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Rami Jaffee
Rami Jaffee
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Key Information

Rami Jaffee (born March 11, 1969) is an American musician. He is the keyboardist for the rock band Foo Fighters, whom he initially joined in a touring and session capacity in 2005. He has contributed to seven of the band's studio albums, and formally joined the band as a full-time member in 2017.

Prior to joining Foo Fighters, Jaffee was a member of The Wallflowers from 1990 to 2005, and again from 2012 to 2013. He has worked with many artists including Pete Yorn, Stone Sour, Joseph Arthur and Coheed and Cambria.

Early life

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Jaffee was born on March 11, 1969, to a Russian Ashkenazi Jewish father and a Moroccan Sephardic Jewish mother in Los Angeles.[2] When he was 13, he purchased a keyboard and was soon playing with local bands. After graduating from Fairfax High School, he continued to play in various bands, and he took session work in recording studios.[3]

Career

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Around 1989, Jakob Dylan and his friend Tobi Miller formed a group called the Apples, playing various clubs in the L.A. area. While waiting in line at Canter's Deli after 2:00 am, Jaffee heard the Apples wanted an organist and pianist, and he was told that Dylan and Miller were then in the Kibitz Room bar attached to Canter's. They met; Dylan and Miller played Jaffee some demo tapes in their car stereo, and Jaffee immediately joined the group. A few weeks later, they changed their name to the Wallflowers and signed with Virgin Records. In 1992, they released their first album, The Wallflowers.[3] The Wallflowers toured throughout the U.S. and Canada in 1992 and early 1993. They served as the opening act for Cracker, the Spin Doctors and 10,000 Maniacs, and they started headlining their own shows.[3]

Virgin appeared to lose interest in the Wallflowers because of poor album sales. The band's two familiar label representatives left the label, after which the record company tried to use the Dylan name as a selling point, against the band's directive. In mid-1993, the label released the band from their contract.[3] Other labels were not interested in signing the band, and Jaffee filled his time by playing gigs with El Vez as well as taking more session work. He kept his interest in the Wallflowers, saying later, "I believe in these songs, and I'm here for the duration because no one is writing songs like these anymore, songs that have room for a Hammond organ and me."[3]

The Wallflowers signed to Interscope Records in 1994. While working with T Bone Burnett, who was producing the band's next album, Jaffee was frequently called in as a session musician for producers Paul Fox, Matt Hyde and Rick Neigher. Because of this, in 1996 he was credited on albums by Rickie Lee Jones, the Hookers, Leah Andreone and Chalk FarM. At the same time, the Wallflowers released their second album, Bringing Down the Horse, which went quadruple Platinum.[3] The band toured in support of the album, but in 1997, Jaffee and his wife had a daughter, and he left the tour to be with his family for two months. That same year, he performed session work with Everclear, Grant Lee Buffalo, Richie Sambora, Macy Gray, Jeremy Toback, Joe Henry, Melissa Etheridge, Ramsay Midwood and Garth Brooks.[3]

The Wallflowers received a Grammy nomination in 1998 for "Heroes" which appeared in the film Godzilla. In late 2000, the band released Breach. The band headlined their own tour for a year but also opened for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Who and John Mellencamp.[3] Following this, the Wallflowers released Red Letter Days, touring again during 2002–2003.[3] With a new drummer, the band released Rebel, Sweetheart, their fifth album, on May 24, 2005. The Wallflowers toured to promote the album, but Jaffee disagreed with the band, and he abandoned the tour with three dates remaining.[4]

In 2005, Jaffee began collaborating with Foo Fighters. He was made an official member in 2017.[5]

Jaffee led the house band on The Fran Drescher Show and, as of 2010, co-owned a recording studio called Fonogenic Studios in the San Fernando Valley.[6]

In 2012 and 2013, Jaffee was a member of the Sound City Players, a supergroup formed by Dave Grohl that, in addition to appearing in Grohl's 2013 documentary, Sound City, played a limited number of tour dates in 2013. The Sound City Players consisted of a rotating number of artists including Grohl, Jaffee, Stevie Nicks, Alain Johannes, Paul McCartney, Rick Springfield, Josh Homme, Trent Reznor, Krist Novoselic and more.

