Peter DePoe

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.

Peter DePoe
Also known as	Last Walking Bear
Born	(1943-08-21) August 21, 1943 (age 82) Neah Bay, Washington, United States
Genres	Rock, pop
Occupation(s)	Musician, drummer
Instruments	Drums

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)