Here’s a complete 30 minute Bill Withers concert on BBC from 1973. I’m not sure who’s playing drums with him— he gets almost zero screen time, and is severely under-lit. It’s not James Gadson, doesn’t really look like Al Jackson, and I don’t know who else Withers might have been touring with at the time. If you know, please comment…
[UPDATE: Bethany-and-Joe in the comments tells us his name is Fred Casey, who I’ve never heard of, and about whom I can find no more info.]
Hey Todd, this bugged me as well so I did some digging- found somewhere listing him as Fred Casey, who I don't really know anything about.
Thanks Joe and/or Bethany! I'll update the text of the post…
Hey Todd, no problem. It's Joe Burress from Memphis, we spoke through e-mails. As always great work with the blog.
27:32 here shows Fred Casey, but I don't think you get a good look at him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efIyyP9LTJQ&t=778s
I think a different drummer here (00:30 to 01:04ish): BBC Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CICIOJqEb5c
This guy's clearly a totally groovy funky happy cool dude 🙂 Total respect & admiration!
There's a post on the youtube video from someone who says he is the drummer's son. Might be a good place to start if you want to learn more about him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtT_8pEjHgo&t=2s