The King of Groove: John Robinson Talks Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Off the Wall & Iconic Hits

In this episode, we sit down with the legendary John Robinson, the most recorded drummer in modern music history. Known for his work with musical icons like Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and Steve Winwood, John gives us an exclusive look into his career, his new book The King of Groove, and the stories behind some of the most iconic hits of all time.From his early beginnings in Iowa to shaping the sound of timeless classics like Off the Wall and Higher Love, John shares insights on groove, musical innovation, and the creative process.Timestamps:1:20 - Growing Up in Iowa2:04 - Learning from his Mom3:45 - First Time Playing Drums4:54 - What is Groove?8:30 - The Pocket9:03 - Rock With You & Off The Wall12:33 - Be Spontaneous as a Drummer13:58 - Staying Prepared15:04 - How Do You Know You Have A Hit?16:28 - Rod Temperton's Writing Style18:08 - Working with John Williams21:02 - We Are The World Sessions23:45 - On AI Demos26:00 - The Killer Q Posse27:40 - Being Entrepreneurial29:10 - Touring v. Session31:17 - Steely Dan32:00 - Favorite Places to Tour33:25 - Modern Music35:56 - Genre-Blending37:31 - What is Melody?38:54 - Intros for Songs39:05 - Higher Love41:02 - On Healthy Ego42:24 - Have A Fresh Eyes When Making Music43:55 - Writing the Book47:13 - New Book Publishing Company48:33 - Getting Music Credits49:40 - Stories that Missed the Book52:30 - Top 10 List in the Book53:55 - Rapid-Fire57:03 - What Should Be A Drummer's ToolkitBe sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more exclusive Author Talks and behind-the-scenes interviews with the legends who shaped music.📚 Get your copy of John Robinson’s book King of the Groove - https://www.johnjrrobinson.com/store/p/jr-signature-hat-6xnzaFollow John Robinson on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnjrrobinson1/?hl=enWebsite: https://www.johnjrrobinson.com/Twitter: https://x.com/johnjrrobinson?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorThis Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs. Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!