(JAZZ DRUMMERS - 2005)

1. Buddy Rich
2. Elvin Jones
3. Max Roach
4. Roy Haynes
5. Jack DeJohnette
6. Tony Williams
7. Billy Cobham
8. Art Blakey
9. Joe Morello
10. Kenny Clarke
11. Gene Krupa
12. Dave Weckl
13. Harvey Mason
14. Peter Erskine
15. Chick Webb
16. Louis Bellson
17. Ed Blackwell
18. Bill Stewart
19. Steve Gadd
20. Papa Joe Jones
21. Connie Kay
22. Jeff "Tain" Watts
23. Philly Joe Jones
24. Paul Wertico

25. Big Sid Catlett
26. Rashied Ali
27. Warren "Baby" Dodds
28. Bernard Purdie
29. Clayton Cameron
30. Don Alias
31. Alphonse Mouzon
32. Alex Acuna
33. Paul Motian
34. Vinnie Colaiuta
35. Narada Michael Walden
36. Chad Wackerman
37. Shelly Manne
38. Johnny Vidacovich
39. Lional Hampton
40. Art Taylor
41. Billy Higgins
42. Lewis Nash
43. John Robinson
44. Danny Gottlieb
45. Antonio Sanchez
46. Bill Bruford
47. Alan Dawson
48. Dannie Richmond
49. Dennis Chambers
50. Ed Shaughnessey
51. Airto
52. Kenny Wollesen
53. Brian Blade
54. Gary Husband
55. Steve Smith
56. Alex Riel
57. Al Foster
58. Ben Perowski
59. Lenny White
60. Bernie Dresel
61. Panama Francis
62. Louis Hayes
63. Sonny Payne
64. Ed Thigpen
65. Jeff Ballard
66. Jay Lane
67. Gary Novak
68. Billy Kilson
69. Jimmy Cobb
70. Idrus Muhammed
71. John Riley
72. Abe Laboriel Jr.
73. Joe LaBarbera
74. Mel Lewis

75. Andrew Cyrille
76. Stanton Moore
77. Adam Nussbaum
78. Ben Riley
79. Cecil Brooks III
80. Simon Phillips
81. Joel Taylor
82. Marvin 'Smitty' Smith
83. Harold Jones
84. T.S. Monk
85. Terry Bozzio
86. Frankie Dunlop
87. Ray Barretto
88. Billy Hart
89. Stan Levey
90. Tony Royster
91. Paul Barbarin
92. Joel Rosenblatt
93. Andre Ceccarelli
94. Martin Drew
95. John Guerin
96. Kenny Washington
97. Leon Parker
98. Luis Conte
99. Gene Jackson
100. Claude Ranger

The above lists are with courtesy of Digital Dream Door Site
They have a page for your comments ~ which I am sure you have many!
They are NOT compiled by myself.

Email me with your choice if not listed above and I will give them a well deserved mention here. The media sadly misses far too many great musicians.

YOUR CHOICES


Bobby Elliott

One of Britains finest drummers Bobby Elliott, has been a driving force behind The Hollies for nearly five decades. He discovered his love of jazz and drums when he was 11 years old, which developed more while at Nelson Grammar School. Inspired by the likes of Gene Krupa, Larry Bunker, Ronnie Verrell, Joe Morello, Sonny Payne, he would practice with home made copper wire brushes on anything close at hand. In the early 60's he played in a local Nelson band, The Dolphins, before replacing Don Rathbone in The Hollies in 1963. After The Beatles, The Hollies were the most successful British 'singles' bands of the 1960s, scoring 22 UK Top 40 hits between 1964 and 1970, including "Here I Go Again"; the bands first self penned hit "We're Through"; "Look Through Any Window"; "Yes I Will"; "I'm Alive" (also US hit); "Bus Stop" (U.S. No.5) ; "I Can't Let Go" (U.S. No. 42); and"Stop Stop Stop" (U.S. No.7); "Carrie Anne" (U.S. No. 9); "On a Carousel" (U.S. No.11); "Jennifer Eccles" (U.S. #40). Their hits continued in the 70's and 80's with "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother";"Gasoline Alley Bred"; "The Air That I Breath"; "Soldier's Song" and others. Billy and The Hollies still successfully tour and have released their new album "Then, Now, Always", in late March 2009, featuring 11 brand new tracks
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Vivian Prince

