Designated Drummer

This week is a sit down in Canada with my guest co-host, Amelie Rainwater, my daughter. After playing drums for 41 years, its nice to pass along some of the knowledge I have accumulated. Amelie is going to help me do just that in this episode by sharing your questions live on the show. We talk about drums, drumming careers and life on the road. She worked hard to compile these questions and I enjo...

Media Coach Kip Kirby is a phenomenal personality. Starting out at Billboard Magazine as a writer and moving on to television as a corespondent for Crook & Chase. Interviewing the biggest names not only in country but in Hollywood, she saw the need for proper media coaching. She filled that niche by developing her own media coaching business. I know you will enjoy listening to her as much as I...

Saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Pattie Cossentino has a work ethic that very few can beat. Finding something special within the saxophone at an early age, she started her own jazz group, developed an award winning album (pattiecossentino.com/music) and has been touring with hit song writing, Phil Vassar for the last several years. Hear about her career path and also learn some interesting fa...

Drummer Seph Allen is a director of strategic communications, working with NASA and other companies. His unique approach of teaching astronauts how to think and solve problems like a musician in a group is brilliant. He has tons of other cool jobs and interesting stories to share with us, including a dream to be a rock drummer in Hollywood. You are gonna love this guy! Check ou...

Drummer Kevin Rapillo has been the drummer for Rodney Atkins since Rodney’s beginnings in the early 2000’s. His power and discipline are keenly felt when listening to him play live. His beginnings were humble but very steady as he learned his craft and proved his worth as a power house drummer. Listen to my conversation with Kevin on this week's episode and you will soon agree he is one of the bes...

This episode is perfect for the young aspiring musician who is questioning their next move toward their musical education. In the Band Cave with Keech is Todd London, a percussion instructor at Belmont College for more than 30 years and Andy Waller a high school drummer in the process of applying to colleges. Sit back and enjoy this great mix of Andy’s young musical perspective and Todd’s mountain...

Dave McAfee has been a pro drummer for acts like Toby Kieth, Bryan White, Mason Dixon, Wade Hayes, Lee Greenwood and more. Dave and I go way back to our Dallas Texas club days where we followed a very similar path playing the Texas honky tonk bars in the 80’s and 90’s eventually ending up in Nashville and hitting the road with national acts. Dave has been the backbone and rhythmic foundation for T...

John Rich has been a big part of Nashville and country music history for 30 years. He was my band mate with Lonestar back in the day and still a great friend. I join John at his beautiful Nashville home overlooking downtown Nashville. As a songwriter and producer, he has helped to shape the newer sound of country music and always breaking down boundaries and discovering new talent while maintainin...

Artist Manager Corey Wagner is the Sr. VP of Shelter Music Group in Nashville. He Currently manages Lonestar, Austin Meade and Eliza Grace and has recently managed the likes of Tommy Lee, Everlast, Mic Fleetwood and many more. Music management is one of the most demanding, rewarding and challenging aspects of the music business. Corey earned his knowledge by being in the right place at the right t...

This week, I talk about the awesome job of a drum tech. Why do Drummers need a drum tech? What are some things a drum tech needs to know to be successful? Join me on this week'e episode of Designated Drummer and learn some tips and useful info about the world of drum Tech-ing.

Scott Brewer is an instructor at the famous Blackbird Academy, a School for Audio Engineering. A musician himself, he has been teaching at Blackbird for several years and turning out some of the best industry professionals in the world, both live sound and studio engineering. Join Scott and me as we discuss the academy's 6 month program and what makes it so successful.

Drummer and drum maker Paul Dickinson has been playing drums for over 30 years. He decided to turn his passion for drumming into building drum kits. His knowledge and philosophy about why a drum sounds like it does and how to perfect that science has driven him to make some of the finest sounding drums in the world. His Cherry Bomb snare drum has been a favorite for many drummers. Join us as we ta...

