James Oldaker (September 5, 1951 – July 16, 2020) was an American

rock music Rock music is a broad genre of popular music that originated as "rock and roll" in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of different styles in the mid-1960s and later, particularly in the United States and ...

blues rock Blues rock is a fusion music genre that combines elements of blues and rock music. It is mostly an electric ensemble-style music with instrumentation similar to electric blues and rock (electric guitar, electric bass guitar, and drums, sometimes ...

and country music drummer and percussionist.

Biography

James Oldaker was born in

Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region wit ...

. One of the first bands that he was a member of was called the Rogues Five, who saw regional success in the mid 1960s and opened for other more popular bands such as

the Doors The Doors were an American Rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most controversial and influential ro ...

at the

Tulsa Convention Center The Cox Business Convention Center (formerly the Tulsa Assembly Center, Tulsa Convention Center, and Maxwell Convention Center) is a 310,625 square foot convention center located in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Cox Business Convention Center ( ...

. Oldaker and the Rogues Five were a regular band on local Tulsa television station KOTV's teen dance show: ''Dance Party''. After a stint in

Bob Seger Robert Clark Seger ( ; born May 6, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and The Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s, break ...

's band (on the album ''

Back in '72 ''Back in '72'' is the sixth studio album by American rock singer-songwriter Bob Seger, released in 1973. It was the first new album on Seger's manager Punch Andrews' label, Palladium Records, to be released under their distribution deal with t ...

''), he then was with

Leon Russell Leon Russell (born Claude Russell Bridges; April 2, 1942 – November 13, 2016) was an American musician and songwriter who was involved with numerous bestselling records during his 60-year career that spanned multiple genres, including rock and ...

's band when he was asked by Eric Clapton to participate in the recording of ''

461 Ocean Boulevard ''461 Ocean Boulevard'' is the second studio album by English musician Eric Clapton. The album was released in late July 1974 for RSO Records, shortly after the record company released the hit single "I Shot the Sheriff" in early July the same ...

''. Oldaker remained a member of Clapton's studio and touring bands through 1979, when the entire band was dismissed. Oldaker would return to the Clapton band in 1983, playing on Clapton's '' Behind the Sun'' album, released in 1985, and performing with Clapton at

Live Aid Live Aid was a multi-venue benefit concert held on Saturday 13 July 1985, as well as a music-based fundraising initiative. The original event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise further funds for relief of the 1983–1985 fami ...

that same year, before leaving in 1986.

Jamie Oldaker James Oldaker (September 5, 1951 – July 16, 2020) was an American rock music, blues rock and country music drummer and percussionist. Biography James Oldaker was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. One of the first bands that he was a member of was ...

at Allmusic Oldaker appears on the blues side of the live recording '' 24 Nights'' from 1990 and 1991. Not long after leaving Clapton's band, Oldaker briefly became a member of

Kiss A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction ...

guitarist

Ace Frehley Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley (; born April 27, 1951) is an American musician, best known as the original lead guitarist and co-founding member of the hard rock band Kiss. He invented the persona of The Spaceman (a.k.a. Space Ace) and played wit ...

's project,

Frehley's Comet Frehley's Comet was an American rock band formed and led by ex-Kiss lead guitarist Ace Frehley. The group released two studio albums and one live EP before Frehley left the band to release his 1989 solo album, '' Trouble Walkin. The band ...

, appearing on the 1988 album ''

Second Sighting ''Second Sighting'' is the third solo album by Ace Frehley and last to use the Frehley's Comet moniker. Due to Frehley's illness and substance abuse during the recording, Tod Howarth took a bigger role in singing and songwriting than on the prev ...

''. He was also a onetime member of the

alt country Alt or ALT may refer to: Abbreviations for words * Alt account, an alternative online identity also known as a sock puppet account * Alternate character, in online gaming * Alternate route, type of highway designation * Alternating group, mathema ...

band, The Tractors. Oldaker recorded with musicians such as

the Bellamy Brothers The Bellamy Brothers are an American pop and country music duo consisting of brothers David Milton Bellamy (born September 16, 1950) and Homer Howard Bellamy (born February 2, 1946), from Dade City, Florida. The duo had considerable musical suc ...

Asleep at the Wheel Asleep at the Wheel is an American Western swing group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and is based in Austin, Texas. The band has won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception, released over twenty albums, and has charted more t ...

Peter Frampton Peter Kenneth Frampton (born 22 April 1950) is an English musician and songwriter who was a member of the rock bands Humble Pie and the Herd. As a solo artist, he has released several albums, including his major breakthrough album, the live ...

Stephen Stills Stephen Arthur Stills (born January 3, 1945) is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. As both a solo act and member of two successful bands, Stills has co ...

Freddie King Freddie King (September 3, 1934December 28, 1976) was an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King and B.B. King, none of whom were blood related). Mos ...

, and

the Bee Gees ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

. In August 2005, Oldaker released ''Mad Dogs & Okies'' on

Concord Records Concord Records is an American record label owned by Concord and based in Los Angeles, California. Concord Records was launched in 1995 as an imprint designed to reach beyond the company's foundational Concord Jazz label. The label's artists have ...

