Homer Steinweiss
Homer Steinweiss is an American drummer, songwriter, and producer known as a prominent drummer in the New York soul revival scene. He is a founding member and drummer of groups including Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Hardly Knew Ya, El Michels Affair, and Dan Auerbach's The Arcs, among many others. He leads the Brooklyn folk soul band Holy Hive with Paul Spring. A popular session musician as part of The Dap-Kings and in his own right, he is perhaps best known for his work with Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse, with whom he recorded the 2006 album Back to Black.
Early life
Steinweiss was born into a musical family in New York City. His parents worked in the jewelry business and were supportive of his interest in music. He began playing music in the early 1990s after watching a conga player in the jazz band at his sister's Manhattan high school. When his conga teacher became unavailable he switched to drums. Steinweiss was initially interested in grunge but an early drum teacher, Matt Patuto, guided him to the music of James Brown and The Meters.In 2001, Steinweiss entered college at SUNY Purchase to study philosophy, though he already had an active musical career.
Career
Steinweiss' career took off when he was only 16 after The Mighty Imperials released their first record, Thunder Chicken. The Mighty Imperials included Steinweiss on drums, bassist Nick Movshon, multi-instrumentalist Leon Michels, and singer Joseph Henry.The Mighty Imperials' raw funk and soul sounds morphed into many collaborations including Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, El Michels Affair, Fabulous Three, Menahan Street Band and The Arcs and others. In 2006, British producer Mark Ronson heard Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and asked the band to play a session with the then-unknown Amy Winehouse. These sessions became her album Back to Black.
Steinweiss has recorded and toured with artists such as Amy Winehouse, The Arcs, St. Vincent, Foreigner, The Kills, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Sheryl Crow and others.
Personal life
Steinweiss is an illustrator and dog lover, a foodie and occasionally blogs about the food he finds.Discography
Adapted from Allmusic.As band member
With The Mighty ImperialsThunder ChickenWith Sharon Jones & the Dap-KingsDap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Naturally
- 100 Days, 100 Nights
- I Learned the Hard Way
- Give the People What They Want
- It's a Holiday Soul Party
- Soul of a Woman
- My World Faithful Man Emma Jean Special Night It Rains Love Big Crown Vaults Vol. 1
- The PJs... From Afar Walk On By EP Enter The 37th Chamber Loose Change EP Return To The 37th Chamber Adult Themes
- Clover Yeti Season
- No Time For Dreaming Victim of Love Changes Black Velvet
- The Exciting Sounds of Menahan Street Band
With The ArcsYours, Dreamily, The Arcs vs. The Inventors Vol. I EP
With The OlympiansThe Olympians
With Holy Hive
- Day Break Harping EP
- ''Float Back To You''
As producer
- The Like – Release Me
- Diane Birch – Speak a Little Louder
- Paul Spring – Towards a Center
- Monika – Secret in the Dark
- Mail The Horse -– Planet Gates
- Max Shrager – Thoughts Of You
- Erika Spring – Scars
- Doug Shorts – Casual Encounter EP
As sideman
- Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
- Mark Ronson – Version
- Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens – What Have You Done, My Brother?
- Daniel Merriweather – Love & War
- Aloe Blacc – Good Things
- Mark Ronson – Record Collection
- Michael Leonhart & the Avramina 7 – Seahorse and the Storyteller
- Rufus Wainwright – Out of the Game
- – Look Closer
- Texas – Texas 25
- Geoff Zanelli & Mark Ronson – Mortdecai (Music From The Motion Picture)
- – "Gonna Make Time" from Nothing More to Say
- Lady Wray – Queen Alone – Move Upstairs
- The Sha La Das – Love In The Wind
- Grace Lightman – Silver Eater
- Hanni El Khatib – Flight
- Michael Leonhart & JSWISS – ''Bona Fide''
Credits
Drumming credits
Credits as a session musician.As sampled artist
The earthy, retro grooves of the Menahan Street Band have been sampled by many artists including Jay Z and Kendrick Lamar. El Michels Affair grooves have been sampled by many artists as well including Wu-Tang Clan, Raekwon, Isaac Hayes and many others. Credits include,- Eminem – "Groundhog Day" from The Marshall Mathers LP 2
- Ludacris – "Not Long" from Ludaversal
- Travis Scott – "Antidote" from ''Rodeo''