Legendary “Nashville Cat” Jerry Carrigan Has Died
Drummers don’t get a lot of attention in country music. It’s their duty to keep the rhythm and get out of the way out of everything else—to be heard but not seen. At one point, drummers were considered a pariah in country, an not allowed on the hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Bob Wills cured country of that. Today, drummers are scarce in popular country music for an entirely different reason. Drum machines and pop producers with laptops and MIDI controllers now set the beats to many of the songs on country radio. But the format would never be where it is today if it weren’t for men like Jerry Carrigan.
If there was every a drummer who would qualify to be considered as an inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame, it would be Jerry. Simply put, he might be the most accomplished and prolific drummer in country music history. With his handiwork featured on iconic songs such as George Jones’s “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” Charlie Rich’s “Behind Closed Doors,” Waylon Jennings’s “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line,” Kenny Rogers’s “The Gambler,” Jerry Reed’s “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot,” not to mention songs from Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Paycheck, Ray Stevens and so many more, no wonder Jerry was considered the drummer in Nashville for decades.
Born in Florence, Alabama near Muscle Shoals on September 13, 1943, Jerry had little use for toys growing up, instead preferring to beat on empty boxes and pots and pans for playtime. Carrigan was a prodigy in the music business, playing his first recording session at the age of 13, and never turning back. He played in bands both in school and after, and left college after two years to become a full time session musician at the historic FAME studios in Muscle Shoals. Soon he fell in as one of the world-renown musicians in the recording spot that attracted talent from all over the country and world looking to capture that special Muscle Shoals sound. But it was Nashville where Carrigan would forge his most lasting legacy.
Moving to Nashville in 1965 with fellow Muscle Shoals musicians rhythm musicians David Briggs and Norbert Putnam, Jerry Carrigan would soon be considered one of the “Nashville Cats” that would make Music City the destination to record music of all kinds, not just country. Along with his country resume, Jerry Carrigan performed on tracks from Elvis Presley, Sammy Davis, Jr., Tony Joe White, Al Hirt, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Tom Jones, Henry Mancini, Joan Baez, Don McLean, and so many more.
During his peak, Carrigan was in such high demand, he was playing twelve three-hour sessions per week. To top Nashville producers such as Larry Butler, Owen Bradley, Chet Atkins, and Billy Sherrill, he was their go-to man behind the skins as part of Nashville’s ‘A-Team.’ Along with fellow A-listers like guitarist Grady Martin and piano player Hargus “Pig” Robbins, Jerry Carrigan helped forge the sound of country music.
Beyond his session work, Jerry Carrigan also played live for some very important roles, including in the opening band for the first ever North American performance by The Beatles in 1964, and touring with John Denver for nine years starting in 1981.
Jerry Carrigan moved back to Florence, Alabama in the mid 90’s, participating in music on and off, though he had grown quite reclusive over the last few years. In 2009, the work of Jerry Carrigan was saluted by the Country Music Hall of Fame as part of their Nashville Cats exhibit. He died in Chattanooga, Tennessee according to close friend and fellow studio musician Norbert Putnam. He was 75-years-old.
Drummers in Nashville are unfortunately a dying breed. Now the country music community has lost one of its best ever.
June 25, 2019 @ 6:51 am
Musicians like Jerry Carrigan should ALWAYS be remembered, especially by Nashville; because if the country music industry does not sufficiently remember its past and the people who shaped it, then the industry and the music it tries to elevate may not have a future (IMHO).
June 25, 2019 @ 7:31 am
Also played with Charley Pride and Tony Joe White. Fantastic feel. RIP.
June 25, 2019 @ 7:52 am
Damn. More bad news. See ya’ Jerry.
June 25, 2019 @ 8:09 am
Great read. Truly an important man in the history of country music . Interestingly, Reggie Young was also in that band who opened for Beatles in 64. And Reggie just recently passed away as well. He too, was a legendary session picker playing behind Cash, Jennings, Willie and many others. He also had a muscle shoals legacy. Some true legendary players are departing right now, sadly. Glad you are writing about these fellows.
June 26, 2019 @ 1:48 am
Reggie also used to tour. Here he is, backing the Highwaymen on “Silver Stallion” at the Nassau Coliseum. The video director made Reggie (in a “Highwaymen” t-shirt) as prominent as the 4 legendary group members in this clip. (I was at that show!)
June 26, 2019 @ 1:48 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tngWVx61yMo
June 26, 2019 @ 3:54 am
Silver Stallion is one of my absolute fav’s from The Highwaymen. Great footage of Reggie!
June 25, 2019 @ 11:30 am
This is my absolute favorite Jerry Carrigan performance which is a tie with Tony Joe White’s original “Polk Salad Annie”.
This Jerry Lee Lewis cover that sounds like it came straight from the jungle was featured on the 1970 RCA Records album: “ELVIS COUNTRY”.
https://youtu.be/asGttQF_0wk
June 25, 2019 @ 11:49 am
RIP and thank you, Jerry.
June 25, 2019 @ 3:50 pm
had not heard of him, but listening now,. agree, great feel. Great to find out about these top players.
with Jerry Reed….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c87sYK7KZE
June 26, 2019 @ 12:37 pm
Music back then had such a cool feel. Today everything is so rigid and robotic. Listen to the feel of the drums on Live at Folsom Prison or the live Okie from Muskogee album. Same with anything anything recorded by Richie Albright. Today all that stuff would have the life sucked out of it in the name editing convenience.
July 2, 2019 @ 4:25 pm
Rest in peace Jerry. Your home town of Florence, Alabama and the Muscle Shoals area will never forget you!
Unfortunately Father Time is still undefeated… dirty low down….
July 15, 2019 @ 8:27 pm
Great guy- great player… always a joy to be around.
Shoot. See ya buddy.
September 24, 2019 @ 11:47 am
I was one of his biggest supporters back when he first moved up from Ala. I used him many times- Demos & Master,s including several singles by The Vogues.. He was a great drummer- but also a personality that was so easy to get along with. I also played rhythm guitar with him on sessions as well— and he was ALWAYS “in the pocket”! He could settle into a groove like no other…….. RIP old friend!