Working Drummer

Greg Sadler is a Los Angeles-based drummer who keeps a relentlessly busy schedule both in the studio and on the stage. He has provided the rhythmic foundation for GRAMMY, Emmy and Tony winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, and many more.  He is a graduate of the University of North Texas, where he was a member of the six-time GRAMMY-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band in 2012. Greg also teache...

Currently on tour with rock legend Alice Cooper and the Hollywood Vampires Glen Sobel has played in a variety of genres including rock, hip hop, pop, metal, punk, and fusion. A seasoned pro with world tour experience, Glen has developed a reputation for being a quick study, known to learn an entire set of material in a day or record a CDs worth of songs on short notice. Glen subbed a week for Tomm...

 Shawn King. Shawn has been the drummer for the band Devotchka for over 20 years and has been based in Denver for longer than that. Over that time he has been tightly woven into the Denver scene and involved in all kinds of projects from experimental festivals to musical theatre. We are right around the 20 year anniversary of both Devotchka’s album “How it Ends” and the movie “Little Miss Sunshine...

Curt Bisquera is one of Los Angeles' top recording / touring drummers and producers. Curt has recorded and/or toured with the biggest names in music including Sir Elton John, Johnny Cash, Mick Jagger, Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt, Josh Groban, Ricky Martin, Sarah McLachlan, Hans Zimmer (Superman / Batman), The Beach Boys, Lana del Rey, John Legend, Tina Turner, Celine Dion and countless others. In this...

Steve has headed up drumset studies at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, and has countless alumni active in all corners of the music industry. In addition to teaching, Steve’s legacy as a player includes recording and touring with a huge range of artists including Gloria Estefan and Ben Vereen, and a stint of more than a decade as the drummer for the BeeGees. In this episode, Steve...

Adam Gust is the world's first Polyvagal-Informed professional drummer. Using his performance experience and knowledge of nervous system science, Adam has created the Somatic Drummer - a unique combination of science, wellness, and drumming. Adam's 'Science of the Groove' was the first talk about the Vagus Nerve to appear on TED.com, exploring how drummers sync their brains and bodies to find thei...

Growing up in a musical family gave JT an early start into sound and rhythmic exploration. He set on the path to becoming a working musician while playing in his father’s big band as a teen. Over the years he remained steeped in the improvised music scene, both as a performer and presenter. As a session drummer JT has appeared on Grammy record of the year “Folklore” (Taylor Swift) as well as the f...

Sterling Campbell was born and raised in New York City at a time when the music scene was rich with innovators like David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Joni Mitchell and many others. Sterling would go on to work with David Bowie from 1992 until 2004. Other notable artist Sterling has worked for throughout his career include Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran, Soul Asylum, Chic, Tina Turner, David Byrn and many oth...

In 2006, J-rod uploaded his first Youtube video, receiving positive feedback that reinforced his belief in using his musical talent to educate and inspire others. Committed to honing his craft, J-rod enrolled in the Atlanta Institute of Music, graduating in 2012, and later joined The 4 Korners band in 2013. With a growing online community of over 700K+ followers, J-rod’s brand transcends his talen...

Jorge Palacios is an in demand drummer based in San Diego, California. He’s been the drummer for iconic rock star Rick Springfield since 2010. Other artists he’s worked with include Paul Young, Tommy Tutone, Sammy Hagar, The Mustard Seeds and many others. In this episode, Jorge talks about: Embracing different genres Balancing local and touring gigs Making real connections Drumming for Rick Spring...

Kassandra is working with altadenamusicians.org to get instruments to musicians affected by the LA fires. Go to altadenamusicians.org and download the Instrumental Giving app to help. Kassandra Kocoshis was raised in a musical family and has been playing percussion since she was eleven years old. She received her Bachelors of Music in Percussion Performance from DePaul University and her Masters o...

From Cuba, Dafnis Prieto’s revolutionary drumming techniques and compositions have had a powerful impact on the music landscape, nationally and internationally. His various awards and honors include a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, a GRAMMY Award for Back to the Sunset (2018), two additional GRAMMY nominations, two Latin GRAMMY nominations (including Best New Artist in 2007), and the Jazz Journali...

As an internationally acclaimed drummer and percussionist, Bill Ransom has played some of the world’s biggest halls with a host of world-famous artists. While building his performing career Bill also worked as an educator, guiding countless young drummers into professional careers. One passion fueling another. He has toured and recorded with artists including Patrice Rushen, Aretha Franklin, Mario...