In 2012, Jaffee returned to the Wallflowers, who were coming off a long hiatus.[4] They released the album Glad All Over in 2012 and toured in support of it that year and also in 2013. Jaffee then left the band again.[7]

Discography (partial)

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Year Group Title Label Instrument
1992 The Wallflowers The Wallflowers Virgin Piano, Hammond Organ
1993 Darlene & Co Absence of Uniformity Sovereign
1994 El Vez How Great Thou Art Sympathy for the Record Industry Hammond Organ
Fun in Español Sympathy for the Record Industry Hammond Organ
Victoria Williams Loose Atlantic Hammond Organ
1995 Edwin McCain Honor Among Thieves Lava/Atlantic Hammond Organ
1996 Tina & the B-Side Movement Salvation Sire/Elektra Piano, Hammond Organ, Farfisa
El Vez Never Been To Spain (Until Now) Munster Keyboards
Phil Cody The Sons of Intemperance Offering Interscope Piano, Accordion, Hammond Organ, Mellotron
The Wallflowers Bringing Down the Horse Interscope Organs, Pianos
Chalk FarM Notwithstanding Columbia Accordion
Leah Andreone Veiled RCA Organ
The Hookers Calico RCA Piano, Accordion, Hammond Organ
Rickie Lee Jones Music from Party of Five Reprise
1997 The Wallflowers KCRW Rare on Air, Vol. 3 Mammoth Piano
The Honeyrods The Honeyrods Capricorn Piano, Wurlitzer
Everclear So Much for the Afterglow Capitol Vox Organ
Uma Fare Well Refuge Piano, Hammond Organ, Vox Organ, Optigan
Soul Asylum I Know What You Did Last Summer Sony Columbia
Andy If Road Trip CU
1998 Richie Sambora Undiscovered Soul Mercury Accordion, Hammond Organ, Clapping, Optigan
Agents of Good Roots One by One RCA Organ
Esthero Breath From Another Sony/Works Optigan
The Wallflowers Godzilla: The Album Epic/Sony
Scott Thomas Band California Elektra
Grant Lee Buffalo Jubilee Slash/Warner
1999 Chlorine Primer Time Bomb/BMG Keyboards
Matt Brown Morning After Medicine Show EMI Uncle Green, released 2011 Keyboards
2000 The Wallflowers (Breach) Interscope Keyboards, Vibraphone, Backing vocals
2002 Red Letter Days Interscope Keyboards
2005 Foo Fighters In Your Honor RCA Records/Roswell Keyboards
The Wallflowers Rebel, Sweetheart Interscope Keyboards
2006 Willie Nile Streets of New York 00:02:59/Reincarnate Hammond Organ
Foo Fighters Skin and Bones RCA Records Piano, Organ, Accordion, Keyboard
Pete Yorn Westerns EP RED Ink/Columbia B-3 Organ, Production
2007 Mike Brown & the Fart Face Band American Hotel Oasis Entertainment Hammond Organ, Keyboard
Coheed and Cambria Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow Columbia Records Synthesisers, Piano[8]
Foo Fighters Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace RCA Records Accordion, Keyboard
2008 The Fallen Stars Where the road bends Kiss My Squirrel Records Hammond Organ, Keyboard, Accordion, Producer
2010 The Fallen Stars Heart Like Mine Kiss My Squirrel Records Hammond Organ, Keyboard, Accordion
2011 Foo Fighters Wasting Light RCA Records Keyboards, Organ, Mellotron
2012 The Wallflowers Glad All Over Columbia/Interscope Keyboards
2013 Joseph Arthur The Ballad of Boogie Christ Lonely Astronaut Records Organ
Chuck Ragan Till Midnight SideOneDummy Keyboard, Glockenspiel, Accordion
2014 Gunash Same Old Nightmare Go Down Records Hammond Organ
Foo Fighters Sonic Highways RCA Records Keyboards
2015 Foo Fighters Saint Cecilia (EP) RCA Records Keyboards
2016 Gunash SuperHeroes In Town (EP) Go Down Records Hammond Organ, Keyboards
2017 Gunash Great Expectations Go Down Records Hammond Organ, Keyboards, Artistic Producer
Foo Fighters Concrete and Gold RCA Records Keyboards
2021 Medicine at Midnight
2021 Fury In The Slaughterhouse Now (Song "Letter To Myself") Starwatch Entertainment
2022 Dream Widow Dream Widow RCA Records
2023 Foo Fighters But Here We Are

