Working Drummer

At four years old, Tim Horsley began playing drums and by the age of eight, he was playing live shows with his fathers gospel group in Southern Illinois. This early experience created a foundation for Tim to become the in-demand drummer he is today in Nashville. Starting in 1998, Tim has played drums with some of the best known country artists. After a short stint with Suzy Bogguss, Tim toured for...

Bassist David Santos shares insight into music and drumming that only a bass player can give. David has toured and recorded with Billy Joel/Elton John, John Fogerty, Crosby Stills and Nash, The Neville Brothers, Billy Preston and many others. As a consummate student of music, David has created opportunities to work with some of the greatest musicians of our time. This includes working with many am...

For the last five years, Kevin Murphy's been the power house drummer for country singer Randy Houser. Before his current road gig, Kevin toured for 11 years with the band Tonic. Growing up in the Northern Virginia/DC area, Kevin's exposure to music, like hardcore and "Go Go," became an undeniable influence on Kevin's playing and has served him well for the more than two decades he's spent as a ful...

Brian Fullen is a veteran drummer who's lived in Nashville for many years and worked for many artists including Shania Twain, Peter Frampton, Bob Carlisle, Allies, The Imperials, Vince Gilland Larry Carlton just to name a few. As a first call studio drummer, Brian's session work covers artist projects to movie sound tracks to music for TV commercials. Brian's been expanding his home studio work wi...

Drummer Rich Redmond has so many plates spinning there wouldn't be enough room in the podcast show notes to list them all. Best known as the drummer for country super star Jason Aldean (touring and studio), Rich also produces other artist's music with his partners at New Voice Entertainment. As a speaker and author, many of Rich's pursuits encompass the combination of education and motivation. You...

Many people know Steve Bowman as a founding member and original drummer for the band Counting Crows. Born and raised in Oakland California, Steve had the good fortune of growing up in a town with a history of successful bands like The Counting Crows. Steve established a reputation as a solid musician with his original and creative drumming on the band's 1993 debut album August And Everything After...

Jerry Roe is the drummer and member of the band Friendship Commanders. Widely known as a prolific and naturally gifted drummer, Jerry's list of artists he's performed and/or recorded with is impressive. These include Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, The Wreckers, Legendary Shack Shakers, KD Lang, WPA (Works Progress Administration) and Gretchen Wilson. As the grandson of singer, songwriter and acto...

Currently on the road with Casey James and guitar great Reeves Gabrels, Jeff Brown has been able to stay busy as a full time drummer for many years. In just the last decade, Jeff has worked with many artists live and in the studio including Dreaming In English, Jen Foster, Bucky Covington, Thomas Rhett and Steel Magnolia. Jeff's recording experience includes recording for movie sound tracks, telev...

Originally from Quesnel British Columbia, Dan Sia has just finished his 11th year as full time cruise ship drum set player and multi percussionist. What started as an audition over the phone 11 years ago, Dan's work on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has tested his skills at adapting to almost every style of music imaginable. This includes drumming for musicals like Mama Mia, Chicago: The Musical...

Jamie Rogan is a passionate drummer that for the last ten years has been working for country singer Billy Currington. But Jamie is so much more than that. After graduating from Auburn University with a degree in music education, he stayed in Alabama for two more years as a band director. In 2000 Jamie moved to Nashville. Jamie continues to juggle many things outside his full time road gig with tea...

Fred Eltringham has had arguably some of the coolest gigs you could have throughout the years he's been playing. While touring with RCA artists Gigolo Aunts from the mid to late 90's, Fred established many working and personal relationships with the bands they were sharing the stage with. This included The Wallflowers which eventually became Fred's gig for eight years after leaving the Gigolo Aunt...

Before moving to Nashville in 1991, Steve Ebe spent his formative years in Memphis working with such legends as Carl Perkins and Donald "Duck" Dunn. Now, Steve is known throughout the Nashville music community as one of the busiest drummers in town. Whether it's teaching close to 50 students a week, or working with several bands who's primary focus is paying tribute to classic albums by performing...

Ed Toth has held down two power house gigs for close to 20 years. Between 1996 - 2005, Ed was the drummer and member of the band Vertical Horizon. Since 2005, Ed has been playing drums with the legendary Doobie Brothers. Ed shares with us the joys and challenges that he experienced as a member of Vertical Horizon from its humble beginnings to multi platinum status as well as what lead to his trans...

