Jabo Starks

John "Jabo" Starks
Background information
Birth nameJohn Henry Starks
Born(1937-10-26)October 26, 1937
Jackson, Alabama, U.S.
DiedMay 1, 2018(2018-05-01) (aged 80)
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
GenresR&B, soul, blues, funk
OccupationMusician
InstrumentDrums
Years active1955–2018

John Henry "Jabo" Starks (/ˈæb/; October 26, 1937[a] – May 1, 2018),[1] sometimes spelled Jab'o, was an American funk and blues drummer best known for playing with James Brown as well as other notable musicians including Bobby Bland and B.B. King. A self-taught musician, he was known for his effective and clean drum patterns. He was one of the originators of funk drumming, and is one of the most sampled drummers.[2][3]


Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference js-obiMobReg was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference js-jim-payne-book was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference js-rs-obit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).