Enamored by the drums from a young age; the pair were oblivious that their unique trait would amass years of pious music. So where did such fondness for the drums stem from? Jabo elaborates, "I think it really started at home, I was always banging on stuff. My interest really happened when I saw Clyde. "I liked the beat of the drums and the texture," Clyde comments. "The way it gets in to your soul. I have played since grade school and I have loved the drums ever since."

Prior to their unison, Jabo had an on going stint with Bobby "Blue" Bland Band and later graced the title as one of James Brown's first drummers. It was due to their partnership that the sounds of funk elevated to a pioneering altitude; coining the term Funky Drumming. As Clyde recalls, "When I met Jabo he was already with James Brown, he had been there, probably about two or three weeks before I got there. I had heard of him before on the other records from Bobby "Blue" Bland. I was always admired him. He continues, "Then all of a sudden I got a chance to meet him out of the blue with James Brown"

Combined the pair have teamed up with a prestigious line up of artists', from BB King (Jabo) to Otis Redding and Clayton Fillyau (Clyde) but as Jabo explains, every artist is distinguishable and highlights cannot be condensed to one individual, " Every group had a different feel. I played with Bobby Bland and I would have to say that was the best band I played in, but then I went to James Brown and that was a different groove. He adds, "Then I left James and I went to BB King and that was another Blues artist - I learned from all three groups. Everybody was their own individual."

As reigning drummers some of their renowned work is underpinned by the classic, 'Mother Popcorn', 'Super Bad', 'Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose', 'Licking Stick', 'Soul Power', 'Talkin'Loud' and 'Sayin' Nothing'-just to name a few. Jabo adds, "I am very appreciative that I was able to contribute something to the music world. Clyde adds, "I know we didn't go out to try and make a name for ourselves -we were just going out to play music."

Charting more singles than any other drummers - it begs the question, as background band members-does the music industry acknowledge such pivotal contributions? "It doesn't really bother me that much, if they don't want to recognize that I played this or that tune, because eventually it is gonna come out who played it anyway. I am not really hung up on names and my name being thrown around-I am hung up on being secure on what I have done and what I am doing." Jabo replies.

It is hard to assimilate that the names Jabo and Clyde have dwelled on such historic terraces of old skool blues and funk. As a stand alone pair, the drummers have performed for a variety of festivals from Milwaukee-the world's largest music festival to tours in Japan, but their energy doesn't stop there, " We have a brand new album that just came out - It is called the FunkMasters - Jabo and Clyde, 'Come Get Summa Of This'. The album is very hot, it is great. We did the whole CD in three days." Clyde enthuses.

Jabo and Clyde's career have empowered music worldwide, their talent has reinforced not only their proliferate sound but changed the direction of sound. Despite their age, Clyde concludes "I am just at half of my life right now; I am 63 years-old, with another half to go."