Jimmy Hunter at the NAMM SHOW 2014 Pearl Exhibit

Scroll to see Jimmy Hunter's History as a Studio Drummer

		Jimmy in the Lenore Paxton Trio with Don Was on bass.

The Doors' Ray Manzarek -- Nite City (1976)
Hunter (center of pic) moved to Los Angeles upon being selected as the new drummer of this super group of musicians led by The Door's keyboardist, Ray Manzarek on Twentieth Century Records. Membership included Paul Warren-guitar (Rod Stewart), Nigel Harrison (Blondie), and the mysterious Noah James (vocalist). After establishing their cult following in Hollywood, the group toured the US doing gigs with Heart, The Kinks, and The Ramones.

The Doors' Ray Manzarek --
Golden Days and Diamond Nights (1977)
This follow up album to "Nite City" Jimmy continues on as drummer of this super group of musicians led by The Door's keyboardist, Ray Manzarek as they made a label switch to Polygram Records. Paul Warren-guitar (Rod Stewart), Nigel Harrison (Blondie). With Paul now taking over the lead vocals, it includes Jimmy's first major recorded tune, "Riding On The Wings Of Love"--the albums single release.

Flo & Eddie -- The Best Of Flo & Eddie (1978)
Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan aka The Turtles, famous for their hit "Happy Together" and former lead singers for Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention--Jimmy came in the group to do the 1977 tour and can be heard on this "Best of" album on Rhino in a re-do of the fraternity classic "Louie Louie". Having always been a staunch Frank Zappa fan, Hunter claims to be eternally grateful to the Nite City ace roadies (Chuck Churella and the late Bub Brown) for turning him on to this gig. Keyboardist and music director Andy Cahan, now known as "The Demo Doctor", still remains today a treasured Turtle member.

Paul Warren & Explorer -- One Of The Kids (1979)
Explorer was on top of the L.A. club band scene around the time of the Knack's "My Sharona." Fronted by former-Temptations session man Paul Warren, this power pop group was featured on Wolfman Jack's Midnite Special TV show before they got signed an RSO record deal. Produced by British Peter Coleman, who was the engineer the Nick Gilder/Pat Benetar/Knack records for pop producer Mike Chapman. With Paul's songs published through Lieber and Stoller, this cocksure all Detroit-L.A. based hot rocker band had a level of intensity to be reckoned with in comparison to a seemingly passive Hollywood poser/punk scene.

Nick Gilder -- Rock America (1979)
This Casablanca Records cult classic rock album was produced by former Capital Records exec, Ken Mansfield (Waylon Jennings). It was Jimmy actually who introduced Mansfield to Gilder. Nick, is known best for his quadruple platinum single, "Hot Child In The City."--historically the biggest selling single record of 1979. Hunter did some high energy Keith Moon style of wild abandon drumming on this album which still often played on KROQ radio. Jimmy also performed in the live promotional arena tours of Japan with The Babys (Chrysalis Records) and the national "Candy-O" tour with The Cars as Nick's stickman.

Nick Gilder -- Body Talk Muzik(1980)
Jimmy got a chance to learn secret tricks of the record making trade in this second opportunity to work with Peter Coleman, a platinum selling record producer. Nick chose to switch over to Coleman, who had engineered Nicks big "Hot Child" hit. A drummer hungry Nick Gilder pushed the voltage envelope and powered up to a whole new level with Hunter driving the band with his Detroit hard hitting arena rocking drum style. A classic assemblage of tight arty pop rock included a dedicated well rehearsed unit of long time members Jim McCulloch, (guitar) Eric Nelson (bass) Jaimie Herndon (guitar/keys).

Fergie Frederiksen (aka) David London (1980)
This is the record that the Village People rhythm section made before they did the Village People Renaissance with legenday producer Jaques Morali. Fergie, aka David London went on to sing with Toto a few years later and remains friends with Jimmy Hunter today.
Vocals - David London (Dennis Frederiksen)
Guitar - Mark Christian
Bass - Howie Epstein
Drums - Jimmy Hunter
Keyboards - Don Schmidt, Alan Pasqua
Percussion - Steve Forman
Backing Vocals - Jon Joyce, Jimmy Haas, Stan Forber, Richard Page

The Village People -- Renaissance (1980)
Produced by the late Jacques Morelli, Jimmy once again got a chance to be involved back to back with another platinum hitmaker. Morelli was the conceptualist of the world famous disco era/iconic creation, Village People.

Hunter moved to New York City for the summer of 1980 to record at the Hit Factory with a mindblower--engineer Bruce Tergesen (Barry Manilow, Jim Croce, David Bowie, Eddie Harris), the engineer of Disraeli Gears (Cream). Jimmy was included in the songwriting along with the Village People's other session players. It was Toto vocalist Fergie Frediksen (Can't Stop the Music) who submitted Jimmy's song "Rudy" to Morelli, which got it cut by Cher on her "I Paralyze" LP.

