Yesterday, John Jabbo-Starks, one of the most important and influential drummers of the 20th century, died of cancer at the age of 79.

In tribute, here's my conversation with Jabbo, originally recorded in 2015. 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.

Ah. I want to play something for you. I pity the fool.

I say I pity the fool.

Well, I pity the fool. You're hearing I pity the Fool by Bobby Blueblan featuring my guest Jabbo Starks on drums.

Stark's work with Blan's sensational band caught the attention of a young James Brown during a pivotal phase in his career.

Jabo is a stylistic chameleon who can jump from hard-driving shuffle grooves

to Latin-infused backbeats to incredibly sophisticated, syncopated funk jams.

His addition to the band proved crucial to Brown's creative evolution

as he progressed from traditional song forms to his own wholly unique style.

During most of his tenure in Brown's band, Jabbo shared drumming duties with last week's guest, Clyde Stubblefield.

Their beats, which are among the most sampled in history, not only defined the funk genre,

but were the building blocks of hip-hop.

Stark's left Brown to play with blues legend BB King in 1975.

Occasionally, he reunites with other alumni of Brown's band to play packed houses around the world.

He still resides in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama, and continues to perform every week.

And now our conversation with one of the all-time greats Jabbo Starks.

Yeah. with one of the all-time greats Jabo Starks. There was, in our yard, we had an old upright piano

that never knew what a tune was was right and there used to be

some of the guys that would come by and sit out and they start banging on it and uh growing up you

...