John Henry "Jabo" Starks ((/ˈdʒæboʊ/); October 26, 1938 – May 1, 2018) was an American funk and blues drummer best known for playing with James Brown as well as other notable musicians including Bobby Bland and B.B. King. A self-taught musician, he was known for his effective and clean drum patterns. He was one of the originators of funk drumming, and is one of the most sampled drummers.