Rocky Dzidzornu

Rock
blues-rock
funk
R&B
world music

Occupation(s)PercussionistInstrument(s)

Congas
percussion

Musical artist

Kwasi "Rocky" Dzidzornu,^[1]^[2] also known as Rocky Dijon, was a Ghanaian-born percussionist known for his 1960s and 1970s work with rock and R&B artists.

Biography

Dzidzornu was born in the British Gold Coast colony (later Ghana), on 28 February 1932.^[1] In the 1960s and 1970s, he played with acts such as the Rolling Stones, Nick Drake, Ginger Baker, Stevie Wonder, Billy Preston, Taj Mahal, Joe Walsh.^[3]

In 1968, producer Jimmy Miller enlisted Dzidzornu to record with the Rolling Stones.^[4] He played on the albums Beggars Banquet (1968) and Let It Bleed (1969). He also appeared in the The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus concert and film. In 1971, he appeared on "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" from Sticky Fingers. Bill Wyman also enlisted him on his 1976 solo album Stone Alone.

War's drummer Harold Brown has named him as an important influence, and also credits him with teaching Ginger Baker.^[5] Critic Ned Sublette has written that the addition of his conga drumming on "Sympathy for the Devil" transformed the song from "a dirge, and a dull one at that...making it come alive".^[6]^[7]

Dzidzornu died in California on 13 March 1993.^[1]

Selected discography

1968: Beggars Banquet (The Rolling Stones)
1969: Five Leaves Left (Nick Drake)
1969: Let It Bleed (The Rolling Stones)
1970: The Road to Ruin (John and Beverley Martyn)
1970: Ginger Baker's Air Force 2 (Ginger Baker's Air Force)
1970: The Answer (Peter Bardens' Village)
1971: Sticky Fingers (The Rolling Stones)
1971: The Real Thing (Taj Mahal)
1971: Happy Just to Be Like I Am (Taj Mahal)
1974: Fulfillingness' First Finale (Stevie Wonder)
1974: Perfect Angel (Minnie Riperton)
1974: Mo' Roots (Taj Mahal)
1975: Music Keeps Me Together (Taj Mahal)
1975: It's My Pleasure (Billy Preston)
1975: The Boys Don't Do It (Hugh Masekela)
1976: Stone Alone (Bill Wyman)
1976: You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind (Joe Walsh)
1976: Music Fuh Ya' (Musica Para Tu) (Taj Mahal)
1977: Brothers (Taj Mahal)
1981: Magic Windows (Herbie Hancock)
1998: Do What You Like (Ginger Baker)
2009: Valleys of Neptune (Jimi Hendrix)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Rocky Dijon Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 December 2023. Born: February 28, 1932 in Ghana; Died: March 13, 1993 in California.
^ Coddington, Lew (26 January 1976). "Taj Sends Audience Sailing". Marin Independent Journal. p. 12. ...conga players Larry McDonald and Kwasi (Rocky) Dzidzornu.
^ "Ladies & lords take a bow for Master Drummer & Percussionist from Ghana Kwasi ‘Rocky Dijon’ Dzidzornu" Blakk Pepper. Retrieved 2018-07-03.^{[dead link]}
^ "Ranking the Rolling Stones: Moments that matter from the Navy Pier show" Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
^ Jim Payne and Harry Weinger, The Great Drummers of R&B Funk & Soul (Mel Bay Publications, 2007), ISBN 978-0-7866-7303-2, pp. 148ff. Excerpts available at Google Books.
^ Ned Sublette, "The Kingsmen and the Cha-Cha-Chá", in Eric Weisbard, ed., Listen Again: A Momentary History of Pop Music (Duke University Press, 2007), ISBN 978-0-8223-4041-6, p. 90. Excerpt available at Google Books.
^ See also Stephen Davis, Old Gods Almost Dead: The 40-Year Odyssey of the Rolling Stones (Random House Digital, Inc., 2001), ISBN 978-0-7679-0312-7. Excerpts available at Google Books.