Ricky Wellman

Ricky Wellman (11 April 1956—23 November 2013) was an American drummer who played with The Soul Searchers, Miles Davis, and Carlos Santana, among others. His drumming talent earned him the nickname "Sugarfoot".

Ricky Wellman was born Ricardo Dalvert Wellman on April 11, 1956, in Bethesda, Maryland, to Frank Wellman, who was also a drummer. He grew up in Washington D.C. and Prince George's County (Maryland).

His father taught Ricky how to play drums in their living room. By the time Ricky was 10, he was playing with the Chapel Oaks in Maryland and the R&B group The Famous Jaguars (also called The Jaguars).

After graduating from Suitland High School, Prince George's County, Maryland, in 1973, he attended the University of Maryland.

Ricky's father, Frank, was a drummer for Chuck Brown's band Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers. In 1976, Ricky went to see The Soul Searchers and Brown had him sit in with the band briefly. Brown was impressed by his drumming and had Ricky play a set. Brown later added him to the group. Ricky was with Brown until 1987 and made a few recordings. In 1979, he was heard on the album Bustin' Loosealongside Jerry Wilder (bass guitar), Donald Tillery (trumpet), John Buchanan (trombone, synthesizer), and Leroy Fleming (flute, timbales, saxophone, vocals). His last recording with Brown's band was Any Other Way To Go? (1987) with Donald Tillery (trumpet), Leroy Fleming (tenor saxophone, backing vocals), John Buchanan (trombone, synthesizer), Glenn Ellis (bass, percussion), and Rowland Smith (congas).

In May 1987, Ricky joined Miles Davis band and stayed with him up until Miles' final gig on 25 August 1991. In 1989, he played on Davis' album Amandla. Other musicians on the album were Kenny Garrett (alto saxophone), Rick Margitza (tenor saxophone), Billy "Spaceman" Patterson (guitar), Marcus Miller (keyboards, guitar), and Jean-Paul Bourelly (guitar). Ricky recorded several other albums with Davis and also toured with him.

In 1997, Ricky toured as a member of Carlos Santana's Santana (Blues Band).

During his career, Wellman has collaborated with several other musicians, including post-bop jazz musician Kenny Garrett; saxophonist, arranger, composer, bandleader Bob Belden; Italian jazz musician Paolo Rustichelli; bandleader Herbie Hancock; and saxophonist Wayne Shorter.

In 1997, to better support his family, Ricky began working in the IT field.

Wellman died of pancreatic cancer on November 23, 2013, in Newport News, Virginia. He was 57.