Ndugu Chancler (1952–2018) — Drums. Played on Mwandishi, Borboletta, Tale Spinnin'.
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana. Joined Miles Davis's touring band at 19, replacing Jack DeJohnette. Received the name "Ndugu" from Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi band. Played on Weather Report's Tale Spinnin' (1975) and Santana's Amigos (1976, including "Europa," co-writing two tracks and serving as associate producer). Collaborated with George Duke for nearly a decade (1972-1980). Played drums on three Thriller tracks — "Billie Jean," "P.Y.T.," and "Baby Be Mine" — for producer Quincy Jones. Co-wrote the Grammy-winning "Let It Whip" (Dazz Band, 1982, #1 R&B). Also on Tina Turner's Private Dancer and Frank Sinatra's L.A. Is My Lady. Taught jazz at USC Thornton School of Music from 1995 until his death on February 3, 2018.
Ndugu Chancler's albums
Thriller
Michael Jackson · 1982
The drummer on 'Billie Jean' — Ndugu ChanclerNdugu Chanclerンドゥグ・チャンクラー — was a jazz musician who had played with Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard while still in college. His name 'Ndugu' (Swahili for 'brother') was given to him by Herbie HancockHerbie Hancockハービー・ハンコック during his time in Hancock's avant-garde Mwandishi band. He also played with Weather Report. Pop history's most recognizable drum groove was the work of a jazz drummer. Chancler also played drums on 'P.Y.T.' and 'Baby Be Mine' on Michael JacksonMichael Jacksonマイケル・ジャクソン's Thriller.
Leon ChanclerNdugu Chanclerンドゥグ・チャンクラー joined Herbie HancockHerbie Hancockハービー・ハンコック's avant-garde Mwandishi band in 1971. Percussionist James Mtume assigned Swahili names to each member based on their personalities — Chancler received 'Ndugu' (brother). Hancock became 'Mwandishi' (composer), Billy Hart became 'Jabali' (rock), Eddie Henderson became 'Mganga' (doctor). Chancler loved the name and used it for the rest of his career.
Ndugu ChanclerNdugu Chanclerンドゥグ・チャンクラー's Michael Jackson work went beyond Thriller (1982). On Bad (1987) he played drums on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (the duet with Siedah Garrett). All through Quincy Jones, he played on four Jackson tracks total including "Billie Jean," "P.Y.T.," and "Baby Be Mine."
The night Ndugu ChanclerNdugu Chanclerンドゥグ・チャンクラー recorded "Billie Jean," he was hosting a birthday party at his house. He arrived late and got scolded — his reply: "I think I've just done the most incredible thing in my career tonight." Engineer Bruce Swedien built a custom plywood platform for the drum kit. The song was mixed 91 times; mix number 2 was the one they used.
How Ndugu ChanclerNdugu Chanclerンドゥグ・チャンクラー joined Weather Report: pure chance. While recording with Jean-Luc Ponty next door, he bumped into Joe Zawinul on the sidewalk. "What are you doing the next two days?" What was supposed to be one session lasted a week and became the entire Tale Spinnin' album. He was offered a permanent spot but turned it down to stay with Santana.
Ndugu ChanclerNdugu Chanclerンドゥグ・チャンクラー was a songwriter as much as a drummer. "Let It Whip" (Dazz Band, 1982), co-written with his former high school teacher Reggie Andrews, hit #1 R&B and #5 on the Hot 100, winning the Grammy for Best R&B Performance. Chancler layered a LinnDrum and Roland 808 for the production.
At 19, Ndugu ChanclerNdugu Chanclerンドゥグ・チャンクラー left college when Miles DavisMiles Davisマイルス・デイヴィス asked him to join, replacing Jack DeJohnette. He toured Japan and Europe alongside Keith Jarrett, Gary Bartz, and Michael Henderson. He later said the experience gave him "the scope, the concept, and the vision to be a part of all the music that came thereafter."
The drummer on Santana's iconic "Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile)" (1976) was Ndugu ChanclerNdugu Chanclerンドゥグ・チャンクラー. On the Amigos album he wore three hats: drummer, songwriter (co-writing "Dance Sister Dance" and "Take Me With You"), and associate producer.
Ndugu ChanclerNdugu Chanclerンドゥグ・チャンクラー and George Duke collaborated for nearly a decade (1972-1980). On Reach for It (1977) he co-wrote the title track and played drums, roto-toms, timbales, and vocals. He appeared on virtually every Duke album of the golden fusion era — Don't Let Go, Follow the Rainbow, I Love the Blues She Heard My Cry.
Ndugu ChanclerNdugu Chanclerンドゥグ・チャンクラー was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1952, the youngest of seven children, and moved to Los Angeles at age eight. While still in college he began playing with Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Bobby Hutcherson. Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003, he continued performing and teaching for 15 more years. He served as professor of jazz studies at USC's Thornton School of Music until his death on February 3, 2018, at age 65.
