Woody Theus

American Jazz drummer, born June 21, 1952 in Los Angeles. California, USA, died March 18, 2011.
By the time he was twelve, Woody Theus had played the flute, violin, trumpet, and piano before deciding that the drums were his true calling. Theus took on the name Sonship upon hearing John Coltrane’s classic 'Sun Ship' album at sixteen years old. He made the adjustment in spelling in order to honor Jesus, the Son of God. That same year Sonship recorded an album and began a long-running house gig at an LA jazz club with pianist Larry Nash, a schoolmate. While still in school, Theus began getting calls to play with jazz artists like saxophonist John Klemmer. Once Sonship was done with school, he joined another sax great, Charles Lloyd, playing with him on and off for more than a decade. It was the start of a long and illustrious career that would span about fifty years. Woody "Sonship" Theus also worked with McCoy Tyner, John McLaughlin, Woody Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, Michal Urbaniak, and Pharoah Sanders among many others, leaving an indelible mark with his unique contribution to jazz; his powerful, fiery and 'high cymbal' style of playing. Here's a video from 1982 of Sonship playing with Charles Lloyd, Michel Petrucianni, Palle Danielson and Bobby McFerrin.