Ziggy Modeliste facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ziggy Modeliste
Modeliste in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Joseph Modeliste
Also known as	Zigaboo Modeliste
Born	(1948-12-28) December 28, 1948 (age 76) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres	Funk second line jazz rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Drums percussion vocals
Years active	1965–present
Labels	JZM

Joseph "Ziggy" Modeliste (born December 28, 1948), also known as Zigaboo Modeliste, is a famous American drummer. He helped start the funk band the Meters. Many people see him as a pioneer in funk music and a master of New Orleans drumming. The Meters' music was very important in shaping the sound of New Orleans funk. Thanks to his work, Modeliste is known for bringing New Orleans' special second-line drum rhythms into popular music.

Besides playing drums, Ziggy is also a songwriter and a session musician. This means he plays on many albums for different artists. His drum beats have been used in hundreds of hip hop songs, TV shows, and movies. He has also released four of his own albums. Today, he lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and still performs and tours.

Early Life and Musical Start

Ziggy Modeliste grew up in the 13th Ward of New Orleans. He was the oldest of six children and was partly raised by his grandmother, Lula Blouin. His grandmother bought him his first drum set, which had three pieces. When he was ten, a kid in his neighborhood nicknamed him "Zigaboo," and the name stuck.

Learning to Drum

Ziggy learned to play drums by watching famous New Orleans drummers like Smokey Johnson and Bob French. He would watch them perform live. He said that listening to other musicians was the most important way he learned. He especially tried to play like Smokey Johnson.

He started playing gigs at a young age. One of his first bands was the Hawketts, which was led by Art Neville. Over time, this band changed into the Neville Sounds, and then in the late 1960s, it became the Meters. In an interview, Modeliste once said that your ears are your best teachers. He meant that listening is more important than just practicing drum exercises.

Starting His Music Career

Ziggy Modeliste was a founding member and the drummer for the funk group the Meters. The band started in 1965 and quickly became well-known in the lively New Orleans music scene. They later signed with Allen Toussaint's record label, Sansu Enterprises. The Meters also became the main studio band for the label. Over the years, the Meters became famous for their traditional New Orleans funk sound.

Touring with Big Names

Modeliste's drumming with The Meters showed everyone how skilled and creative he was. His talent was clear when The Meters were invited to tour with the Rolling Stones in 1975 and 1976. They were the opening act for the famous rock band. The Meters also played as the backing band for many other artists. These included Dr. John, Robert Palmer, Lee Dorsey, Paul McCartney, and Betty Harris. Ziggy played drums for all of them.

When The Meters broke up in the late 1970s, Modeliste kept touring and playing drums for different musicians. Soon after the band split, he toured with Keith Richards and Ron Wood in a band called the New Barbarians.

Later Music Work

Ziggy Modeliste has released three studio albums and one live album as a solo artist. His first album, Zigaboo.com, came out in 2000. His second album, I'm on the Right Track, was released in 2004. It featured other famous musicians like Dr. John and Bernie Worrell. In 2007, he played on a tribute album for Fats Domino, performing the song "I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday" with Herbie Hancock.

His live album, Funk Me Hard Live, was released in 2009. This album featured a lot of drumming and was recorded in 1980. Ziggy was playing with his first band after The Meters, called the Gaboon's Gang, at the Saenger Theatre. His third studio album, New Life, came out in 2011. This album included music by several artists, such as Wardell Quezergue and George Porter.

Collaborations and Recognition

In 2005, he recorded with Young Gunz on the song "Can't Stop Won't Stop," which won an award from BMI. His drum patterns were also sampled in the Grammy-nominated song "1 Thing" in 2005. In 2011, producer Mark Ronson worked with Modeliste, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, and Trombone Shorty on a song called "A La Modeliste." This song was named after Ziggy because of his big influence on funk drumming and the New Orleans sound. He was also the main artist featured in the August 2013 issue of Modern Drummer magazine.

In the 1980s, Modeliste moved to Los Angeles and then to the San Francisco Bay Area, settling in Oakland, California. He got involved in the business side of the music industry. He started his own record label, JZM Records, and a music publishing company, Jomod Music. He still performs regularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and New Orleans.

Ziggy's Impact and Legacy

Since the late 1970s, Ziggy Modeliste has worked with many artists. He has toured with them and played on their recordings. Some of these artists include:

The Recording Academy gave Modeliste and the Meters a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award. This award celebrates their amazing contributions to music over many years.

His Unique Drumming Style

Modeliste's drumming style has been very influential. Many drummers look up to him, and he sometimes teaches special classes called "master classes." Some of his most famous drum grooves are in songs like "Cissy Strut" and "Look-Ka Py-Py." Music critic Robert Christgau once said that Modeliste's drumming was "the secret" to The Meters' sound, almost as if he was the lead player. In 2016, Rolling Stone magazine listed him as the 18th best drummer of all time. When describing his own style, Modeliste said in 2008 that it's "just a collage of all the drummers that I heard play in my lifetime from [New Orleans]."

His Music in Pop Culture

Ziggy Modeliste's drumming is featured on hundreds of recordings by many different artists. His drum patterns have been sampled a lot by hip hop artists. These include Run DMC, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, and Salt-N-Pepa. His performances have also been used in movies, TV shows, and video game soundtracks. Some examples are Red, Jackie Brown, Drumline, and 8 Mile. Modeliste is also a signature artist for drum companies like Vic Firth, DW, and Sabian.

Discography

Solo Albums

• Zigaboo.com (JZM, 2000)
• I'm On the Right Track (JZM, 2004)
• Funk Me Hard Live (JZM, 2009)
• New Life (JZM, 2011)

With The Meters

• The Meters (Josie, 1969)
• Look-Ka Py Py (Josie, 1970)
• Struttin' (Josie, 1970)
• Cabbage Alley (Reprise, 1972)
• Rejuvenation (Reprise, 1974)
• Cissy Strut (Island, 1974)
• Fire on the Bayou (Reprise, 1975)
• The Best of The Meters (Mardi Gras, Virgo, 1975)
• Trick Bag (Reprise, 1976)
• New Directions (Warner Bros., 1977)
• Good Old Funky Music (Rounder, 1990)
• Funky Miracle (Charly, 1991)
• Uptown Rulers: The Meters live on the Queen Mary (Rhino, 1992)
• Live at the Moonwalker (Lakeside, 1993)
• Fundamentally Funky (Charly, 1994)
• Funkify Your Life: The Meters Anthology (Rhino, 1995)

As a Sideman (Playing for Other Artists)

• Troublemaker (Mercury, 1979) with Ian McLagan
• Kristen Vigard (Private Music, 1988) with Kristen Vigard
• Storyville (Geffen, 1991) with Robbie Robertson
• She (Sony music entertainment, 1994) with Harry Connick Jr.
• Ekstasis (Axiom, 1993) with Nicky Skopelitis and Bill Laswell
• South Delta Space Age (Antilles, 1995) with Third Rail (James Blood Ulmer and Bill Laswell)
• (It Must've Been Ol') Santa Claus (Columbia, 1993) with Harry Connick, Jr.
• Buried Alive: Live in Maryland (2006) The New Barbarians (Ron Wood)
• Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley/Pressure Drop (2013) with Robert Palmer
• Toussaint: The Real Thing 1970-1975 (2015) with Allen Toussaint
• Another Side (2021) with Leo Nocentelli
• The Island Records Years (2023) with Robert Palmer

Instructional Videos

• Zigaboo Modeliste: The Originator of New Orleans Funky Drumming (2012) DVD