Roger Hawkins (October 16, 1945 – May 20, 2021) – I Can't Stop (No, No, No) (1966)

The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section drummer who played on countless iconic hits co-wrote this phenomenal rockin' jam by Arthur Conley.

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Roger Hawkins was the drummer in the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, aka The Swampers. During the 1960s and 70s they played on a long list of iconic hits by some of the world’s top R&B, rock, and soul artists.

Born in Indiana, by the early sixties Hawkins wound up in the Southeast. He played the drums with various bands at nightclubs and dances all over North Alabama and Southern Tennessee before being hired as a session drummer in 1964 by producer and FAME Studios owner Rick Hall, whose recording facility was located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Hawkins and other core rhythm section players Barry Beckett on keyboards, bassist David Hood and guitarist Jimmy Johnson replaced Hall’s original rhythm section, who had all left for higher pay in Nashville. They were initially called the “second FAME gang,” but soon became better known as the “Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section,” or “The Swampers.”

Over the next few years they played on numerous hits by some of the world’s top artists. One of the earliest was “Mustang Sally,” recorded by Wilson Pickett at FAME on November 4, 1966.

In early 1967, Aretha Franklin arrived for the first and only time, an infamous recording session that resulted in a fight between her husband Ted White and Rick Hall. White had been sharing a bottle of vodka with the horn section and began accusing its members of flirting with Aretha. Hall also started drinking, and the situation gradually escalated to a drunken hotel room confrontation, after which the couple left town the following morning.

However, the one song they completed (“I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You”) became Franklin’s first #1 R&B and top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The Swampers subsequently backed both her mega-hits “Respect” and “Think,” recorded at Atlantic Studios in New York City, without Hall.

Later that year, Etta James recorded her Tell Mama album at FAME. Percy Sledge’s LP Take Time to Know Her was completed there in early 1968. Then-unknown guitarist Duane Allman pitched a tent in the studio’s parking tent that fall because he wanted to be close to the many sessions that were happening. Wilson Pickett was there again, and they became friends, recording a cover of “Hey Jude” with Allman on lead guitar. It led to him getting his own contract, and auditions for the Allman Brothers Band were held at FAME.

Hawkins and the Swampers parted ways with Hall in 1969 to set up their own competing studio, Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in nearby Sheffield, AL. Their first big hit was “Take a Letter Maria” by R.B. Greaves, recorded that August, which hit #2 on the Hot 100. In December, 1969, on their way to Altamont, the Rolling Stones held a secret session there during which they recorded three songs over three days, including “Brown Sugar” and “Wild Horses.” The Maysles brothers were also there filming their documentary Gimme Shelter at the time.

Other notable tracks backed by the Swampers included the Staple Singers’ hits “Respect Yourself” (1971) and “I'll Take You There” (1972), “Kodachrome” (1973) by Paul Simon, and “Mainstreet” (1976) by Bob Seger.

Besides the iconic songs he played on, Hawkins co-wrote a few of his own. One was recorded by Otis Redding’s protège Arthur Conley in 1966. The phenomenal rockin’ jam “Can't Stop (No, No, No)” was one of the last singles Conley released before hitting big with “Sweet Soul Music” in 1967. It was co-written by Dan Penn, who also co-wrote Aretha’s “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” (a song she started recording at FAME during her only session there but finished later in New York). Produced by Hall, it was issued by Fame Records.

That same year, Hawkins also co-wrote the funky masterpiece “Two In The Morning” (1966) by Spooner’s Crowd. It was produced by Hall, released on Chess Records’ subsidiary Cadet, and co-written by guitarist Al Lowe and keyboardist Spooner Oldham who were notable session musicians in their own right.

Rest in Peace, Roger Hawkins.

Further info:

“Roger Hawkins,” Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

“Roger Hawkins, Muscle Shoals Drummer on Aretha Franklin's 'Respect',” obituary, Rolling Stone, May 20, 2021.

“Roger Hawkins, Drummer Heard on Numerous Hits, Is Dead at 75,” obituary, The New York Times, May 22, 2021.

“10 essential tracks by Muscle Shoals' greatest drummer,” AL.com, April 15, 2022.

#soul #funk #MuscleShoals #FAME #RickHall #Swampers #RogerHawkins