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Rami Jaffee (born March 11, 1969) is an American musician best known as the keyboardist for the rock band . A founding member of the band , Jaffee contributed keyboards and accordion to their breakthrough album (1996), which earned two for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Rock Song for "." Born in , , to parents of Jewish heritage—his father of Russian descent and his mother Moroccan—Jaffee graduated from Fairfax High School and began his professional career in the early 1990s as part of , led by . With the band, he played on five studio albums between 1992 and 2005, including their self-titled debut and the commercially successful Breach (2000), before reuniting briefly in 2012–2013. Jaffee's versatile keyboard work, often featuring the Hammond B3 organ, helped define the band's roots rock sound. Jaffee began collaborating with in 2005, contributing to albums like and touring extensively with the group, before being officially named a full-time member in 2017. His tenure with has included performances on Grammy-winning records such as (2011) and contributions to their ongoing stadium tours, including a 2026 North American run. Beyond these bands, Jaffee has worked as a and producer with artists including and , showcasing his skills across rock, folk, and pop genres.

Early life

Family and upbringing

Rami Jaffee was born on March 11, 1969, in , . He is the son of Martin Jaffee, an American Jew of Russian Ashkenazi descent from Brooklyn, New York, and Regine Jaffee, a Moroccan Sephardic Jew who later became an Israeli citizen. He has a sister, , and a brother, Sid. Jaffee was raised in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles in an observant Jewish household. During his childhood, he attended Temple Beth Am, a prominent Conservative synagogue in the area. At age 16, Jaffee worked at the iconic Canter's Deli while beginning to perform music locally.

Musical influences and training

Jaffee began his musical training at an early age with formal classical lessons, prompted by jealousy of his sister's studies, where he learned scales and from a tutor. Although grounded in classical techniques, he quickly developed a preference for , learning by ear and experimenting with sounds to adapt his skills to contemporary styles. At age 13, around the time of his Bar Mitzvah, he acquired his first as a gift, which expanded his exploration into synthesizers and broadened his instrumental palette beyond acoustic . Growing up in the Fairfax District of during the , Jaffee drew significant influences from the vibrant local rock, , and roots music scenes, particularly through exposure to retro sounds via his older siblings and the era's underground venues. The Kibitz Room at Canter's Deli emerged as a pivotal hub, offering an accessible space for young musicians with cheap drinks and no , where he absorbed the raw energy of live performances and honed his improvisational abilities. Following his graduation from Fairfax High School, Jaffee immersed himself in the Los Angeles music circuit, joining numerous local bands and performing frequently in small venues. In his late teens, he played hundreds of gigs across the city, often at spots like , building practical experience through relentless experimentation and collaboration in the pre-professional scene.