Ever wondered why its so hard to record music or why it's hard to put a band together? My co-host and daughter, Amelie, and I answer some fun questions sent in by listeners and fellow students. What’s my favorite drum within the drum kit? Why is it easier to play 6/8 time as opposed to 4/4? Amelie and I have a blast talking about all this stuff including some funny stories about when I played trum...

Venezuelan drummer Isaac Velasquez was born into a very musical family. With his father Ivan, a big time session drummer in Caracas and his grandfather, a big time jazz trumpeter, you can say music was in his blood. Velasquez's story begins in Venezuela, side steps through Miami and has brought him to Nashville. Enjoy the journey in this week's Designated Drummer.

Lee Kelley has been drumming it up for the likes of Hank Williams Jr, Gary Allen, Little Texas (filling in for Del Gray) and many more. His work ethic and philosophy of serving the song and the artist has put him in front of millions of people. I was shocked to learn he has even played with Loverboy! Get know this Nashville Drummer in this week's episode.

Drummer David Northrup is a power house of talent. He has his own music out, does clinics and videos plus working with artists like Rick Derringer, Boz Scaggs, John Waite, John Mellencamp, and lots more. His mix of touring and session work is incredible. Let's do a dive into how he does it all in this week's Designated Drummer.

WSM on-air personality Bill Cody has been a Nashville and Grand Ole Opry legend for close to 3 decades and a country radio DJ for nearly 50 years. His personality and experience goes all the way back to his Kentucky days as a teenager when he was captured by the magic of radio. You can still hear the excitement he has for radio and country music in general as we talk about his amazing career.

Steel guitar player Bruce Bouton is one of the most recorded and respected steel players in Nashville. His fine work on such artists records like Garth Brooks, Ricky Skaggs, Reba McEntire, and Brooks and Dunn is partly responsible for the reintroduction of the steel guitar sound into country records we all love. Bruce was inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame as part of Garth Brooks group o...

Playing drums is one of the most complicated things your body and brain can do. It’s even been scientifically proven! Learning to do something different with all four limbs plus possibly your voice added can be really challenging. In this episode I talk about drumming coordination and developing patterns that stay in your brain like programs on a computer. Even if you’re not a drummer, you can lea...

I get a lot of questions about things like ‘Being in a band’, 'Playing in the studio’, or ‘What kind of drums are best?’ In this episode I will answer some really interesting ones. My answers will help you if you’re thinking about being a professional musician or just curious about life as a designated drummer.

Auditions can be really intimidating. If you’ve ever had to get up and show them your stuff, you know what I mean. It’s something like being under a microscope! With the right attitude and preparation, you can go in there and nail that audition. In this episode, some friends of mine and I talk about what is important in an audition and even a few stories of good and not so good examples. If you’re...

Scotty Simpson, a bass player originally from Dallas TX, is currently on the road with The Oak Ridge Boys. He kept pushing his career further and further until finally landing in Nashville and playing with some of the biggest country acts of the 90s. Still going strong and no sign of slowing down. Check out Scotty awesome advice on auditioning for gigs.

Eddie Reasoner is a keyboardist, songwriter, composer and most recently former member of the band Three Dog Night. His credits in music for television and film are numerous. His wisdom and knowledge is impressive. After years of touring with his own band and then hooking up with Three Dog Night, he’s taking it easy and enjoying his time fishing and working in his home studio.

Kelly Bamberger, AKA Kelly Bam Bam, is a long time drummer for different bands playing in the famous Broadway street clubs in Nashville Tennessee. Since 1996, she has made her living playing mostly in Broadway clubs and honky-tonks. Join us on this episode as we talk about drummers who inspire us, tempos and our favorite equipment.

Tom Van Schaik was the original drummer for the Dixie Chicks (The Chicks). He has been a session drummer, live drummer and even a teacher of percussion at the Arts Magnet school in Dallas. These days he can be found in Nashville networking and freelancing. Listen to this week's episode and find out all about his journey.