This episode of The Trap Set is brought to you in part by Collecivo Coffee, handmade coffee since 1993.

Check them out online at collectivo.com.

This is Joe Wong. Welcome to the Trap Set, where each week we explore the lives of drummers.

I want to play something for you. You're hearing Use Me by Bill Withers, featuring my guest James Gadsen on drums.

This song became a hit in large part due to its uniquely snaky, catchy, and utterly ingenious beat.

Musicians and producers took notice, and Gadsden's career took off.

He's played on over 500 gold records with artists like The Temptations, Marvin Gay, Quincy

Jones, B.B. King, and Charles Wright.

Because of his singular style and creative openness,

Gadsden is just as relevant and in demand as ever.

He's worked on recent albums by Beck, DeAngelo, and Paul McCartney,

and he's also producing an album of original material,

which he hopes to finish later this year.

And now our interview with James Gadsden.

My father was a drummer.

My mother, she was a housewife.

She had, she could play the piano. She was very articulate. I mean, she couldn't play, she had to read it in other words, but she was more of a

housewife. She didn't, you know, I got to see her play. She sound and read the music and play two or three times. I saw her do that in my lifetime, but she was more of a housewife. She did, you know, I got to see her play. She said and read the music and played two or three times.

I saw her do that in my lifetime.

But she wasn't really into the music situation.

But my father, he played with, you know,

they have this place back there on 18th in Vine

...