Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste, a New Orleans legend, master drummer, and rhythm innovator. He is the most highly-acclaimed drummer to come from the Crescent City.
Zigaboo is the founding drummer, songwriter, and singer of the legendary group, The Meters. He has toured and recorded with The Rolling Stones, Ron Wood, and Keith Richards as part of the New Barbarians project. He has also performed as a sideman with Professor Longhair, Dr. John, Betty Harris, Allen Toussaint, Lee Dorsey, Harry Connick, Mark Ronson, Erykah Badu, Robbie Robertson, and Grammy winner Yael Naim.
His drum patterns have been extensively sampled by hip-hop artists such as Musiq Soulchild, Queen Latifah, Run DMC, NWA, Ice Cube, Salt N’ Pepa, Cypress Hill, EPMD, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, Naughty by Nature, and Eminem. His drum sound also provided the main loops for Amerie’s “1 Thing,” which was nominated for two Grammys and reached No. 1 on the R\&B charts.
Ziggy’s songwriting showcases his musical genius and original funk style. His songs have been released on over 70 albums nationally and internationally and have been featured in movies such as “Two Can Play That Game,” “Jackie Brown,” “Drum Line,” “8 Mile,” “Hancock,” “Red,” and “King Richard,” as well as a Nike Commercial for Footaction. Modeliste was also featured in producer Mark Ronson’s “Re:Generation Music Project.” In 2014, Modeliste’s drum work was sampled in Eminem’s single, “Berserk,” a Billboard No. 1 BMI Award winner.
In 2016, The Meters’ famed “Handclapping” was the featured song in Google Pixel Nightmoves, and their song was sampled on Google’s Shedeur and Shilo Sanders Pixel. His work has also been used in countless ads for brands like Timberland, Anna Margo’s “My Way,” Walmart, Google Shopping, Hotels.com, KFC, Coors, Starbucks, and Lays Baked, Crown Royal as well as numerous TV shows and streaming networks.

Modeliste is honored to be named in Rolling Stone Magazine’s “100 Greatest Drummers of All Times” and Drum\! Magazine’s “50 Most Important Drummers of All Time.”
His solo work is released through his own label, JZM Records, and his business, Jomod Music Publishing, offers publishing services and a varied repertoire of music for licensing.
In 2018, the Recording Academy honored Modeliste and The Meters with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award.