Jimmy Paxson
Jimmy Paxson Jr. is an American drummer renowned for his versatility and technical proficiency across multiple musical genres, having collaborated with numerous high-profile artists as a session musician and touring performer. He is the son of Philadelphia jazz musicians Jimmy Paxson Sr. and Sunnie Paxson. His upbringing was deeply influenced by his parents’ careers in jazz, where he was exposed to live performances and a home environment filled with music from an early age. Paxson claims Ocean City, New Jersey, as his hometown, though his early years were spent in the nearby Wildwood area. In 1987, his father played a pivotal role in encouraging Paxson’s relocation to Los Angeles, urging him to pursue opportunities beyond his steady local gigs in New Jersey.
Prior to relocating to Los Angeles in 1987, Paxson built practical experience gigging in bars and local venues in Wildwood, New Jersey, where he performed in rock and jazz-oriented settings. These early performances allowed him to develop technical proficiency and adaptability across styles, drawing from both his parents’ jazz influences and the vibrant Jersey Shore music scene. He maintained a steady gig in the area, but his father urged him to seek broader opportunities on the West Coast.
Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Paxson quickly dove into session work, contributing drums to television and radio jingles for major brands such as Carls Jr., Nike, Union Bank, Hershey’s Chocolate, Mattel Toys, and Mazda, while also auditioning for high-profile gigs. These early opportunities honed his versatility in the demanding LA music industry, where reliability and adaptability were essential for survival. The transition from the casual, predictable rhythm of New Jersey bar gigs to the high-stakes, fast-paced professional environment proved challenging; Paxson later reflected on the need to build new networks and adjust to irregular schedules, but his father’s bold advice provided the motivation to persevere.
Throughout his career, Paxson has toured, performed, and recorded with artists including Stevie Nicks, The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks), Alanis Morissette, Idina Menzel, Ben Harper, Rod Stewart, Stanley Clarke, Edgar Winter, Ronnie Montrose, Sheryl Crow, Don Henley, and Steve Vai, among many others, contributing to a diverse array of projects spanning rock, pop, jazz, and blues. He is particularly praised for his groove-oriented style and ability to adapt to different ensembles, with Stevie Nicks describing his playing as one where “his sticks dance across the drums…he never lets me down…he’s the best.” When he joined Stevie Nicks’ backing band in 2005, it catapulted him to national prominence as her longtime drummer. This breakthrough role involved extensive touring, including Nicks’ 2005 solo tour supporting her greatest hits collection and the 2011 promotion for her album In Your Dreams, where Paxson delivered dynamic performances in arenas and stadiums across North America. Studio contributions followed, notably on the live album The Soundstage Sessions (2008), captured during a PBS taping in Chicago, and the compilation Crystal Visions – The Very Best of Stevie Nicks (2008), featuring re-recorded tracks with his rhythmic foundation.
Complementing these tours, Paxson’s early high-profile exposure included television appearances that showcased his skills to a broader audience, such as performances on The Today Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show alongside Nicks in the mid-2000s, as well as a notable slot on The Tonight Show with Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite, highlighting his growing reputation in roots and rock circles. These experiences solidified his status, transforming the raw talent forged in Jersey bars into a cornerstone of major productions.
By the 2000s, Paxson delved into country and crossover projects, notably joining The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks) starting in 2016 for extensive arena and stadium tours during their post-hiatus comeback, contributing to recordings that showcased his versatility in high-energy live settings. He also supported Natalie Maines’ solo endeavors, extending his role in the country scene with rhythmic precision suited to both intimate sessions and large-scale productions. Concurrently, his ongoing partnership with Stevie Nicks evolved into major stadium tours, where he performed alongside veterans like guitarist Waddy Wachtel, refining his ensemble approach in rock contexts.
In the 2010s, Paxson’s collaborations broadened to include pop, blues, and fusion, with notable recordings and tours alongside Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite, Idina Menzel, and a collaboration with Beyoncé at the 2016 CMA Awards performance of “Daddy Lessons” with The Chicks. He appeared on The Tonight Show with Harper and Musselwhite, blending blues grooves in a televised format, and contributed to sessions with jazz figures like Stanley Clarke, Joe Sample, and Keiko Matsui, demonstrating his cross-genre fluency from rock anthems to improvisational jazz. Additional credits included tours with Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie, as well as work with Don Henley, Steve Vai, and international acts like Eikichi Yazawa, underscoring his evolution into a sought-after player for both touring spectacles and nuanced studio contributions.
Jimmy is currently the touring drummer for Country Music legend, Keith Urban.