UK drummer, the legendary Viv Prince had been drumming professionally for some years before joining the Pretty Things, playing in different bands including Carter-Lewis & the Southerners. Viv was one of first wild men of rock, playing with a highly energized, uninhibited drumming style which influenced among others, a young Keith Moon and he prooved to be one of UK's first bad-boy rock n rollers, among his many outrageous antics, he earnt the Pretty Things a lifetime ban from New Zealand during their 1965 tour. He joined the Pretty Things just after their debut single "Rosalyn"/"Big Boss Man," on which session drummer Bobby Graham can be heard. In December of '65 he briefly deputized for Keith Moon in the Who, when Keith missed a few shows due to illness. In 1966 he formed a band, the Bunch of Fives, which recorded the single, "Go Home Baby"/"At the Station," also in 1966 he recorded instrumental solo single, "Light of the Charge Brigade," that spotlighted his drumming. He later played in the Denny Laine String Band, led by original Moody Blues lead singer and future Wings guitarist, after which he did a short stint with Vamp, and also played in the band Kate. Legend has it that this badboy rock n roll drummr even got thrown out of Hells Angels in the 70's, but he eventually relocated to live in an orange grove in Portugal where he bred Alsatians . The Pretty Things paid tribute to their talented, unforgettable drummer on "Vivian Prince," a track from their 1999 album "Rage".
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Chad Smith

American drummer Chad Smith, not to be confused with the RHCP drummer, began playing drums at the age of 12. Influenced by the likes of John Bonham, Tommy Aldridge, Clyde Stubblefield and Steve Gadd, he turned professional at the young age of 14. He played in bands Heaven's Flame and Mary Burns before becoming a member of the metal band Anacrusis in 1990, playing on their studio debut album "Manic Impressions", exciting and ground breaking stuff for 1991. Anacrusis was one of the first bands that attempted to blend thrash and progressive metal. In 1992 you can hear Chad with the band London Calling and he recorded the 1993 album 'Blood In The Water' with them. Soon after he joined up with Pavlov's Dog in 1994, before he was invited to drum with Geezer Bulter's heavy metal band G//Z/R aka Geezer, replacing the founder drummer Deen Castronovo in 1997. Chad is still working and touring with G//Z/R and can be heard on their album 'Ohmwork'
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Clem Cattini

London, UK born Clem Cattini's first major band work was in the late 50s drumming with Billy Fury's backing group, "The Beat Boys" changing their name to The Blue Flames in 1958 while on tour in Scotland. In the early 60s he joined the Tornados recording their No. 1 hit "Telstar" before becoming a full time session musician. Allegedly he was the first drummer to remove bottom hoops and throw a pillow in his drums, a techneque that has been copied by most drummers ever since. In 1975 he was asked to join Led Zeppelin for a brief spell, but he turned down the offer. Clem is one of, or maybe the most prolific drummers in UK recording history, appearing on hundreds and hundreds of recordings by artists as diverse as Engelbert Humperdinck and Lou Reed, from T-Rex's "Hot Love" to Tony Christie & Peter Kay's "Is This the Way to Amarillo", from Esther & Abi Ofarim's "Cinderella Rockefella" to Hot Chocolate's "You Win Again" and "Shaking All Over" with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates to "When Will I See You Again" with Three Degrees. Clem has drummed his way into everyone's collection, featuring to date, on a record of 46 different UK No.1 singles. What else can I say about this legend, except.. Why isn't he on any of the above lists, and he likes a pint of guinness!!
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Tony Meehan