Career

The Wallflowers

Rami Jaffee joined as a founding keyboardist in 1990, shortly after the band's initial formation in by and Tobi Miller in 1989. The group, originally known as the Apples, evolved into and quickly became a fixture in the local music scene, with Jaffee contributing keyboards and backing vocals to their self-titled debut album released in 1992. Jaffee's role expanded significantly on the band's breakthrough second album, Bringing Down the Horse (1996), where he played piano, Hammond B-3 organ, Vox Continental, and upright piano, helping shape the roots rock sound that defined the record. His keyboard arrangements added texture to hits like "6th Avenue Heartache," featuring his signature Hammond organ glides that open the track and underscore its melancholic melody, and "The Difference," where his piano and organ parts provide rhythmic drive and harmonic depth. The album's success, including quadruple-platinum certification, propelled the band to widespread acclaim, with extensive tours supporting releases like opening for Sheryl Crow in early 1997. During the 1997 tour, Jaffee temporarily left the road for two months following the birth of his daughter, prioritizing family commitments while the band continued select dates. ' single "" from earned two in 1998: Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, recognizing the band's collective performance including Jaffee's instrumental contributions. After a period of hiatus following their 2005 album Rebel, Sweetheart, Jaffee rejoined the original lineup for reunion tours in 2005 and more extensively in 2012 to support the release of Glad All Over. His tenure ended in 2013, marking the conclusion of his primary involvement with the band after over two decades.

Foo Fighters

Rami Jaffee first connected with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl in late 2002 or early 2003 during a period when Jaffee was between tours with The Wallflowers, visiting Grohl in Washington, D.C. This encounter laid the groundwork for Jaffee's involvement with the band, leading to his debut as a touring and session keyboardist in 2005, where he supported the group during live performances and contributed to tracks on their album In Your Honor. Jaffee's studio work with Foo Fighters began in earnest with the 2007 album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, on which he provided keyboards and accordion, enhancing the record's atmospheric layers on songs like "The Pretender" and "Long Road to Ruin." His keyboard arrangements continued to shape subsequent releases, including prominent Mellotron and organ parts on Wasting Light (2011), clavinet and piano on Sonic Highways (2014), and piano throughout Medicine at Midnight (2021), adding textural depth to the band's hard rock sound. In June 2017, following over a decade of contributions, officially announced Jaffee as a full-time member, solidifying his role alongside , , , , and then-drummer . This elevation came amid the band's promotion of , where Jaffee's keyboards featured on tracks like "The Sky Is a Neighborhood," marking a new era of integrated band dynamics. Jaffee's live role has been pivotal in Foo Fighters' performances, providing melodic support and improvisational flourishes during tours and special events. In 2025, he participated in intimate secret gigs, including a surprise show at the Nile Theater in , on November 3, and at Toad's Place in , on September 23, where the band debuted material with new drummer . He also contributed keyboards to the band's October 23 single "Asking for a Friend," released alongside the announcement of their 2026 North American stadium tour, and performed in the October 30 Amazon Music Live "Cage Match" event at East End Studios in , delivering high-energy renditions of classics like "All My Life."

Other collaborations and projects

In the early 2000s, Jaffee collaborated closely with singer-songwriter , co-founding the independent label Trampoline Records in 2002 alongside Yorn and musician Marc Dauer, which released the compilation Greatest Hits Vol. 1 featuring tracks from various artists. He later contributed additional keyboards to Yorn's 2006 album Nightcrawler, enhancing its folk-rock sound with melodic accents. In 2013, Jaffee joined the Sound City Players, a rotating supergroup curated by to promote the documentary Sound City, performing a series of high-profile live shows that showcased covers and originals with guests including , , and . The ensemble's appearances, such as at New York's , highlighted Jaffee's keyboard prowess in a collaborative rock context. Around 2014, Jaffee worked with , contributing to tracks and participating in tours as a guest musician, drawing on his extensive live experience. That same year, he performed with the side project Lazy Stars, a band featuring former drummer , blending rock and elements in local shows. In 2015, Jaffee led an all-star cover band called Bitch for a performance at Saxony Group Fashion Week El Paseo in , delivering renditions during the "El Paseo Runway Night" event to complement the fashion showcase. More recently, in 2025, he collaborated with country band Silverada, harmonica player , and vocalist L.C. Franke on the Southern Bloom single series, playing keys on tracks like "" and "Young In Love" to infuse orchestral-pop and neo-traditional elements. Throughout these projects, Jaffee frequently employed and harmonica to bring distinctive textures, such as lilting strains on Joseph Arthur's live performances and melodic layers in diverse studio sessions.