Not only has George Lawrence been the drummer for Poco for over a decade, he's known throughout the Nashville drumming community as a natural mentor with years of experience performing live and in the studio. His reputation as an influential teacher includes a long list of successful alumni like drumming great Keith Carlock. In the early eighties George maintained steady work as a session drummer...

For the last 15 years, Ben Sesar has been the live and studio drummer for Grammy award winning singer, songwriter and guitarist Brad Paisley. This gig has given Ben a perspective on the music industry that few drummers get to experience. Ben offers his insight and philosophy on the business and what obstacles up and coming drummers might face. As a teacher, writer and professed life long student h...

For over 15 years Jim Riley has been the drummer for the hugely successful country group Rascal Flatts. After earning a degree in music education from North Texas, Jim found his way to Nashville in pursuit of higher musical goals. In pursuit of these goals, Jim shares with us his story of determination and perseverance. After establishing his drumming skills among his peers in Nashville, Jim quick...

For the last 15 years, Ben Sesar has been both live and studio drummer for the Grammy award winning singer, songwriter and guitarist Brad Paisley. This gig has given Ben a perspective on the music industry that few drummers get to experience. Ben offers his insight and philosophy on the business and which obstacles up and coming drummers might face. As a teacher, writer and professed life long stu...

Lee Kelley has learned to adapt his drumming style to fit whatever gig has come his way. Lee's range of gigs have included backing up many artists in Nashville including Gary Allan, Mark Chestnut, Heidi Newfield as well as alt-country singer Chris Knight. Originally from the Charlotte North Carolina area, Lee learned drumming from his neighbor at an early age and continued his informal education w...

Matt Iceman is our featured drummer for our 7th podcast. Matt is a relatively young drummer who's been steadily making a name for himself in the Nashville scene since his move in the early 2000's. At the time of our interview, Matt was just finishing two busy years touring with singer/songwriter Eric Paslay. We discuss his role as band leader as well as life on the road. While on tour, Matt was ab...

Keio Stroud is the featured drummer for the 6th podcast. 2014 was very busy for Keio, touring with Rodney Crowelland Big & Rich. Openings in his 2014 schedule were quickly filled with other gigs as a sub that included Jake Owen, Chad Warrix and Stoney LaRue. Keio grew up in a family of musicians and spent his formative years performing as the second drummer (double drums) in his dad's band. Keio's...

Mark Beckett is an accomplished session and live drummer in Nashville. When not in the studio, Mark's live gigs include touring with Olivia Newton-John as well as sharing the job of "house drummer" at the Grand Ole Opry opposite Nashville drumming legend Eddie Bayers. Eddie played an important role throughout Mark's life as a mentor and teacher. Son of Barry Beckett, renowned session keyboardist a...

Gregg Lohman has been the touring drummer for Kellie Pickler for the last eight years. At the time of our interview, Gregg had just returned from one of Kellie's many USO tours and was preparing for the Neil Peart tribute show with the Nashville Drummers Jam. Gregg's talents keep him very busy in the ever changing music scene of Nashville. Throughout his life, Gregg has had many positive role mode...

Professional drummer Brice Williams is our third podcast interview. Brice is currently touring and recording with Mark Wills. Brice has gained an amazing amount of experience in the relatively short time he's been in Nashville. From an early age he showed great promise as a drummer while playing in his fathers band. In college, Brice studied with one of his biggest influences, Chester Thompson at...

Nick Buda is the featured artist on the second Working Drummer podcast. Before moving to the United States, Nick grew up in South Africa. Nick tells about his move to the U.S. as a young teen and, what led him to a career playing drums. While Nick was in high school, he had a chance meeting with Vinnie Colaiuta, who advised him to attend Berkeley to study. His early career was spent touring extens...

For the first Working Drummer Podcast, we talk with David Black. David is the touring drummer with Easton Corbin. We start from David’s early influences to growing up in a musical family and making the big move to Nashville. David talks about the challenges of raising a young family while touring and shares some of the experiences that lead up to his current gig with Easton. Recorded November 2014...