hi-hat).
- A 20" Masters Dark Crash Ride.
- A 22" Traditionals Light Ride.
He uses Remo drumheads. He prefers Coated Vintage A's and Coated Ambassadors for his toms and snares. For his bass drum, he uses either a Coated Powerstroke 3 or a Coated Ambassador.
His Vic Firth drumsticks are light and long. This helps him get a great sound from his drums and cymbals.
See also
In Spanish: Steve Jordan para niños