, a collection celebrating the music and musicians of Oklahoma, which he produced. Collaborators include Eric Clapton,

Vince Gill Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist b ...

J. J. Cale John Weldon "J. J." Cale (December 5, 1938 – July 26, 2013) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and sound engineer. Though he avoided the limelight, his influence as a musical artist has been acknowledged by figures such as Mark Knop ...

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album '' Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of ''Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and '' Stardust'' (197 ...

Ronnie Dunn Ronald Gene Dunn (born June 1, 1953) is an American country music singer-songwriter and record executive. Starting in 2011, Dunn has worked as a solo artist following the temporary dissolution of Brooks & Dunn. He released his self-titled deb ...

, and

Bonnie Bramlett Bonnie Bramlett (born Bonnie Lynn O'Farrell, November 8, 1944) is an American singer and occasional actress known for performing with her husband, Delaney Bramlett, as Delaney & Bonnie. She continues to sing as a solo artist. Life and career ...

. ''Mad Dogs & Okies/Survivors'' was re-released in 2019 under Jamokie Productions.

Personal life

Oldaker was involved in working with the organizers and the building of the OKPOP museum in Tulsa. He and his wife, Mary, were also hosts of an annual fundraiser, MOJO Fest, to raise money for the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless. Oldaker battled

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma (since about 98–99% of all lung cancers are carcinomas), is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. Lung carcinomas derive from transformed, malignan ...

in the 2010s, eventually becoming cancer-free by late-2019. However, the cancer had returned by the following year, and he died on July 16, 2020, in his hometown of

, U.S. at age 68. In addition to his wife, he was survived by two children, Andrew and Olivia.Erwin, Corey (2020). "Jamie Oldaker, Drummer for Eric Clapton, Dead at 68." @ultimateclassicrock.com (16 July 2020)
Retrieved September 18, 2021.

Discography

*1973 -

- ''

'' *1974 - Eric Clapton - ''

'' *1974 -

The Gap Band The Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band that rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. The band consisted of three brothers: Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, along with other members; it was named after streets (Greenwood, Archer, an ...

- ''

Magicians Holiday ''Magicians Holiday'' is the debut album by The Gap Band in 1974 on Shelter Records. Track listing Personnel ;The Gap Band * Charles Wilson – lead vocals, backing vocals, piano, Clavinet, organ * Ronnie Wilson – backing vocals, t ...

'' *1974 -

- '' Stop All That Jazz'' *1974 -

- ''Burglar'' *1975 - Eric Clapton - '' E.C. Was Here'' *1975 - Eric Clapton - '' There's One in Every Crowd'' *1976 - Eric Clapton - ''

No Reason to Cry ''No Reason to Cry'' is the fourth studio album by Eric Clapton, released by RSO Records on 27 August 1976. The album was recorded in Malibu and Los Angeles between December 1975 to May 1976. The record went platinum in the U.K. Recording The ...

'' *1977 - Eric Clapton - ''

Slowhand ''Slowhand'' is the fifth full-length studio album by Eric Clapton. Released on 25 November 1977 by RSO Records, and titled after Clapton's nickname, it is one of his most commercially and critically successful studio albums. ''Slowhand'' produ ...

'' *1977 - Freddie King - ''1934-1976'' *1978 - Eric Clapton - ''

Backless ''Backless'' is the sixth full-length studio album by Eric Clapton. Produced by Glyn Johns, and released by RSO Records, ''Backless'' reached No. 8 on the pop charts. While the single " Promises" only reached No. 37 in the UK, it was a much ...

'' *1979 -

- ''

Where I Should Be ''Where I Should Be'' is the sixth studio album by Peter Frampton, released in 1979. Background Released in 1979, the album went gold and produced the hit "I Can't Stand It No More", which reached #14 on the Billboard pop charts. Track listing ...

'' *1980 - Peter Frampton - '' Rise Up'' *1980 -

Asleep At The Wheel Asleep at the Wheel is an American Western swing group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and is based in Austin, Texas. The band has won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception, released over twenty albums, and has charted more t ...

- '' Framed'' *1982 -

Marcy Levy Marcella Levy (born June 21, 1952), known professionally as Marcy Levy and (later in her career) Marcella Detroit, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She co-wrote the 1977 Eric Clapton hit "Lay Down Sally" and released her debut a ...

- Marcella *1985 - Eric Clapton - '' Behind the Sun'' *1988 -

- ''

'' *1991 - Eric Clapton - '' 24 Nights'' *1994 - The Tractors - '' The Tractors'' *1995 - The Tractors - '' Have Yourself a Tractors Christmas'' *1995 - Peter Frampton - '' Frampton Comes Alive II'' *1998 - The Tractors - ''Farmers in a Changing World'' *2005 - Jamie Oldaker - ''Mad Dogs and Okies''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Oldaker, Jamie American country rock singers American country singer-songwriters American country drummers The Tractors members 1951 births 2020 deaths Deaths from cancer in Oklahoma Musicians from Tulsa, Oklahoma Country musicians from Oklahoma American rock drummers American blues drummers Singer-songwriters from Oklahoma 20th-century American drummers American male drummers 20th-century American male musicians Frehley's Comet members American male singer-songwriters