John Henry "Jabo" Starks (; October 26, 1937 – May 1, 2018), sometimes spelled Jab'o, was an American funk and blues drummer best known for playing with James Brown as well as other notable musicians including Bobby Bland and B.B. King. A self-taught musician, he was known for his effective and clean drum patterns. He was one of the originators of funk drumming, and is one of the most sampled drummers. Life and career Starks was born in Jackson, Alabama, to Prince Starks and Ruth Watkins. One of five children, he was nicknamed "Jabo" as a newborn. He grew up in Mobile, Alabama. In the seventh grade, he was captivated by drumbeats at a Mardi Gras parade in Mobile and decided to pursue drumming. He was self-taught and had no formal training. He said he "learned a lot from listening" to music. Early on, he listened to blues music and was influenced by the gospel music he heard in church. One of his drum idols was Shep Sheppard of the Bill Doggett band. He graduated from Mobile County Training School in 1955, at the time a high school. He then performed at the Harlem Duke Social Club where he backed notable blues and R&B musicians including John Lee Hooker, Smiley Lewis, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Big Mama Thornton and Howlin' Wolf. In 1959, Starks joined Bobby Bland's band and was the youngest member of the band. He said band members Pluma Davis and Joe Scott taught him the importance of holding the drum rhythm steady and having other musicians lock-in with drums. He said musically that was the best band he played with. He was with the band from 1959 to 1965 and recorded on the band's releases over this period, including "Turn on Your Love Light", "Stormy Monday Blues", "That's the Way Love Is", "I Pity the Fool" and "Don't Cry No More". He also recorded with other artists during this time such as Junior Parker and Joe Hinton, on songs "Driving Wheel" and "Funny". In 1965, Starks joined James Brown's band. From 1965 to 1970, the band had two drummers, Starks and Clyde Stubblefield. Starks came primarily from a blues background whereas Stubblefield from a soul and jazz background. They each performed solo on songs that fit their style. The two "created the grooves on many of Brown's biggest hits, and laid the foundation for modern funk drumming in