PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For this edition of "Shara in the City," KYW's Shara Dae Howard meets Russell Dabney, the original drummer for the Village People, in Germantown. They talk about his career and his contributions to the disco era, including a unique drumming style that influenced many contemporary artists.
Dabney recounts the formation of the Village People, starting with his band Gypsy Lane. Dabney says he had a role in recording all their hits and highlighted his work with various artists, including Felicia Rashad's tribute album to Josephine Baker.
Dabney says he stopped playing for about 20 years — until he got a call in 2018 to go back on tour. He discusses his ongoing and continuing performance life and his long-term association with the group.
Dabney mentioned he'll be 70 in August and hopes to keep performing until he's 80 or 90.
He reflects on the timeless appeal of the Village People's music, noting its impact across generations, even if younger fans don't remember the name of the group.
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