King Errisson -

King Errisson (born Oct. 29, 1941) is a percussionist from Nassau, Bahamas, who has appeared on hundreds of albums over a half-century career. During the late 1960s, he assisted soul-jazz and exotica recordings by Freddie Roach, Les Baxter, and Freddy Robinson, plus soul-pop foursome The Friends of Distinction.

In 1970, Errisson released his Canyon Records solo debut The King Arrives. The album displays his palm-mastery over Latin-jazz/funk musical backdrops on cuts like “Zola” and “Udaka.” Similar ground would be explored on 1973’s Island Son (aka We Must Say Goodbye), replete with Jimmy Haskell string arrangements. Also in 1973, Errisson participated in Afro-rock studio collective Afrique ‎for the album Soul Makossa, one of many interpretations of that then-ubiquitous title.

Meanwhile, the early ’70s saw Errisson’s percussion work grace all corners of the music industry, including albums by soulsters (Etta James, Maxine Weldon, Merry Clayton), singer/songwriters (Chi Coltrane, John Stewart, Tim Buckley), and jazz elders (Cal Tjader, Grant Green, Stanley Turrentine). In 1974 alone, he played on nearly 30 albums, including titles by Boz Scaggs (Slow Dancer) and Flora Purim (Stories to Tell).

In 1976, Errisson signed to Westbound Records and released The Magic Man, recorded with a cast of horn players and backing vocalists. Soon thereafter, he opened further ears with “Manhattan Love Song,” a 10-minute rhythmic workout from 1977’s L.A. Bound, a strobe-lighted set further illuminated by the steel-pan jubilance and chorus-line vivacity of the title-track.

Discography: