Jimmy Maelen


Jimmy Maelen was an American percussionist from the 1960s to 1980s, who worked with many artists including Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, Peter Gabriel, James Taylor, Dire Straits, Barry Manilow, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Madonna, Bryan Adams, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, David Bowie and John Lennon. He also played on hit records by Bob James, Duran Duran, Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, Yoko Ono, Meatloaf, Alice Cooper, BJ Thomas, and many others.
Maelen worked with Michael Barbiero and John Luongo and overdubbing on Gonzales' "I Haven't Stopped Dancin' Yet", The Jacksons' "Blame It on the Boogie" and "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)", Dan Hartman's "Vertigo/Relight My Fire", Jackie Moore's "This Time Baby". He can be heard playing seven tracks of percussion on Barry Manilow's classic hit "Copacabana". As a percussionist, he also appeared on the album, Desire Wire, made from 1978, done by Cindy Bullens. His working relationship with Barbiero and Luongo led to a solo album for Epic/Columbia in 1980, produced by the trio and entitled Beats Workin.
Maelen toured with Peter Gabriel on his first solo tour in 1977. He contributed to Roxy Music's critically acclaimed final album Avalon and appeared with Bryan Ferry at Live Aid in London in 1985. Also in 1985 he performed on the Dire Straits Brothers in Arms album.
Maelen worked as a studio musician on Alphaville's 1986 album, Afternoons in Utopia. At the time of his death he was producing his first rock band Cherri Red, along with Gary Chester at the Edison Recording Studio in New York City. Subsequently, one of the songs "Be With You Tonight" which was written by John Bussi, was used in the film See You in the Morning directed by Alan J. Pakula.
Jimmy Maelen died of leukaemia on January 14, 1988. He was 47 years old.

Discography

Solo albumBeats Workin
With Bryan AdamsYou Want It You Got It
With Peter AllenI Could Have Been a Sailor
With AlphavilleAfternoons in Utopia
With Blood, Sweat & TearsNo Sweat
With Irene CaraAnyone Can See
With Desmond ChildDesmond Child & Rouge
With Linda CliffordI'll Keep on Loving You
With Jude ColeJude Cole
With Tim CurryRead My Lips Fearless Simplicity
With Ron DanteStreet Angel
With Mink DeVilleCoup de Grâce
With Karla DeVitoIs This a Cool World or What?
With Dion DiMucciReturn of the Wanderer
With Duran DuranNotorious
With Bryan FerryBoys and Girls
With Roberta FlackBlue Lights in the Basement
With Peter GabrielPeter Gabriel
With Gloria GaynorExperience Gloria Gaynor Glorious
With Debbie GibsonOut of the Blue
With Steve GoodmanSay It in Private
With Amy GrantNever Alone
With Henry GrossShow Me to the Stage Love Is the Stuff
With Gwen GuthriePortrait Good to Go Lover
With Hall & OatesX-Static Private Eyes
With Dan HartmanRelight My Fire
With Tramaine HawkinsThe Search Is Over
With Loleatta HollowayLove Sensation
With Janis IanJanis Ian Night Rains
With Paul JabaraPaul Jabara & Friends
With Garland JeffreysEscape Artist Guts for Love
With Al JohnsonPeaceful
With KissLove Gun
With Ben E. KingSave the Last Dance for Me
With Gladys Knight & the PipsStill Together The One and Only
With Kool & the GangSomething Special As One Emergency
With John Lennon and Yoko OnoMilk and Honey
With O'Donel LevyWindows
With Nils LofgrenWonderland
With Barry ManilowBarry Manilow Tryin' to Get the Feeling Even Now Barry
With Barry MannLay It Out
With Jimmy McGriffThe Mean Machine Red Beans Tailgunner
With Frankie MillerDancing in the Rain
With Stephanie MillsIf I Were Your Woman
With Laura NyroSmile
With OdysseyI Got the Melody Happy Together
With Yoko OnoIt's Alright (I See Rainbows)
With Tony Orlando and DawnTuneweaving
With Tony OrlandoTony Orlando
With Leslie PearlWords & Music
With Lou RawlsShades of Blue
With The Ritchie FamilyBad Reputation
With Vicki Sue RobinsonVicki Sue Robinson
With Roxy MusicAvalon
With Jennifer RushHeart over Mind
With Helen SchneiderLet It Be Now
With Eddie SchwartzSchwartz
With Neil SedakaA Song
With Marlena ShawTake a Bite
With Carly SimonComing Around Again
With Lonnie SmithKeep on Lovin'
With Lonnie Liston SmithSilhouettes
With Belouis SomeSome People Belouis Some
With Bert SommerBert Sommer
With The SpinnersLove Trippin' Labor of Love
With Billy SquierSigns of Life
With Brenda K. StarrBrenda K. Starr
With Dire StraitsBrothers in Arms
With Barbra StreisandEmotion
With James TaylorThat's Why I'm Here
With Andrea TrueMore, More, More
With Bonnie TylerFaster Than the Speed of Night
With Frankie ValliCloseup
With Kenny VanceShort Vacation
With Village PeopleFox on the Box
With Loudon Wainwright III'