Campbell was born and raised in New York City, in an African-American family with five older brothers, all of whom enjoyed music from
funk and
Motown, to rock and beyond, where he began learning to play the drums at age twelve. When he was fourteen years old, then-drummer in
David Bowie's backing band,
Dennis Davis, moved into the apartment building where Campbell's family resided. Davis invited him to come with him to see a Bowie concert, galvanizing the student to apply himself further on the drum kit. He attended high school at
the High School of Music & Art (a part of the
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts) from which he graduated. Campbell practiced, and composed his own songs, finding work as a
session musician. ==Career==