Bernard Lee “Pretty” Purdie (born June 11, 1939) is an American drummer, and an influential R&B, soul and funk musician. He is known for his precise musical time keeping and his signature use of triplets against a half-time backbeat: the “Purdie Shuffle.” He was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013.
Purdie recorded Soul Drums (1968) as a band leader and although he went on to record Alexander’s Ragtime Band, the album remained unreleased until Soul Drums was reissued on CD in 2009 with the Alexander’s Ragtime Band sessions. Other solo albums include Purdie Good! (1971), Soul Is… Pretty Purdie (1972) and the soundtrack for the blaxploitation film Lialeh (1973).
In the mid-1990s he was a member of The 3B’s, with Bross Townsend and Bob Cunningham.
instruments played
drums
Also Known As
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie Mississippi Bigfoot
Associated Acts
Jeff Beck Hummingbird Steely Dan Aretha Franklin Gil Scott-Heron King Curtis The Rolling Stones Miles Davis Dizzy Gillespie Randy Brecker Quincy Jones Hall & Oates Isaac Hayes Cat Stevens Hair Larry Coryell
Birth Name
Bernard Lee Purdie
Genres
Rock, R&B, funk, soul
Labels
A&M, Atco, EMI, Capitol
Occupations
Musician
Website
Years Active
1958 present
Name
Bernard "Pretty" Purdie
Nationality
United States of America