Peter DePoe
Native American musician (born 1943)
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Peter DePoe (born August 21, 1943), also known as Last Walking Bear, is a Native American rock musician who was the drummer for the Native American band Redbone. He first played with Jimi Hendrix in Seattle's local taverns as a young man and moved to California and became Redbone's drummer in 1969.
Peter DePoe | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Last Walking Bear |
| Born | August 21, 1943 Neah Bay, Washington, United States |
| Genres | Rock, pop |
| Occupations | Musician, drummer |
| Instruments | Drums |
Background
Born in Neah Bay, Washington in 1943, Peter DePoe is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon[1] and a descendant of the Southern Cheyenne and Turtle Mountain Chippewa. DePoe is also of French and German descent.
Musical career
He was credited with developing a style of drumming known as "King Kong", later copied by other drummers for its versatile and funk-oriented rhythms.[2] In an interview with Drumeo, Tower of Power's David Garibaldi described the "King Kong Beat" as one of the most important and influential rhythms incorporated into his drumming style.[3]
In early 1972, he left the group. The band replaced him with Arturo Perez, and then with Redbone bandmate Tony Bellamy's cousin Butch Rillera.[4]
DePoe has since played drums for several Washington-area bands, including Paco, a trio that was active from 1977-1979 and produced select recordings with Kearney Barton's Seattle-based audio production company, Topaz Records.[5][6]
Further reading
- "Come And Get Your Love: A Celebratory Ode to Redbone (1939-Present)" by Pat "Redbone" Vegas. Jim Hoffmann, contributor. Rehbon Publishing, 2017, 280 pps.
- "King Kong Pete: Redbone and Beyond" by Peter "Last Walking Bear" DePoe. Jim Hoffmann, contributor. King Kong Beat Publishing, 2017, 292 pps.
- "King Kong Pete: How a Real Drummer Boy from the Neah Bay Reservation Changed the World" by Peter "Last Walking Bear" DePoe. various contributors. King Kong Beat Publishing, 2023, 50 pps.
Discography
- Ron Buford - Deep Soul Pt. 1 & 2 - Camelot Studios - 1962
- Mr. Clean and the Cleansers - 1964
- Jimmy McCracklin - The Stinger Man (LP, Album) Minit LP-24017 1969
- Redbone - Potlatch Epic 1970
- Redbone - Redbone Epic 1970
- Redbone - Message From A Drum Epic 1971
- Power (Prelude To A Means) (as Peter O. DePoe)
- Redbone - Already Here (LP, Album) Epic, Epic, Epic EPC 65072, S EPC 65072, KE 31598 1972
- Trafton - Traffic Jam (CD, Album) Rose Records (2), Rose Records (2) #208, ROSE208 1990
- Take It Easy Various - WTNG 89.9 FM: Solid Bronze (LP, Comp, Ltd) Numero Group, Numbero NBR-002 2012
- Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street - EMI- 1972
- Redbone - Wovoka Epic 1973
- Redbone - Come And Get Your Redbone / The Best Of Redbone Epic 1975
- Jimmy Ford - Harlan County (Sundown/White Whale Records JHS-1002), 1969
- Brenda Patterson - Keep On Keepin On 1970 - Epic Records
Writing & Arrangement:
- Things Go Better... (as P. DePoe)
- 23rd And Mad (as P. DePoe)
- Intro for Chant 13th Hour - Redbone
- Cisco's Ride Home (as P. DePoe)