Abe Laboriel, Jr.

• Active: '90s, 2000s
• Genres: Rock
• Instrument: Drums, Bass

Biography

A highly sought after session drummer, Abe Laboriel, Jr. is the son of veteran bassist Abraham Laboriel, Sr. and grew up surrounded by music. He was playing drums by the age of four, and studied with several high-profile drummers, including Jeff Porcaro, Chester Thompson, Bill Maxwell, and Alex Acuña, who had formed the band Koinonia with Laboriel, Sr. in the 1980s. He also studied with Peter Donald at the Dick Grove School of Music during his junior year in high school, and in 1989 even drew a citation in Down Beat magazine. After graduating from high school, Laboriel immediately enrolled in the Berklee College of Music, graduating from there in 1993. His first big touring gig was with guitarist Steve Vai. After a subsequent tour with Seal, Laboriel caught the eyes and ears of record producers, and was soon getting called to countless recording sessions, and he continued being an in-demand touring drummer, working on tours with k.d. lang and Sting. He also began working with Paul McCartney, and his session list grew to include Robi Draco Rosa, Crystal Lewis, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Les Paul, Ashlee Simpson, LeAnn Rimes, Mylène Farmer, Letters to Cleo, Kelly Clarkson, and many others. He also appeared, along with Lewis, on the '90s Nickelodeon television series Roundhouse. In addition to his touring and session duties, Laboriel played in the power trio the Raging Honkies and was active in the collective known as Chocolate Genius, Inc. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide