politics | January 14, 2026

Jim Keltner Net Worth


Ken Keltner Net Worth

James Lee Keltner net worth is
$19 Million

James Lee Keltner Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family

James Lee "Jim" Keltner (born April 27, 1942) is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists. Keltner is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was characterized as "the leading session drummer in America" by Bob Dylan biographer Howard Sounes. 
Full NameJames Lee Keltner
Net Worth$19 Million
Date Of BirthApril 27, 1942
Place Of BirthTulsa, Oklahoma, USA
ProfessionMusic Department, Soundtrack, Actor
NicknamesJim Keltner, Keltner, Jim
Star SignTaurus
#Fact
1Profiled in the 1991 book "The Big Beat--Conversations with Rock's Great Drummers", edited by Max Weinberg.
2John Lennon, George Harrison, and even Ringo Starr each used him as drummer on many of their solo records. He and Ringo played as a team for The Concert for Bangladesh (1972) and other events, and he chose the musicians to record one of Yoko Ono's albums.
3While Gary Lewis played drums from early on, many of his records with the Playboys actually featured Keltner.
4He had played with and for countless bands over the years, but he'd never really been a member of one, until Little Village formed (with Ry Cooder, John Hiatt and Nick Lowe) in the late 1980s.
5A longtime, well-loved session drummer.

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice2016musician: drum orchestra
Bessie2015TV Movie session musician
Man of Steel2013musician: drum orchestra
A Place at the Table2012Documentary musician: drums
Elton John & Leon Russell Live from the Beacon Theatre2010TV Movie musician
Synecdoche, New York2008musician: drums
Across the Universe2007musician: Los Angeles
Great Performances2007TV Series musician - 1 episode
Don't Come Knocking2005musician: drums
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind2004musician: drums - uncredited
Concert for George2003Video documentary musician: drums
The Big Lebowski1998musician: drums - uncredited
The End of Violence1997musician - drums
Mr. Holland's Opus1995musician: drums - uncredited
Toy Story1995musician: drums - uncredited
Geronimo: An American Legend1993musician: drums - uncredited
Trespass1992scoring musician
Johnny Handsome1989musician: drums and percussion
Imagine: John Lennon1988Documentary musician: drums
Slam Dance1987musician: drums
Crossroads1986musician: drums - uncredited
Streets of Fire1984scoring band
The Long Riders1980musician: drums - uncredited
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid1973musician: drums - uncredited

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Sound City2013Documentary performer: "If I Were Me" / writer: "If I Were Me"
Don't Come Knocking2005"Don't Come Knocking"
Just a Kiss2002writer: "Max Roach"
The End of Violence1997writer: Score Contains a Four Bar Sample
Alamo Bay1985"Too Close"
Son of Dracula1974"Down", "Without You", uncredited

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Tapeheads1988Swanky Modes Band
Saturday Night Live1976TV SeriesJudge

Camera Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The True History of the Traveling Wilburys2007Video documentary short camera operator: additional photography - as Buster Sidebury

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Frontline2002TV Series documentary special thanks - 1 episode

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Every Night's a Saturday Night2016Documentary post-productionHimself
The Garden's Defining Moments2015TV Mini-SeriesHimself
Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl -Unraveled2014DocumentaryHimself
Sound City2013DocumentaryHimself
George Harrison: Living in the Material World2011DocumentaryHimself
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live2009TV MovieHimself
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live: Come Together2009VideoHimself
All You Need Is Klaus2009DocumentaryHimself
The True History of the Traveling Wilburys2007Video documentary shortHimself (as Buster Sidebury)
Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan2006VideoHimself
Concert for Bangladesh Revisited with George Harrison and Friends2005TV Movie documentary
Simon and Garfunkel: Old Friends - Live on Stage2004VideoHimself - Drums
Concert for George2003Video documentaryHimself
The Making of 'Brainwashed'2002Video documentary shortHimself
Joe Cocker in Concert2001VideoHimself
Red Rocks Live: Neil Young Friends & Relatives2000Video documentaryHimself - Drums
Joe Cocker: Have a Little Faith1996Video documentaryHimself
The Concert for Bangladesh1972DocumentaryHimself
Mad Dogs & Englishmen1971DocumentaryHimself (as The Band)

Archive Footage

Known for movies

Music Department

Man of Steel (2013)
as Music Department

Music Department

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
as Music Department

Music Department

Across the Universe (2007)
as Music Department

Music Department

Synecdoche, New York (2008)
as Music Department