The name Abe Laboriel is recognized in the music world not just for the well-known skills of a drummer, but for the talented bassist who fathered him.

Abe Laboriel Jr. is the son of Mexican-born bassist Abraham Laboriel, who has played on more than 3,000 recordings and worked with artists ranging from Barbara Streisand to Chris Isaak to Michael Jackson. The younger Laboriel has compiled an enviable list of collaborators on his own, playing the drums for popular artists and groups including: Paul McCartney; Sting; Sheryl Crow; Fiona Apple; Eric Clapton; Seal; Steve Vai; k.d. lang; Shakira; Jewel; Meredith Brooks; Duran Duran; Liz Phair; LeAnn Rimes and Vanessa Carlton.

Laboriel Jr. also has performed percussion with blues legend B.B. King and guitar virtuoso and innovator Les Paul. The Burley drummer was even part of the house band for one season of the Nickelodeon sketch comedy show “Roundhouse,” where he met a young performer named Crystal Lewis, who is now a noted contemporary gospel artist amd has also collaborated with Laboriel after their Nickelodeon days.

The drummer’s influences were many, but chief among them, perhaps, is fellow Latin percussionist Alex Acuña, who had formed the Christian jazz band Koinonia with Laboriel’s father in 1982. Jeff Porcaro and Chester Thompson also have been influences on Laboriel’s style.

He has also performed as part of the power trio The Raging Honkies (with brothers Michael and Teddy Laundau on lead guitar and bass), and presently is performing as part of the Mark Anthony Thompson project known as Chocolate Genius Inc.