Yogi Horton


Lawrence "Yogi" Horton was an American R&B, funk, jazz and rock drummer. Horton worked and recorded as a session and touring drummer with a wide variety of musicians such as Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Ashford & Simpson, David Byrne, Deborah Harry, Hall & Oates, Diana Ross, Kenny G, The B-52's, and Jean-Michel Jarre among numerous others. His first recording was on Dave "Baby" Cortez's 1972 album Soul Vibration.
Horton recorded an instructional videocassette in 1983, which was released by DCI. Titled "The History of R&B/Funk Drumming", it is considered to be "one of the first instructional type videos of its kind." The video is long out of print, but can still be viewed on YouTube as of March 2021.
Horton, who suffered from bipolar disorder, died on June 8, 1987, when he jumped from a 17th-floor hotel window in New York shortly after performing in a Luther Vandross concert. Was (Not Was) dedicated their 1988 album What Up, Dog? to Horton; he performed on the album and it was released after his death.

Discography

With David Byrne
With Lonnie Liston Smith
With Gloria GaynorGloria Gaynor
With Irene CaraAnyone Can See
With John Lennon and Yoko OnoMilk and Honey
With George BensonWhile the City Sleeps...
With Linda CliffordI'll Keep on Loving You
With Ben E. KingStreet Tough
With Cheryl LynnInstant Love Preppie
With Aretha FranklinJump to It Get It Right Who's Zoomin' Who? Aretha Through the Storm
With Yoko OnoIt's Alright (I See Rainbows)
With Jean Michel JarreZoolook
With John PhillipsPay Pack & Follow
With Stephanie MillsTantalizingly Hot If I Were Your Woman
With Was (Not Was)Born To Laugh At Tornadoes