Lawrence "Yogi" Horton (October 1, 1953 – June 8, 1987)[1] was an American R&B, funk, jazz and rock drummer. Horton worked and recorded as a session and touring drummer with a wide variety of musicians such as Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Ashford & Simpson, David Byrne, Deborah Harry, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Kenny G, The B-52's, and Jean-Michel Jarre among numerous others.[2] His first recording was on Dave "Baby" Cortez's 1972 album Soul Vibration.[3]

Yogi Horton
Birth nameLawrence Horton
Born(1953-10-01)October 1, 1953
DiedJune 8, 1987(1987-06-08) (aged 33)
Genres
OccupationDrummer
Instrument(s)Drums, backing vocals
Years active1972–1987
Formerly ofAretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Ashford & Simpson, David Byrne, Deborah Harry, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Kenny G, The B-52's, Jean-Michel Jarre

Horton recorded an instructional videocassette in 1983, which was released by DCI. Titled "The History of R&B/Funk Drumming", it is considered to be "one of the first instructional type videos of its kind."[4] The video is long out of print, but can still be viewed on YouTube as of March 2021.[5]

Horton, who suffered from bipolar disorder, died on June 8, 1987, when he jumped from a 17th-floor hotel window in New York shortly after performing in a Luther Vandross concert.[6] Was (Not Was) dedicated their 1988 album What Up, Dog? to Horton; he performed on the album and it was released after his death.[7]

Discography

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With Lonnie Liston Smith

With Gloria Gaynor

With Irene Cara

With John Lennon and Yoko Ono

With George Benson

With Linda Clifford

  • I'll Keep on Loving You (Capitol, 1982)

With Ben E. King

With Cheryl Lynn

With Aretha Franklin

With Yoko Ono

With Jean Michel Jarre

With John Phillips

With Stephanie Mills

With Was (Not Was)

References

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  1. ^ Talevski, Nick (2010). Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 284. ISBN 9780857121172. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Yogi Horton". AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Dave "Baby" Cortez – Soul Vibration (1972, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1972.
  4. ^ "Yogi Horton". Modern Drummer. 1 May 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Yogi Horton Drum Lesson Funk/R&B". YouTube. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  6. ^ Talevski, Nick (2010). Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 284. ISBN 9780857121172. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  7. ^ https://i.discogs.com/blb8_rfo4PHZ4W5HxpRkeSy3IsuWFb22CCDw0poQ-IA/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:594/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTMyMTU3/MS0xNDc0NTkwMjM2/LTg1MzkuanBlZw.jpeg [bare URL image file]