Tony Meehan started playing drums at 10 years old , at 13, he had his first job with a band playing in a dance hall at Willesden, London. At 15 he played timpani with the London Youth Orchestra and playied cabaret at places like Churchill's and the Stork Club. Tony was also drummer in a band with Jet Harris called The Vipers. He joined Cliff Richards backing band, The Drifters in the late 50s, soon to be known as the Shadows in 1958. Tony played on all Cliff Richard's early hits, but left the Shadows in 1961 and went to work as an arranger /producer and session drummer. He subsequently teamed up again with Jet Harris and as a duo they had great success with "Diamonds" which also included Jimmy Page on acoustic rhythm guitar. 'Diamonds' was a number one hit in the UK. Tony briefly played with The Shadows again some years later when Brian Bennett was hospitalised. Sadly Tony died in 2005 ~ Quotes ~ Sir Cliff Richard: "There's no doubt that he was a major force in creating The Shadows' distinctive sound, his innovative drumming was the backbone of the band, and his aggressive yet sparse style was similar to Ringo Starr's five years later with The Beatles." .... Bruce Welch: "Drummers wanted to be like Tony Meehan as he played in a style that no-one had done before. Apache was such an iconic record. It has been sampled a lot by hip hop groups."
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Brian Bennett

World renound UK drummer, Brian Bennet was born in London started his career at the age of sixteen playing drums in a Ramsgate skiffle group performing for holiday makers, and by the late 1950s was one of the most sought-after percussionists around. Next he was drummer in residence at the legendary ‘2 I's’ (2 eyes) in Soho and a regular on Jack Good's ground breaking TV show "Oh Boy" and soon became drummer in Marty Wilde's backing band The Wildcats. In 1961, he was invited to join Cliff Richard & The Shadows and wrote many of the hit songs from the films, including Summer Holiday, Wonderful Life and Finders Keepers. He created the legendary Drum solo "Little B", a must, showcase for every drummer in the pre Beatles era. Brian has played with The Shadows for 5 decades and has been presented with 4 Platinum, 9 Gold & 14 Silver Discs with them. In the 1970s, he became Cliff Richard's musical director and formed The Brian Bennett Orchestra touring the world, including the first concerts to be staged in Russia. Among his many awards are his first Ivor Novello Award in 1962; a second Ivor Novello Award in 1983; his third Ivor Novello Award in 1990; a Gold Badge Award in 2001; an RTS Craft & Design Award in 2001; a Mojo Special Award in 2004 and a Grammy Award in 2006, and in 2004 he was honored with an OBE for his services to music as a musician, songwriter and composer for film and television. Brian continues working and he runs his own recording studio and record label in Hertfordshire
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Akira Jimbo

Akira Jimbo from Tokyo, Japan , began drumming at the age of 18 when he joined the Keio University Light Music Society Big Band. In 1979 he joined the jazz fusion band Casiopea debuting with the album Casiopea, featuring Randy Brecker and Michael Brecker as guest musicians. Leaving the band after 10 years, in 1989 he formed Jimsaku, a duo with Casiopea's bassist Tetsuo Sakurai Akira. By this time he had gained intenational fame and went freelance. In 1999, Akira was awarded 2nd place in the British drum magazine RHYTHM for most popular drummer and 2000, he became the first Asian drummer to be featured on the cover of Modern Drummer magazine. Known for his drumming independence, fusion of electronic drum technology and acoustic drums, recently he has been working with Hiroyuki Noritake from T-Square in the drum-duo Synchronized DNA and have together performed in a series of concerts with Casiopea. More recently Jimbo has assisted in the design of the new K Custom Hybrid Series of cymbals by Zildjian, and kept very busy with global drum clinics. He has released solo 11 albums, the last was "Brombo 2!!" with bassist Brian Bromberg and 13 drum videos, the latest to date "Solo Drums Performance 5" just released in 2008.
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Jojo Mayer

Self taught Swiss drummer Jojo Mayer was born into a musical family, spending his early childhood on the road traveling throughout Europe and the Far East with his bassist father, Vali. He got his first drum set at the age of 2, and his first public performance took place in Hong Kong when he was only 3 years old. At 18, he joined Monty Alexander's group and toured extensively all over Europe, playing all the major jazz -festivals which lead to back-up gigs with other jazz-greats such as Dizzy Gillespie and Nina Simone, this also introduced him to an international audience. He went on to record and play a wide range of musical styles with the likes of The Screaming Headless Torsos, Meshell n'dege Occello, Vernon Reid's science project, DJ Spooky, Emergency Broadcast Network, the Vienna Art Orchestra, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Monty Alexander, Lunar Crush, John Zorn, James Blood Ulmer, Chico Freeman, George Adams, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, John Medeski, Family of Percussion, Hiram Bullock, Leni Stern, Depart, Wolfgang Puschnigg, The intergalactic Maiden Ballet, Friedrich Gulda, Harry Sokal, Steve Coleman's 5 Elements, Passport, Wah Wah Watson and many more. More recently, Jojo has been venturing into New York's Techno / Multimedia / Avantgarde / club scene by promoting his own weekly party event called 'Prohibited Beats'. This new platform for live "Drum n" Bass", "Nu-Skool Breaks", "Speed Garage" and the latest stylistical hybrids and mutations in DJ culture, has also provided the back drop for his first solo project called NERVE. Described as an "endeavor in reverse engineering the textures and rhythms of the current stream of computer generated music into a live performed, improvisational format".
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Buddy Miles

