Idris Muhammad

Idris Muhammad (born Leo Morris, November 13, 1939, New Orleans, Louisiana; Arabic: إدريس محمد‎) is an American jazz drummer who has recorded extensively with Ahmad Jamal, Grant Green, Grover Washington, Hank Crawford, Gene Ammons and Houston Person, among many others.[1]

He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover Washington, Jr. He has been touring and recording with pianist Ahmad Jamal since 1995. At 15 years old, one of Muhammad's earliest recorded sessions as a drummer was on Fats Domino's 1956 hit "Blueberry Hill".

In 1966, he married Dolores "LaLa" Brooks (former member of the Crystals; she converted to Islam with him and went for a time under the name Sakinah Muhammad). They separated in 1999. Together, they have two sons and two daughters.