	Howie Epstein

Another notable member of the V.P. band was the late Howie Epstein who later became Tom Petty's band was the bass player. Epstein passed in February 2003. Jimmy remembers driving Howie to his audition with Tom Petty at S.I.R.in Hollywood.

Gabrielle Morgan
Produced by Michael Penn (artist/songwriter, brother of Sean Penn), this Bohemian aggregation called in Jimmy to drum on their EP thru a connection with surf-punk producer Chris Ashford (Agent Orange, Davie Allan). The result was a highly evolved and fresh beatnik sound. Pre-production included a wild Heineken laced North Malibu beach party at Penn's private beach cove-magical marshmellowed memories-so much more than a weenie roast.

Fortune -- Rock Album
Guitarist Richard Fortune had known about Jimmy from his bass player, Bob Birch (Elton John). Hunter was called in to fill in for Fortune's brother who had taken ill. Hunter finished the album in mid production. Recorded at Sound City Studios, you hear Jimmy his "treatment" on the power anthem cut Dearborn Station. This record is now a collector item on Ebay and brings in around $90.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High -- Sean Penn (1982)Movie Soundtrack
Hunter plays on songs by Gerard McMahon on this soundtrack.

Gerard McMahon Don't Look Back (1983)
Gerard Mc McMahon found Jimmy and put him right to work in the studio on his Warner Bros. solo album. A comradery establised Hunter as McMahan's drummer for numerious projects from Gerard, who was well connected in TV and movie sountracks. Partnered with his Detroit bass buddy Bobby Gianetti (Edgar Winter/Dwight Twilley), this career break was the perfect exposure for Hunter to get the studio notoriety he needed to break into mainstream Los Angeles session work.

All The Right Moves -- Tom Cruise (1983) Movie Soundtrack
A classic film starring Tom Cruise, Craig T. Nelson and Lea Thompson, Hunter plays on songs by Gerard McMahon on this soundtrack.

The Lonley Guy -- Steve Martin (1984) Movie Soundtrack
Starring Steve Martin, Charles Grodin and Judith Ivey. Hunter plays on songs by Gerard McMahon on this soundtrack. Featured on the tune "Mr. Popularity," Hunter had the privilage to work with one of the all time great R and B singers, Winston Ford. Winston (pictured right) was killed on Oct. 17, 2007 in a car wreck in Denver. Ford was also well known for his rendition of "I Can Dream About You" which was a big MTV hit. Hunter remembers hanging out with Ford the night Marvin Gaye died. Now another of the greats is gone.

Greg Ginn - Let It Burn Because I Don't Live There Anymore(1994)
Hunter did drum programming for this CD with assistance from punk rocker Eric Blitz. This was the first CD that Ginn came to Hunter for various drumming chores over the course of his solo career after leaving the famed Black Flag punk rock group.

Caught In The Act -- Relapse of Reason (1997)
Produced by former Axe guitarist Bobby Barth. Recorded at Bobby's studio in Denver, Colorado.

Robert Lamm (Chicago), Carl Wilson (Beach Boys) and Gerry Beckley (America) -- Like A Brother (2000)
This "all-star" CD--a collaborative effort which includes grammy winner Phil Galdston (Save The Best For Last) utilized Jimmy's studio drumming. Chicago keyboardist Robert Lamm invited Hunter to help these three legends put their songs together at Bill Gable's "Roman Foods" studio.

		Carl Wilson, Gerry Beckley and Robert Lamm recording "Like A Brother" in the studio.

Sadly, this was the last recording ever from Beach Boys vocalist Carl Wilson, but a true honor for Jimmy, who is a lover of vocal harmony groups. Highlight was to get to work with killer bass player Jason Schef, the son of Elvis' bass player. Classic Hunter time-bending tom fills and Beach Boy overdubbed sleigh bells are worthy of note on the title cut. Sample the sound at their CD Baby Web site.

Jesus Saves / Jesus Swings by Tommy George (2002)
A wonderful and unique approach to praising King of Kings, this Hunter produced CD shows Jimmy's approach to his big bands style after a long hiatus from live drumming. Recorded live in the main room at Cazador, you can hear the drum sound that can be achieved off the 1 1/2 inch thick drywall with the parabolic sunroof shooting back the sound into the ambient room mics. His fans happy to hear him back on the skins again, the snare drum is Hunter's trusty vintage Ringo Starr style 1967 Ludwig he's been playing since high school when it was brand new! Tommy George's vocals are seasoned and classic. His experience and expertise was a joy for Hunter to produce. If you'd like to sample or purchase this CD, just go to his CD Baby page.

Stacey Evans
A Slender Thread (2005)
Jimmy pulled out his sticks in 2003 for Stacey Evan's Cd. As producer on the Cazador recorded recording, producer Hunter has enlisted his ace former bandmates Bob Birch (Elton John Band) on bass and Paul Warren (Rod Stewart) on the electric guitars. Jimmy also decided to play live drums on this great Austin, Texas singer-songwriter's first Los Angeles solo effort.