Zigaboo Modeliste
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Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste is a drummer from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, one of the most highly acclaimed drummers ever to hail from the Crescent City. He remains a strong influence for drummers and a great many hip-hop samplers. He is best known as a founding member of the Meters and The Wild Tchopitoulas as well as his side work with artists like Keith Richards, Robert Palmer, and Dr. John.
Zigaboo's style is unique; he is especially known for his syncopated rhythms and his unique second line Funk styles, which have been sampled, imitated and copied many times over.
Zigaboo recorded on all the original LP’s with The Meters and has also been sampled many times over from artists such as Musiq, Queen Latifah, Run DMC, NWA, Ice Cube, Salt N’ Pepa, Cypress Hill, EPMD, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, Naughty by Nature, and Tweet. In 2005, he was a BMI award winner for “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” by Young Gunz - and also, his drum sound provided the main loops for Amerie’s “1Thing” - nominated for two Grammys and hit #1 on the R&B charts.
Zigaboo has written over 200 songs individually and collectively with The Meters. This collection of songs has been released on over 36 albums nationally and internationally. His tunes have also been in movies such as “Two Can Play That Game”, “Jackie Brown”, “Drum Line”, and “8 Mile”.
Zigaboo released his first solo CD in 2000 - ”Zigaboo.com”. “I’m on the Right Track” was released in 2004 (with special guests Dr. John and Bernie Worrell). He currently lives in Oakland, California and performs regularly, primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area and New Orleans.
An incomplete list of other artists he has recorded for or with:
- Dr. John
- The Wild Tchopitoulas
- Allen Toussaint
- Lee Dorsey
- Robert Palmer
- Keith Richards
- Aaron Neville
- Professor Longhair
- John Fogerty
- Harry Connick Jr.
