Okie Jim Keltner made a name for himself by drumming with some of the biggest names in music history – including three members of the Beatles.

Born April 27, 1942, in Tulsa, Keltner went on to be a noted session drummer. He worked frequently with George Harrison, John Lennon (including albums released by Lennon’s wife, Yoko Ono, and the Plastic Ono Band) and Beatles drummer Ringo Starr on each artist’s solo projects after the Beatles folded. He joined Starr as a drummer on the Concert for Bangladesh, rock’s first charity benefit, in 1971. Later, Keltner found himself on tour with Harrison and sitar player Ravi Shankar during 1974.

Keltner drew so close to the former Beatles that he was both the butt and the punchline of a running joke on two of their albums. When Paul McCartney, the only Beatle not to have worked with Keltner, included a note on the back cover of his 1973 “Red Rose Speedway” album, encouraging fans to join the Wings Fan Club by sending a “stamped addressed envelope” to a London address, Harrison and Starr responded with notes of their own. On Harrison’s “Living in the Material World” record and Starr’s “Ringo” were a similar note prodding fans to join the “Jim Keltner Fan Club” by mailing a “stamped undressed elephant” to an address in Hollywood.

Furthering his work with former Beatles, Keltner acted in the role of the judge in the video for George Harrison’s 1976 hit, “This Song.” The video aired on the Nov. 20, 1976 episode of “Saturday Night Live.” Harrison wrote the song after losing a court battle over whether his 1970 hit “My Sweet Lord” infringed upon the work of the Chiffons on their 1963 hit “He’s So Fine.”

In the late 1980s, Keltner’s work with the two ex-Beatles – Harrison and Starr – continued. He toured with Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band. And, he was the drummer for both albums released by Harrison’s 1980s supergroup (with Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty) the Traveling Wilburys. On the Wilburys albums, Keltner played under the pseudonym “Buster Sidebury.”

Though Keltner started out in jazz, his first recording session was laying down the drum tracks for “She’s Just My Style,” by the pop group Gary Lewis and the Playboys, which hit No. 3 on the charts in 1965.

Keltner’s freelance resume as a drummer is hard to match. In addition to his work with the former Beatles and one of the mid-60s hottest-selling groups (Gary Lewis and the Playboys) Keltner has backed: Eric Clapton; Jerry Garcia; Joe Cocker; the Rolling Stones (and several of their members, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Bill Wyman, on solo projects) ; Bob Dylan; Brian Wilson; Joni Mitchell; Neil Young; Crowded House; Fiona Apple; Elvis Costello; Pink Floyd; Steely Dan; The Bee Gees; the Steve Miller band and many others.

Music fans, though many wouldn’t know it, are familiar with his work through Carly Simon’s 1971 album, “Anticipation” and numerous other hit sons. Keltner played on “Jealous Guy” from John Lennon’s “Imagine” album. He was the drummer on Gary Wright’s smash hit “Dreamweaver.” And Keltner drives the beat on Eric Clapton’s popular tune “Lay Down Sally.”

In 1987, Keltner, along with bassist Nick Lowe and guitarist Ry Cooder, joined John Hiatt on his critically acclaimed album “Bring The Family.” In 2002, the four reunited under the bandname Little Village, recording an album of the same name. Also in 2002, Keltner played the Concert For George, a tribute to Harrison staged a year following his death. There he reprised his role as the Wilburys’ drummer, joining Petty and Lynne for “Handle With Care.”

Most recently, Keltner toured during 2006 with T Bone Burnett, and was featured on Jerry Lee Lewis’ album, “Last Man Standing.” In 2007, Keltner appeared on Money Mark’s record “Brand New By Tomorrow.”