Yogi Horton | |
Birth Name: | Lawrence Horton |
Birth Date: | 1 October 1953 |
Occupation: | Drummer |
Instrument: | Drums, backing vocals |
Years Active: | 1972–1987 |
Past Member Of: | Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Ashford & Simpson, David Byrne, Deborah Harry, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Kenny G, The B-52's, Jean-Michel Jarre |
Lawrence "Yogi" Horton (October 1, 1953June 8, 1987)[1] was an American R&B, funk, jazz and rock drummer. Horton worked and recorded as a session and touring drummer with a wide variety of musicians such as Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Ashford & Simpson, David Byrne, Deborah Harry, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Kenny G, The B-52's, and Jean-Michel Jarre among numerous others.[2] His first recording was on Dave "Baby" Cortez's 1972 album Soul Vibration.[3]
Horton recorded an instructional videocassette in 1983, which was released by DCI. Titled "The History of R&B/Funk Drumming", it is considered to be "one of the first instructional type videos of its kind."[4] The video is long out of print, but can still be viewed on YouTube as of March 2021.[5]
Horton, who suffered from bipolar disorder, died on June 8, 1987, when he jumped from a 17th-floor hotel window in New York shortly after performing in a Luther Vandross concert.[6] Was (Not Was) dedicated their 1988 album What Up, Dog? to Horton; he performed on the album and it was released after his death.[7]
With Lonnie Liston Smith
With Gloria Gaynor
With Irene Cara
With John Lennon and Yoko Ono
With George Benson
With Linda Clifford
With Ben E. King
With Cheryl Lynn
With Aretha Franklin
With Yoko Ono
With Jean Michel Jarre
With John Phillips
With Stephanie Mills
With Was (Not Was)