As a teenager blues-rock drummer George aka Buddy Miles played in his father's band The Bebops, Ruby & the Romantics, the Ink Spots, the Delfonics and others. At this time he met and struck up a friendship with Jimi Hendrix when they were both sidemen. In 1967 Buddy formed Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield, they broke up after their 2nd album, and Miles formed the Buddy Miles Express. In 1969 Hendrix produced the Buddy Miles Express release, "Electric Church" and Miles drummed for Hendrix on his Electric Ladyland album. Miles played on the songs "Rainy Day, Dream Away" and "Still Raining, Still Dreaming". Soon after the release he joined Hendrix in forming the short lived band, "Band of Gypsys". Buddy Miles went on to be a solo and freelance drummer, recording over 70 albums, 6 world tours, working with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Muddy Waters, Barry White, Carlos Santana, Bootsy Collins, David Bowie, George Clinton, Jack Bruce, Joe Perry, Billy Cox, and many others. Buddy continues to be active musically and performs selected shows with proceeds going to help support victims of natural disasters and other noble causes.
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Dino Danelli

Dino Danelli is more famously known for being a founder member of The Rascals/ Young Rascals in 1963. He has stayed with the band throughout their history and still appears with them when ever they re-group. You can hear Dino's playing on 100's of other tracks, as a very sort after session drummer he has played with, Gene Cornish, Jeff Gottschalk, Wally Brison, Explore, Tom Dowd , Frankie Vinci, Arif Mardin, Lex Marchesi , Howard Buzzy Feiten, Michael Bruce, Ralph MacDonald, April Wine, The Bar-Kays, Michael Bruce, Bulldog, Felix Cavaliere, Roxanne Fontana, Fotomaker, Laura Nyro, Pepper, David Rea, Dan Reed Network, B.J. Thomas, King Curtis, April Wine, John Turi, Eric "ET" Thorngren, Fotomaker, Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul and more. This list of artists from the many genre show just what a skilled and extremely versatile drummer Dino is.
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Steve Jordan

Steve Jordan is a graduate of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. In the 70's he played drums for the Saturday Night Live. In the 80's when John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd toured as The Blues Brothers, Steve was their drummer. He was also the first drummer in the Paul Shaffer-led "World's Most Dangerous Band", the live studio band for the Late Night with David Letterman show on NBC. Steve is a hard working world sort after session drummer and has worked with a host of stars including The Rolling Stones, Don Henley, John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan, BB King, Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, Ricky Fanté, Chuck Berry, James Brown, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa, The Verbs, Billy Joel, Tom Jones, Chaka Kahn, Will Lee, George Benson, and many more. 2006 saw him in the touring with the Eric Clapton Band. Steve is also a Grammy Award winning producer with Robert Crays' album "Take Your Shoes Off" and nominated with others, John Mayer album "Continuum", Herbie Hancock's "Possiblilties", John Scofield's "That's What I Say", Patti Scialfa's "23rd St. Lullaby" and The Verbs' "And Now - The Verbs"
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Nigel Olsson