Personal life

Family

Jaffee was married to Alicia Jaffee in the early ; their marriage lasted 11 years and ended in divorce in 2002. The couple has one daughter, Tovy, born circa 1997. As of 2012 interviews, Jaffee resided in . Jaffee maintains a low public profile regarding his current family life, with limited details available about his personal relationships beyond his past marriage and daughter.

Religious and cultural background

Rami Jaffee possesses a mixed Jewish heritage, with Ashkenazi on his paternal side tracing to Russian ancestry and Sephardic (specifically Moroccan) origins on his maternal side. This blend reflects the diverse ethnic tapestry within American Jewish communities, combining Eastern European and North African Jewish traditions. Jaffee was raised in a Conservative Jewish household in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, a vibrant hub of Jewish culture known for its synagogues, kosher eateries, and community institutions. His family observed kosher dietary laws and celebrated major Jewish holidays, instilling a strong cultural foundation from childhood. As a youth, he attended Temple Beth Am, a prominent Conservative synagogue in the area, where he participated in religious education and community activities; at age 16, he worked as a JCC camp counselor, further embedding him in the local Jewish milieu. In interviews, Jaffee has reflected on how his Jewish upbringing shaped his worldview and artistic sensibilities, describing himself as a "Woody Allen-type American Jew" who appreciates the neurotic humor and cultural nuances of . He has expressed pride in his heritage without engaging in prominent religious activism, often highlighting subtle influences like the Fairfax District's communal spirit on his personal life and music, as noted in a 2012 profile where he jokingly called himself the "Pope of Fairfax."

Other activities

Film and media appearances

In 2008, Jaffee contributed to the of the rock opera film , directed by . His work on the track "Mark It Up" enhanced the film's gothic musical elements alongside performers such as and . In 2022, Jaffee appeared as himself in the ' horror-comedy film Studio 666, written by and directed by BJ McDonnell, which follows the band recording their tenth album in a haunted Encino mansion. The movie marked the band's first scripted feature, blending fictional supernatural events with real band dynamics, and Jaffee's on-screen presence highlighted his role in the group's creative process amid the chaos. During promotional press events for the film, Jaffee participated in roundtable discussions, sharing insights on the band's influences from horror classics like and the collaborative "creative kills" scenes that poked fun at their recording sessions. Beyond acting roles, Jaffee has been featured in media profiles and interviews that explore his musical career and . In a 2012 profile for The Malibu Times, he discussed his transition from session work to prominence with and , emphasizing themes of perseverance and letting go of self-doubt as keys to his success. These appearances underscore his contributions to rock media, often focusing on his keyboard innovations in live and studio settings without delving into specific details.

Musical equipment and style

Jaffee maintains an extensive collection of vintage keyboards, with a particular affinity for instruments like the Hammond B3 organ, which he has used since joining in the early 1990s, and the Fender Rhodes , as highlighted in his feature in the documentary Down the Rhodes: The Fender Rhodes Story. His gear rig often incorporates these classics for their warm, organic tones, blending them with modern additions to suit live and studio demands. In recent years, Jaffee has integrated contemporary equipment into his setup, including the Yamaha P200 digital piano for its reliable action and high-quality piano and vibraphone samples during tours, and the IK Multimedia UNO Synth, which he adopted around 2018 for portable analog synthesis and creation on the road. He also frequently employs in live performances, adding textural variety to sets, such as during acoustic segments at stadium shows. Jaffee's playing style is versatile, drawing from rock and foundations while layering atmospheric textures through keyboards and synths to support vocal lines and enhance band dynamics. Known for a subtle, under-the-radar presence on stage, he prioritizes complementary contributions over spotlight solos, allowing his multifaceted sound to integrate seamlessly with the ensemble.