Originally from Garland Texas, Chris Brush moved to Nashville in the fall of 1999 after college to play drums professionally. Over time, session opportunities ignited a passion in Chris as he began to work toward getting off the road full time, and move into the studio scene. Along the way Chris discovered that engineering, mixing, and music production were as exciting to him as drumming. He put t...

Jamey Haddad's career as a drummer and percussionist has spanned five decades, countless genres, and multiple continents. For over 25 years, he’s had a close relationship with Paul Simon, playing alongside Steve Gadd on multiple records and live projects. He has appeared on over 170 recordings and has played with a wide range of artists from Joe Lovano to Yo Yo Ma, and his career as an educator ha...

Newsboys is one of the biggest bands in Christian music history, having sold more than 10 million records across 23 recordings and garnering boundless accolades, including 1 RIAA® Platinum certification and 8 Gold certifications, 30 #1 radio hits, four GRAMMY® nominations, two American Music Award nominations and multiple Dove Awards. With signature songs like “We Believe,” “Born Again” and the un...

Russ Lawton has spent most of his career in and around New England from Cape Cod to Boston to Burlington Vermont. For almost 25 years, he has been the drummer for the Trey Anastasio Band. He also has an organ trio project called Lamp that is about to release their second record and tour in support of it, and has played with countless other bands and artists from blues to Afro beat. In this episode...

Robert Blair is a Nashville TN based drummer with decades of live and studio experience. Originally from South Carolina, Robert's early love and commitment to drumming led him to working and touring by the age of 16 with players many years his senior. At the age of 21, he made the move to Nashville where he's built a reputation as a solid and reliable player with a professional sound. Not only doe...

Jose Medeles is the owner of Revival Drum Shop in Portland and the author of several books including The Stoic Drummer. In his former life, Jose was an LA based working drummer and toured and recorded with The Breeders and many other artists, and also did a stint working at the famed Pro Drum Shop in Hollywood. Most recently, Jose became the brand manager for the relaunch of Slingerland Drums. In...

Rich Scannella has played for some of the most iconic superstars in the music industry. Rich has played, toured, and or recorded with legendary artists: Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Jon Bon Jovi & The Kings of Suburbia, Tonic, Brian Fallon (Gaslight Anthem), Adam Duritz (Counting Crows), Joe Elliot (Def Leopard), Neal Schon (Journey), Michael Anthony (Van Halen), Gene Cornish (The Rasca...

A native of South Florida, percussionist Murphy Aucamp studied classical percussion at Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, while simultaneously studying rumba in the streets of south Florida. He is a graduate of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, where he studied under Steve Rucker, Dafnis Prieto, and John Yarling. Murphy’s performing credits include appearances with Blue...

Tim Baltes is a drum-centric American music professional living in Nantes, France. Tim has accrued years of social strategy, copywriting, product development, and MI retail operations experience bolstering manufacturers, distributors, and retailers alike. Tim has advised drummers including Curt Bisquera (Johnny Hallyday, Mick Jagger, Elton John, Tom Petty), Michael Urbano (Sheryl Crow, Smash Mouth...

Ben Hilzinger is a Los Angeles-based drummer and songwriter with 20+ years of performing, recording and teaching experience.  Currently the drummer for Eve 6 and Cannons, Ben has also written, recorded, and/or toured throughout the USA/internationally with MXPX, Fitness, Mike Herrera, Party Nails, We Shot The Moon, Glorybots, Ever So Android, Jake Cummings, Josh Eacrett, Dave Cavalier, and many mo...

Dylan Wissing is a session drummer based in Hoboken, New Jersey, who has recorded for such artists as John Legend, Drake, Kanye West, Jay-Z and Eminem. He is best known as the drummer on Alicia Keys’ Grammy award-winning hit, “Girl on Fire,” and is heard in national ads for AT&T, American Airlines, Valvoline, Behr Paints and Banana Republic. Dylan teaches the art of recording and session drumming...

Master Gunnery Sgt. Chris Rose has spent the majority of his professional career in his role as percussionist, drumset specialist, and soloist with the United States Marine Band. "The President’s Own" comprises 160 members and takes various forms depending on the event or occasion they’re playing for and the instrumentation needed for it. As you’ll hear, this affords Chris the opportunity to play...