UK rock drummer Nigel Olsson, started his career in northern bands such as The Fireflies and Jazzboard, before moving to London and joining Plastic Penny. He did a short stint with the band Uriah Heep, playing drums for some songs on their 1970 debut LP "Very 'eavy... Very 'umble", but Nigel is a better known for his work with Elton John. He played drums and sang backing vocals on John's early 1970's albums, teaming with guitarist Davey Johnstone, bassist Dee Murray, and percussionist Ray Cooper to form what most rock fans regard as Elton John's classic backing band. In 1975 he worked as a studio drummer, returning to work with Elton in 1980 for 4 years. In 1991, Nigel and Davey joined forces in Davey's band Warpipes, producing the great album Holes in the Heavens. Year 2000 saw him back with Sir Elton. Over his career Nigel has performs with dozens and dozens of mega international artists; he is still doing session and freelance work, donating much his time to various charitable causes.
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Eric Delaney

Eric Delaney must be the ultimate drummer's drummer, not to be on any of the lists, tut tut people, this is criminal !! Born in Acton, London, UK, Eric was playing drums to live audiences at 6 and at age 10 was in his first group, with his mother on piano and his father on banjo. In his early teens he was acclaimed as a "Drum Genius" taking command of the Royal Kiltie Junior Band and the Hughie Green Roadshow. By the time he was 16, he was voted Britain's Best Young Swing Drummer, and in 1941 at the age of 17, Eric joined George Shearing of the famous Ambrose Octet touring the variety theatres of that time. Over the years Eric been voted No.1 of 8 titles including, Drummer of the Year and Musician of the Year, Band of the Year award and appeared on 3 Royal Command performances. In 1995 Eric was invited to perform at the Royal College of Music, London with some of the finest drummers and percussionists from across Europe, and he overwhelmed them all with his spellbinding technique. Over his long career Eric has played everywhere, with everyone and most genres. Eric, now in his 80's is still drumming, mainly in the warmer climate of Spain.
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Simon King

Wrongly & sadly, Simon King seems to be the forgotten Hawkwind. We must never forget he was the driving power drummer who successfully pioneered psychedelic space rock, took Hawkwind to the top with the unforgettable "Silver Machine" and helped keep them at the top for 8 years. Oxford, U.K., born Simon, is self taught, learning as he went along with local bands. At 17 he joined his first recording and international touring band, Iron Butterfly, releasing 3 singles "Beautiful Beige /Speak Up" in 1968, followed by "Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand" and "Groupie Girl/The Gigging Song". The band also appeared in the movie "Groupie Girl". When Iron Butterfly split in 1970, Simon was asked by his friend, bassist Lemmy Kilmister to join "Hawkwind" which became the most famous psychedelic space rock bands in rock history. Simon King, was part of all this chance, he was the inventive, power drummer who helped make Hawkwind's original sound and maintain it throughout their haydays of the 70's. Simon also worked on other projects with Robert Calvert, Michael Moorcock, Steve Swindell, and Brian Eno, before sadly retiring from the business altogether in 1982.
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Jon Hiseman

UK drummer Jon Hiseman, this highly skillful drummer whose technical ability stuns as much as it impresses, started his career sessioning with Arthur Brown, before joining the Graham Bond organisation. His next experience came with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Finding it too restrictive for his need to expand & experiment, he and the bassist Tony Reeves, together with Dick Heckstall-Smith formed the legendary band Colosseum in 1968. He continues to play in a variety of musical environments: composed and improvisational jazz with his wife saxophonist Barbara Thompson, jazz/rock with an occasionally reformed Colosseum, as well as continuing to play in sessions for Andrew Lloyd-Webber musicals and recording film and TV soundtracks.,
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Longineu Parsons 3rd

Longineu Parsons 3rd aka LP, from Jacksonville, Florida, born February 16th, 1980, although only 26 is a highly experienced drummer and master of the cymbals. He was a founding member of Yellowcard in 1997 and is now the only original member. Playing drums from the age of 2 and having lessons since he was 5 years old, this young drummer has played on the international circiut since he was a young teenager. World touring with his trumpet playing father Longineu Parsons 2nd, has given LP a huge insight to music, as well as learning & appreciating many different genres. Highly influenced by the legendary avante garde drummer Max Roach, & like Roach, LP does not stand still, he brings new sounds and influences into his drumming skills, forever moving his music forward. This modern drummer is certainly a drummer to look up and learn from, he will definitely be influencing our future drummers.
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Clem Burke

