LOS ANGELES (August 23, 2006) — Rock drummer Bruce Gary, who worked with George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Stephen Stills but is best known as The Knack’s original drummer on “My Sharona,” has died. He was 54.
Gary died Tuesday at Tarzana Medical Center, said Guy McCain, publicist for The Knack’s lead singer Doug Fieger. The cause of death wasn’t disclosed, McCain said Wednesday.
“He was an integral part of our sound not to mention a great drummer,” Fieger said in a statement.
In addition to The Knack, Gary’s three-decade career as a drummer and producer included work with a who’s-who of performers.
Besides Harrison, Dylan and Stills, he recorded with Cream’s Jack Bruce, Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow, Bette Midler, Yoko Ono, Harry Nilsson and The Doors’ guitarist Robby Krieger, according to the Web site, brucegary.com.
Gary also worked with blues masters Albert Collins, Albert King and John Lee Hooker and toured with former Eagles member Randy Meisner and Spencer Davis.
He also co-produced a series of posthumous releases from Jimi Hendrix, including the “Blues” compilation.
Gary also produced the CD of drum samples “Bruce Gary’s Drum vocabulary.” The drum loops are popular in professional and home recording studios where they can be added to any song.
On Aug. 3, Fieger underwent successful brain surgery. Fieger, 53, had two brain tumors removed during the operation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and he’s now recovering at home, McCain said.
The Knack was formed in 1978 and a year later hit it big with “My Sharona.” The group’s debut album “Get the Knack” sold 6 million copies, followed by a second album “… But the Little Girls Understand,” which sold 2 million.
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