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The set of Emeril Live wouldn't be complete without the sounds of drums and percussion from Doc Gibbs and Cliff, as the pair are affectionately known. They entertain thousands of adoring fans, produce unusual sound effects right on cue, and best of all, bring out Emeril's own musical talent. But outside the confines of the studio, Leonard Gibbs and Cliff Starkey are established musicians who collaborate with well-known artists and also produce their own music.
Doc Gibbs is legendary within musical circles for his funky rhythms and use of unusual percussion instruments. Gibbs's penchant for hand drums and percussion instruments began in the early 1970s when he left the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art to pursue his dream of becoming a master percussionist. Early in his career, Gibbs caught the attention of the music industry's top artists and over the years, he has toured and recorded with Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Bob James, Ricki Lee Jones, Al Jarreau, and Grover Washington, Jr. Recently, he has worked with Wyclef Jean, Erykah Badu, Eric Benet, and R&B producer James Poyser.
Gibbs received his nickname from the late, legendary jazz saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. While recording Grover's Live at the Bijou album in 1976, Gibbs prescribed an herbal remedy for Grover's nasty cold, which led Grover to declare, "There's two doctors in Philly: Dr. J [of the 76ers] and Doctor Gibbs."
In 1997, Gibbs came to Emeril Live as musical director and has been adding his own funky flavors to the show ever since. Gibbs sits on the board of governors for the N.A.R.A.S. (National Association of Recording Artists and Sciences). He performs drum workshops for children with the Young Audiences of Eastern Pennsylvania and participates in Strings for Schools, a non-profit organization.
Born in Philadelphia on March 19, 1963, Cliff Starkey grew up admiring musicians such as Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. Though he didn't have a piano, Starkey taught himself how to play and developed a unique improvisational style that has taken him around the world. Along the way, Starkey, developed songwriting skills and learned to sing and adapt to various styles of music. For the past twenty years, Starkey has performed with notable artists such as the Three Degrees, the Temptations, and Pieces of a Dream. He is a Capitol Records recording artist and appears on several albums. Besides performing on Emeril Live, he tours with the Groovemasters.
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