Idris Muhammad
American drummer who blended jazz, funk, and soul.
Idris Muhammad (born Leo Morris; November 13, 1939 – July 29, 2014) was an American drummer and bandleader who worked across jazz, funk, R&B, and soul. His career included sessions with Ahmad Jamal, Lou Donaldson, Pharoah Sanders, Bob James, and Tete Montoliu.
He grew up in New Orleans’ 13th Ward, next to a dry cleaner’s. Muhammad later said the sound of the shop’s steam presser shaped his hi-hat technique. As a child, he spent time with the Neville Brothers and showed early skill as a percussionist, playing in a Mardi Gras parade at age nine. He asked Paul Barbarin to teach him to read music, but Barbarin declined, believing Muhammad was already talented enough.
At 14, Muhammad began his professional career with the Hawketts on their recording “Mardi Gras Mambo.” Two years later, in 1956, he played drums on Fats Domino’s “Blueberry Hill.” After Joe Jones introduced him, Muhammad toured with Sam Cooke. He later worked with Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield in Chicago, focusing on R&B, before moving to New York City in the mid-1960s. There, he joined the jazz scene, playing with Kenny Dorham, Horace Silver, Lou Donaldson, and Betty Carter, and served in the Apollo Theatre’s house band. In 1967, he joined the orchestra for the off-Broadway production of *Hair* and stayed when it moved to Broadway.
During this period, Muhammad was part of the Prestige label’s house band, appearing on over 150 recordings for Prestige, Blue Note, and CTI. He worked with Lou Donaldson and Charles Earland, who blended jazz with funk, soul, and rock, and also played as a sideman for Gene Ammons, Nat Adderley, and George Benson. Recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder, who had a close relationship with Muhammad, helped refine his drum sound.
After four years with *Hair*, Muhammad left to tour with Roberta Flack, working with her for much of the next decade. His first album as a leader, *Black Rhythm Revolution!*, came out on Prestige in 1970, followed by *Peace and Rhythm* in 1971. Both explored jazz and New Orleans rhythms. Later albums on the Kudu imprint—*Power of Soul*, *House of the Rising Sun*, and *Turn This Mutha Out*—moved toward funk and became favorites among funk enthusiasts, later heavily sampled by hip-hop artists.
Toward the end of the 1970s, Muhammad joined Johnny Griffin’s band and played with Pharoah Sanders.
- Born
- November 13, 1939, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Died
- July 29, 2014, aged 74, of kidney failure
- Field
- Drummer, bandleader
- Nationality
- American
- Known for
- Fusion of jazz, funk, R&B, and soul; prolific sideman and leader; influential drum sound
Lore & Background
Idris Muhammad was born in New Orleans and grew up in the city's 13th Ward next to a dry cleaner's shop, whose steam presser he later said influenced his hi-hat technique. He spent time with the Neville Brothers and showed early talent as a percussionist, playing in a Mardi Gras parade at age 9. At 14, he began his professional career performing with The Hawketts on 'Mardi Gras Mambo.' Two years later, in 1956, he was present during the recording of Fats Domino's 'Blueberry Hill,' but the drums on that track were played by Earl Palmer. After touring with Sam Cooke and working with Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield in Chicago, he moved to New York City in the mid-1960s, where he became embedded in the jazz scene playing with Kenny Dorham, Horace Silver, Lou Donaldson, and Betty Carter, and served in the Apollo Theatre's house band.
Reader's Guide
Idris Muhammad's significance lies in his prolific output as both a sideman and leader, bridging jazz, funk, R&B, and soul. As a member of the Prestige label's house band, he made more than 150 recordings for Prestige, Blue Note, and CTI, working with artists like Lou Donaldson, Charles Earland, Gene Ammons, and George Benson. His first album as a leader, Black Rhythm Revolution! (1970), explored jazz and New Orleans rhythms, while later funk-oriented albums like Power of Soul and Turn This Mutha Out became favorites of funk enthusiasts and were heavily sampled by hip-hop artists. His conversion to Islam and name change in the 1960s reflected his personal identity, and he maintained a distinctive style that made him recognizable. He continued playing into the 2000s with artists such as Ahmad Jamal and Sonny Rollins, and his legacy endures through his recorded work and influence on later genres.
Did You Know?
- He changed his name from Leo Morris to Idris Muhammad after converting to Islam in the 1960s.
- He claimed the sound of a dry cleaner's steam presser next to his childhood home influenced his hi-hat technique.
- He played drums on Fats Domino's recording of 'Blueberry Hill' at age 16.
- His son, also named Idris Muhammad, is a professional chef who appeared on cooking competition shows.
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