BIOGRAPHY

Jim Keltner

Jim Keltner, born James Lee Keltner on April 27, 1942 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an American drummer known best known for his session work, contributing to albums of many well-known artists. He also played on solo recordings by three of The Beatles — George Harrison, John Lennon (including Lennon solo albums, as well as albums released both by the Plastic Ono Band and Yoko Ono), and Ringo Starr. 

As a free-lance drummer, Keltner has worked three of the Beatles (George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr), Leon Russell, Gabor Szabo, Delaney Bramlett, Roy Orbison, Harry Nilsson, Jerry Garcia, Eric Clapton, Guthrie Thomas, Steely Dan, Joe Cocker, Van Dyke Parks, the Rolling Stones, Ronnie Wood, Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Brian Wilson, Roger McGuinn, Seals and Crofts, The Ramones, Bill Frisell, Neil Young, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Phil Keaggy, Steve Jones, Crowded House, Fiona Apple, Elvis Costello, The Bee Gees, Jackson Browne, The Manhattan Transfer, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, Sam Phillips, Los Lobos, Pink Floyd, Warren Zevon, Rufus Wainwright, Tom Petty, Gillian Welch, the Steve Miller Band, Alice Cooper, Sheryl Crow, Lucinda Williams and numerous others.

The following video biography was created for Jim Keltner's 2014 induction into Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.