Peter DePoe

Peter DePoe (born August 21, 1943), also known as Last Walking Bear, is an 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.

Background Born in Neah Bay, Washington in 1943, Peter DePoe is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon 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. 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.

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.

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.