Ndugu Chancler recorded with such artists as Frank Sinatra, Herbie Hancock, Weather Report, John Lee Hooker, Kenny Rogers, and Michael Jackson. Ndugu was the drummer on Jackson’s hit single “Billie Jean” and on the albums Thriller and Bad. Ndugu also played on a number of movie soundtracks including An Officer and a Gentleman, Indecent Proposal, and The Color Purple.
As a songwriter Ndugu co-wrote hits including “Dance Sister Dance” for Santana, “Reach For It” for George Duke, and “Let It Whip” for the Dazz Band. His production credits include Flora Purim, Bill Summers, and Toki, along with his own solo recordings: Ndugu and the Chocolate Jam Co., and Ndugu Chancler. Ndugu co-produced recordings for Santana, George Duke, The Crusaders, Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Tina Turner, and a group he co-led with Patrice Rushen and Ernie Watts, The Meeting. These associations earned many Gold and Platinum albums and Grammy Awards.
As an educator, Ndugu worked with the Jazz Mentorship Program and the Thelonious Monk Institute, and he was the faculty advisor to the U.S.C. Jazz Reach in Los Angeles. Ndugu was also on the faculty of the Young Musicians Program at Cal Berkeley, Stanford Jazz Workshop, Diaz Music Institute, and Music For All, and he was an Adjunct Professor of Jazz and Popular Music Studies at The University of Southern California, Flora L. Thornton School of Music.
Visit the Percussive Art Society’s website: HERE
