This is a very sad day for those of us in the music business. Gary Burke, truly one of the greatest drummers on Earth, passed away overnight.

I got the text this morning from my lifelong friend Bob Christianson. Bob and I were roommates in college. We each had bands. Mine, filled with famous musicians for sure, but his trio had some legends. We lost his fabulous guitarist, Fred Serfis, long ago. But now, with the loss of Gary Burke, Bob is the last man standing. He stayed very close to Burke throughout their careers. The best of friends to the very end.

Bob drove up from NYC to visit with Burke a couple of weeks ago. (Forgive me, but to those of us in the biz, his name was a very reverent “Burke.”) Bob called me from Burke’s Woodstock home. It was a memorable conversation between three old Rock ‘n’ Roll warriors. I got to tell the man how he affected my playing. Over the years, I’ve had ample time to play with him. He changed how I played the guitar. Locking in with him was a seminar on rhythm guitar playing. It’s all about the groove. The feel. In college, I watched Gary conduct a rehearsal with just a hi-hat. It rocked. From that moment on, I was hooked.

Burke was the drummer’s drummer. He was the drummer for Bob Dylan, Shania Twain, and Joe Jackson, and played on hundreds of studio sessions. He was the drummer on hit songs that you know and love, including one for my longtime friend, Benny Mardones.

This is going to be hard. It hasn’t sunken in yet. I will be calling Bob in a few minutes. We are heartbroken. This is a hard, hard day to live through. But I am so thankful for having known this wonderful man. Godspeed, my friend.

Today, as I try to wrap my brain around the loss of a legend, I am surrounded by young talent. Brett and I are at Le Moyne working with students. Susan Moninger is leading a daylong workshop on vocal jazz (the concert is tonight). You know her voice, too. She’s sung on some of the most memorable jingles in history. She is a well-known choir director, working with the likes of Andrea Bocelli and Renee Fleming. In an odd bit of serendipity, she also led the choir for Bob Christianson’s Emmy-nominated “Christmas Carol.” Our business is tiny. It’s like living in a small town. Everybody has a connection.

There is a lot of news to share with you, but today we mourn a tragic loss, while we celebrate youth and a hope for the future.

January 17, 2026 - Gary Burke RIP

January 13, 2026