Quick Facts
Biography
Paul Nelson Humphrey (born October 12, 1935, Detroit, Michigan, United States) is an American jazz and funk/R&B drummer.
He worked as a session drummer in the 1960s for jazz artists such as Wes Montgomery, Les McCann, Kai Winding, Jimmy Smith, Charles Mingus, Lee Konitz, Blue Mitchell and Gene Ammons.
As a bandleader, he recorded under the name Paul Humphrey and the Cool Aid Chemists, with keyboardist Clarence MacDonald, guitarist David T. Walker, and bassist Bill Upchurch. In 1971, this ensemble had two hits, "Cool Aid" (US #29, US R&B Singles #14) and "Funky L.A." (US R&B Singles #45). He also recorded an album as head of the Paul Humphrey Sextet in 1981.
Humphrey was one of the drummers on Marvin Gaye's album Let's Get It On.
He also recorded with Steely Dan, Frank Zappa, Jerry Garcia, Jimmy Smith, The Four Tops, Al Kooper, Jackie DeShannon, Natalie Cole, Albert King, Quincy Jones, Dusty Springfield, Jean-Luc Ponty, Michael Franks, Maria Muldaur, Marc Bolan and others.
Humphrey also was the featured drummer for both the Lawrence Welk orchestra and television show from 1976 to 1982. He and his wife Joan are the parents of two children, Pier and Damien, who appeared with their father on the Welk show's annual Christmas episode.
Discography
As leader
- Paul Humphrey and the Cool Aid Chemists (Lizard Records, 1969) US #170, US R&B Albums #31
- Detroit b/w Cool Aid (Lizard Records, 1969) 45 rpm, 2:31
- Supermellow (Blue Thumb, 1973)
- America, Wake Up (Blue Thumb Records, 1973)
- Paul Humphrey Sextet (Discovery Records, 1981)
As sideman
With Monty Alexander
- Alexander the Great (Pacific Jazz, 1964)
With Mel Brown
- Chicken Fat (Impulse!, 1967)
- The Wizard (Impulse!, 1968)
With Kenny Burrell
- 'Round Midnight (Fantasy, 1972)
With Jerry Garcia
- Pure Jerry: Keystone Berkeley, September 1, 1974 (Jerry Made, 2004)
With Richard "Groove" Holmes
- Welcome Home (World Pacific, 1968)
With Stan Kenton
- Hair (Capitol, 1969)
With Charles Kynard
- Reelin' with the Feelin' (Prestige, 1969)
- Woga (Mainstream, 1972)
- Your Mama Don't Dance (Mainstream, 1973)
With Les McCann
- The Gospel Truth (Pacific Jazz, 1963)
- Soul Hits (Pacific Jazz, 1963)
- Spanish Onions (Pacific Jazz, 1964)
- McCanna (Pacific Jazz, 1964)
- A Bag of Gold (Pacific Jazz, 1963-64 [1966])
- McCann/Wilson (Pacific Jazz, 1964) with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra
- But Not Really (Limelight, 1965)
- Beaux J. Pooboo (Limelight, 1965)
- Live at Shelly's Manne-Hole (Limelight, 1966)
- Live at Bohemian Caverns - Washington, DC (Limelight, 1967)
- Another Beginning (Atlantic, 1974)
With Gerald Wilson
- Eternal Equinox (Pacific Jazz, 1969)
- Lomelin (Discovery, 1981)
- Calafia (Trend, 1985)