Jonathan Moffett is one of the best drummers in the world. He became known affectionately as ‘Sugarfoot’ for his crazy advanced skills with the foot pedal.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, it’s no surprise that he became an award-winning artist and producer! He first started working with the Jackson family when they went on their Destiny Tour in 1979—but that was just the beginning.
He went on to work with the family on multiple other tours, including their iconic Victory Tour in 1984.
Moffett worked with Jackson in 2009 on This Is It, during what would be his final weeks and hours of rehearsal before his untimely death.
Sugarfoot leant some beautiful words to the Jackson family and all Michael’s fans after he passed:
“Once every several centuries of Mankind, GOD sends somebody special. A wake up call. Somebody to enlighten the people in the way to be. Somebody to excite the people. Somebody to bring people together. I think Michael was a gift from GOD. Sent to show people how to be. How to love! I LOVE and miss You Dear Michael…Truly indeed.”
After working together for 30 years, you can only imagine how close the pair were!
It must have been a devastating loss for him, as it was for much of the music-loving world.
But it’s beautiful that Sugarfoot can still honor Jackson and continue to play the music they share together to this day.
In the video we’re talking about today, Sugarfoot went to the Drumeo studio to perform “Smooth Criminal.”
Unlike a regular drum kit, which may have about four drums and two cymbals, his kit has approximately…one million.
Only this epic bird’s eye view can fully capture just how wild his set up truly is.
As the clip begins, the original song plays in the background so that the other instrumentals and lyrics can be heard.
The entire time, Johnathan Moffett drums along perfectly.
Even someone who isn’t a music aficionado can see how impressive his skills are, but an experienced YouTube viewer commented on it too:
Those crazy drums and cymbals everywhere look like they might be overkill, but he uses every single one of them.
He must have played this song thousands of times.
This is so smooth it’s actually criminal.
He looks focused, but he must have played this song thousands of times. He could probably do it with his eyes closed.
Actually, a follow-up video of that would be very welcome!
The studio has done an amazing job of setting up cameras at every conceivable angle.
It really gives some perspective into exactly what he’s doing. They even set up a GoPro on the ground by his feet!
But I guess for an artist named “Sugarfoot,” it would be silly not to!
Johnathan looks 65 years young, wearing his sleeveless unbuttoned vest, smashing it on a gold sparkly drum set.
Not only is he one of the best drummers in the world—he’s also one of the coolest!
On the final beat he smashes the cymbals and then immediately grabs them to stop abruptly.
A very dramatic finish!
Sugarfoot shows no signs of slowing down in the music industry, as music is clearly his greatest passion.
Watch the incredible video of him playing Smooth Criminal and prepare to be impressed!
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