Roger G. Hawkins (October 16, 1945 – May 20, 2021) was an American drummer best known for playing as part of the studio backing band known as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (also known as the Swampers) of Alabama. Rolling Stone ranked Hawkins number 31 on its list of greatest drummers.

Biography

Hawkins's drumming can be heard on dozens of hit singles, including tracks by Percy Sledge ("When a Man Loves a Woman"), Aretha Franklin ("Respect", "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" etc.), Wilson Pickett ("Mustang Sally", "Land of 1000 Dances"), The Staple Singers, Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Womack, Clarence Carter, Etta James, Duane Allman, Joe Cocker, Paul Simon, Bob Seger, Bonnie Bramlett, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Boz Scaggs, Albert King, Traffic, Rod Stewart, Dan Penn, Lulu, and Willie Nelson. He also recorded with Eric Clapton in the early 80's. "'Playing with the same guys for so long, well, it's really hard to impress Barry, David or Jimmy because they've heard me do it before. And it's the same with them. I mean, if Barry plays a hot lick, I don't congratulate him; he's supposed to do that. I don't know what it is, but when the four of us sit down to play, it's almost like a burden has been lifted from our shoulders. It's like, 'Hey, we're home.'" Hawkins died at age 75 at his home in Sheffield, Alabama. Hawkins had suffered from numerous health problems including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Top 40 US hits

Collaborations

With Alabama With Paul Anka With Patti Austin With Joan Baez With William Bell With Bobby Bland With Bonnie Bramlett With Dee Dee Bridgewater With Dianne Brooks With Shirley Brown With Peabo Bryson With Jimmy Buffett With Solomon Burke With Billy Burnette With J. J. Cale With Kim Carnes With Clarence Carter With Beth Nielsen Chapman With Cher With Eric Clapton With Jimmy Cliff With Joe Cocker With Ry Cooder With Steve Cropper With Gail Davies With Mink DeVille With Willy DeVille With The Dramatics With José Feliciano With Eddie Floyd With Aretha Franklin With Glenn Frey With Art Garfunkel With Barry Goldberg With James Govan With John P. Hammond With Ronnie Hawkins With Levon Helm With Loleatta Holloway With Etta James With Margie Joseph With Nick Kamen With Albert King With Julian Lennon With Lulu With Mac McAnally With Mary MacGregor With Lonnie Mack With Delbert McClinton With Frankie Miller With Ronnie Milsap With Jackie Moore With Willie Nelson With Laura Nyro With The Oak Ridge Boys With Odetta With Danny O'Keefe With Dan Penn With Wilson Pickett With Don Preston With Primal Scream With Eddie Rabbitt With Helen Reddy With Little Richard With Johnny Rivers With Linda Ronstadt With Billy Joe Royal With Calvin Russell With Leon Russell With Boz Scaggs With Bob Seger With Paul Simon With Mavis Staples With The Staple Singers With Candi Staton With Cat Stevens With B. W. Stevenson With Rod Stewart With Billy Swan With Keith Sykes With Alex Taylor With Kate Taylor With Traffic With Vaya Con Dios With Wendy Waldman With Tony Joe White