Drummer Boy My Life Playing for the Greats of Jazz & Funk

The most memorable storytellers are candid, curious, and courageous. In Drummer Boy, My Life Playing for the Greats of Jazz and Funk (With a Little Mountaineering on the Side), Jimmy Madison covers all of those bases. The little blonde toddler who banged on his highchair back in Cincinnati grew up to become a well-respected and in-demand sideman for dozens of famous jazz and funk icons. That he spent his spare time scaling rock walls and climbing towering, snow covered mountains is the surprising tale of a talented, bold, and extremely sturdy man. His energetic journey performing for audiences across the globe and reaching high altitudes on multiple continents will leave you breathless.

Jimmy played for a Who's Who of modern musical icons including Quincy Jones, Lionel Hampton, James Brown, Roland Kirk, Chet Baker, Ray Baretto, George Benson, David Berger, James Brown, Ron Carter, Al Cohn, Art Farmer, Joe Farrell, Stan Getz, Bobby Hackett, Richie Havens, Jon Hendricks, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Lee Konitz, Hubert Laws , John Lewis, Shirley MacLaine, Marion McPartland, Gerry Mulligan, Anita O'Day, Maceo Parker, Toots Thielemans, Nina Simone, and ensembles including The Boston Symphony, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, the French National Orchestra, The Joffrey Ballet, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Settle into your favorite reading chair and join Jimmy on his amazing journey!

After more than sixty years of count-offs for performers at the top of the entertainment world, Jimmy Madison shares his story in this meticulously researched autobiography. Based upon diaries and his monumental memory, he takes readers from learning to play the drums as a young boy to pushing his God-given talent to a level that enabled him to back ensembles from trios to symphony orchestras. Whether on stage or mountaintop, Jimmy doesn't skimp on details—his ups and downs, life's good and bad moments, through treacherous tempos or raging blizzards. He looks back at his life with an all-inclusive vision supported by never-before-seen photos from his extensive personal archive. To this day, this gifted drummer boy is still swinging his sticks as often and boldly as possible!