Idris Muhammad

Idris Muhammad (Arabic: إدريس محمد‎; born Leo Morris; November 13, 1939 – July 29, 2014) was an American jazz drummer who recorded extensively with many musicians, including Ahmad Jamal, Lou Donaldson, Pharoah Sanders, and Tete Montoliu.

Biography

Born Leo Morris in New Orleans, he showed early talent as a percussionist and began his professional career while still a teenager, playing on Fats Domino’s "Blueberry Hill".

He toured with Sam Cooke, and later worked with Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield, mostly working in R&B until the mid-1960s, before going on to work more frequently in jazz.

Muhammad was an endorser of Istanbul Agop Cymbals.

He died aged 74 in 2014.

Personal life

He changed his name to Idris Muhammad in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. In 1966, he married Dolores "LaLa" Brooks (former member of the Crystals; she converted to Islam with him and went for a time by the name Sakinah Muhammad). They separated in 1999. Together, they had two sons and two daughters, and he had one daughter from a previous marriage to Gracie Lee Edwards.

Discography

Idris Muhammad is probably best known for his 1974 album Power of Soul, including the track "Loran's Dance", which received considerable airplay on jazz radio stations.

As leader

• 1970: Black Rhythm Revolution! (Prestige)
• 1971: Peace and Rhythm (Prestige)
• 1974: Power of Soul (Kudu)
• 1976: House of the Rising Sun (Kudu)
• 1977: Turn This Mutha Out (Kudu)
• 1978: Boogie to the Top (Kudu)
• 1978: You Ain't No Friend of Mine (Fantasy)
• 1979: Foxhuntin' (Fantasy)
• 1980: Make It Count (Fantasy)
• 1980: Kabsha (Theresa)
• 1992: My Turn (Lipstick)
• 1998: Right Now (Cannonball)