Peter DePoe

Peter DePoe
Also known as	Last Walking Bear
Born	(1943-08-21) August 21, 1943 (age 81) Neah Bay, Washington, United States
Genres	Rock, pop
Occupation(s)	Musician, drummer
Instruments	Drums

Peter DePoe (born August 21, 1943), also known as Last Walking Bear, is a Native American rock musician who was the drummer for the Native American band Redbone. He first played with Jimi Hendrix in Seattle's local taverns as a young man and moved to California and became Redbone's drummer in 1969.

Background

Born in Neah Bay, Washington in 1943, Peter DePoe is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon ^[1] and a descendant of the Southern Cheyenne and Turtle Mountain Chippewa. DePoe is also of French and German descent.

Musical career

He was credited with developing a style of drumming known as "King Kong", later copied by other drummers for its versatile and funk-oriented rhythms. ^[2] In an interview with Drumeo, Tower of Power's David Garibaldi described the "King Kong Beat" as one of the most important and influential rhythms incorporated into his drumming style. ^[3]

In early 1972, he left the group. The band replaced him with Arturo Perez, and then with Redbone bandmate Tony Bellamy's cousin Butch Rillera. ^[4]

DePoe has since played drums for several Washington-area bands, including Paco, a trio that was active from 1977-1979 and produced select recordings with Kearney Barton's Seattle-based audio production company, Topaz Records. ^{[5] [6]}

Further reading

• "Come And Get Your Love: A Celebratory Ode to Redbone (1939-Present)" by Pat "Redbone" Vegas. Jim Hoffmann, contributor. Rehbon Publishing, 2017, 280 pps.
• "King Kong Pete: Redbone and Beyond" by Peter "Last Walking Bear" DePoe. Jim Hoffmann, contributor. King Kong Beat Publishing, 2017, 292 pps.
• "King Kong Pete: How a Real Drummer Boy from the Neah Bay Reservation Changed the World" by Peter "Last Walking Bear" DePoe. various contributors. King Kong Beat Publishing, 2023, 50 pps.

Discography

• Ron Buford - Deep Soul Pt. 1 & 2 - Camelot Studios - 1962
• Mr. Clean and the Cleansers - 1964
• Jimmy McCracklin - The Stinger Man (LP, Album) Minit LP-24017 1969
• Redbone - Potlatch Epic 1970
• Redbone - Redbone Epic 1970
• Redbone - Message From A Drum Epic 1971
• Power (Prelude To A Means) (as Peter O. DePoe)
• Redbone - Already Here (LP, Album) Epic, Epic, Epic EPC 65072, S EPC 65072, KE 31598 1972
• Trafton - Traffic Jam (CD, Album) Rose Records (2), Rose Records (2) #208, ROSE208 1990
• Take It Easy Various - WTNG 89.9 FM: Solid Bronze (LP, Comp, Ltd) Numero Group, Numbero NBR-002 2012
• Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street - EMI- 1972
• Redbone - Wovoka Epic 1973
• Redbone - Come And Get Your Redbone / The Best Of Redbone Epic 1975
• Jimmy Ford - Harlan County (Sundown/White Whale Records JHS-1002), 1969
• Brenda Patterson - Keep On Keepin On 1970 - Epic Records

Writing & Arrangement:

• Things Go Better... (as P. DePoe)
• 23rd And Mad (as P. DePoe)
• Intro for Chant 13th Hour - Redbone
• Cisco's Ride Home (as P. DePoe)

References

1. "Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World" (PDF). Siletz News. Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. September 2017. p. 17. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
2. "Learn to Play: The "King Kong" Drum Lesson with Jordan West". May 18, 2018.
3. Drumeo (February 2, 2017). "The Most Important Beat I Ever Learned - David Garibaldi (Drumeo)". Youtube. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
4. Native American Music Awards – "In Their Honor" Archived April 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
5. Metzker, Steve. "Paco". Pacific Northwest Bands. PNW Bands. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
6. ""Sandman"/"Funk Is In Your Ear"". Northwest Music Archives. NW Music Archives. Retrieved March 14, 2025.

External links

Orexis on Redbone