Discography

With The Wallflowers

Jaffee joined The Wallflowers in 1990 and provided keyboards on their self-titled debut album, released in 1992, where he is credited with piano and Hammond organ parts. His role expanded on the band's second album, Bringing Down the Horse (1996), with keyboards on all tracks, including piano, upright piano, B3 organ, and Vox Continental organ, along with background vocals; the album's single "One Headlight" earned the band a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1998. On Breach (2001), Jaffee contributed keyboards, , backing vocals, and string arrangements. He continued with keyboards and on (2002). For Rebel, Sweetheart (2005), Jaffee played keyboards. Following a hiatus, Jaffee rejoined the band for their reunion album (2012), contributing keyboards, , and organ. Jaffee also appears on live recordings included in the compilation Collected (2007), which features performances from the band's tours between 1996 and 2005.

With Foo Fighters

Rami Jaffee first contributed to Foo Fighters' recordings as a touring and session musician starting in 2005, providing additional keyboards on their 2007 album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. His work appears specifically on the track "Statues," where he played accordion. Jaffee's involvement expanded on the band's 2011 album Wasting Light, where he supplied keyboards on multiple tracks, including "Bridge Burning," "Rope," "I Should Have Known," "Walk," "Back & Forth," "A Matter of Time," and "Miss the Misery," as well as on select songs. For the 2014 album , Jaffee handled keyboards and various arrangements, performing on , organ, , , and across the record. Following his official inclusion as a full band member in 2017, Jaffee provided comprehensive keyboard duties on , including piano and additional instrumentation throughout the album. He continued as a core contributor on the 2021 album , delivering keyboards and co-writing several tracks. In 2025, Jaffee added keyboard parts to the band's singles "Today's Song," released in July, and "Asking for a Friend," released in October. Jaffee's touring role is also credited on live releases, such as the 2008 album Live at Wembley Stadium, where he performed piano, Mellotron, accordion, and organ during the band's concerts.

Guest and solo appearances

Jaffee has made numerous guest appearances on other artists' recordings, contributing primarily on keyboards, organ, and , as well as participating in soundtrack projects. Although he has not released any major solo albums, he has appeared on minor compilations and collaborative efforts. On Pete Yorn's 2006 album Nightcrawler, Jaffee provided organ on tracks including "Social Development" and "For Us." He later contributed additional keyboards to Yorn's 2021 covers album Sings the Classics, co-produced with Yorn and Marc Dauer. In 2024, Jaffee played keyboards, , and strings on Yorn's The Hard Way. For the Sound City Players' 2013 soundtrack album Sound City: Real to Reel, directed and produced by Dave Grohl, Jaffee performed keyboards on the track "You Can't Fix This" alongside Stevie Nicks, Grohl, and Taylor Hawkins. Jaffee contributed accordion to several tracks on Frank Black's 2006 holiday album Christmass, including "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Manitoba." In 2025, Jaffee collaborated with country band Silverada, harmonica player , and vocalist L.C. Franke on the Southern Bloom single series, providing keyboards on "" and subsequent releases born from an impromptu songwriting session. In February 2025, Jaffee collaborated with violinist on the sound healing track "Celestial Lullaby," providing keys and synths. Jaffee's soundtrack work includes contributions to (2008), where he composed and performed on "Thank You Repo Man." He also appeared as a on the 2013 tribute album Love for Levon: A Benefit to Save the Barn, playing keyboards on tracks honoring . Other notable guest credits include and organ on House of Fools' 2007 album Live and Learn (tracks 6, 9, 15), and keyboards on ' 2010 release Mirrors to Windows.

References

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