Clem Burke from New York City is the percussionist for the band Blondie. Recruited when they were first forming Blondie, Clem remained with the band throughout the first stage of their career and was instrumental in the late 1990s reunion. During the '80s and '90s, when Blondie was disbanded, as well as forming his own band "Chequered Past", Burke played drums for The Romantics, for whom he was the regular drummer between 1990 and 2004, also guested, recorded, toured, sessioned with Pete Townshend, Bob Dylan, Eurythmics, Dramarama, Iggy Pop and Joan Jett, amongst others. Clem stood in as drummer for The Ramones, under the name Elvis Ramone for two gigs, on August 28, '87, in Providence, Rhode Island, and August 29, '87, in Trenton, New Jersey. During 2004 and 2005, he toured with Nancy Sinatra.
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David King

Drummer and composer, David King, has been active in Minneapolis since the 1990s. He is known for his versatile and high-energy playing style, playing like a cross between Elvin Jones and John Bonham and his ability to contribute to bands operating in different musical genres. He is a founding member of Happy Apple and The Bad Plus, both of which are jazz trios, although neither play traditional styles. He works simultaneously in around a dozen other bands, many in the jazz, electronic, indie and rock genres. He is considered a major catalyst in the Minneapolis/St. Paul music scene; in recent years he has been subject to ever increasing demand. His latest band the world touring 'Bad Plus' is a jazz trio but you don't expect from a stately trinity of piano-bass-drums to qualify as any kind of power trio, BUT this is exactly what it is - a power trio, highly driven by the amazing drums of David King. Thier 2004 CD “Give” was nominated for a Grammy award.
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Rick Allen

Rick, from Dronfield, south of Sheffield, UK, joined the rock band Def Leppard at the age of 15, just before the band signed their first record contract, and has stayed with the band throughout it's history. Rick lost his left arm in a car accident on December 31, 1984, when trying to pass a car in his Corvette too fast, on a country road outside Sheffield, England, and slammed into a wall. This didn't deter Rick. While in the hospital, Rick began tapping his feet and realized that he could find a way to play the drums again. This lead to the creation of his electronic drum kit. This drum kit would allow him to use his left foot to play the beats his left hand would usually create, and from then on, he became known as the Thunder God. In 1986 his drum kit was completely electronic, but since 1995 parts are acoustic again. What an amazing achievement, with such a huge desire and love for the drums. His return to the drums was the greatest come back ever in the history of rock 'n' roll.
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Victor Lewis

Internationally acclaimed drummer, multi-musician, songwriter and composer, Victor Lewis started studying music when he was ten, on the cello, but switched to the drums a year later after watching the local drum corps marching on the Fourth of July. He also studied classical piano. Early influences were Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke, Max Roach and Philly Joe Jones. Lewis began playing drums professionally on the local scene at the age of 15. On Victor's first gig in Manhattan, a night at Boomer's he met trumpeter W oody Shaw. Victor joined Woody's band and a few months later, he made his recording debut on Shaw's classic, The Moontrane. Since then his career has never looked back, he has played world wide with the world's greatest jazz men, as well as recording albums under his own name, featuring his own compositions and unique style of drumming. "Lewis is a master of shading and color, and the kind of timekeeper that could teach a clock new ways to tick" says jazz writer Bill Kohlhasse.
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Winard Harper

Winard Harper, recording artist from Baltimore, has become one of the hardest working drummers in jazz today. Leading the very exciting and hard-swinging sextet, the Winard Harper Sextet, he also is as one of the most in-demand sidemen. When not on the bandstand with this sextet, Winard works with artists such as Dr. Billy Taylor, Ray Bryant, Wycliffe Gordon, Frank Wess and Jimmy Heath. Having one Billboard No 1 with the album Remembrance, his latest CD, "Come IntoThe Light" has received rave reviews from critics and fans alike. Now Winard Harper is moving to a new level of success with the band gaining increased air play around the globe.
FULL BOIG
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Alphonse Mouzon . . . .Billy Cobham . . . .Lenny White
. . . . . . .
Although the above 3 drummers are listed on the Best Jazz Drummers, you think they should be up on the "Most Skilled" list. I must agree too ~ Alphonse Mouzon's musical associations read like a veritable Who's Who of Modern Jazz and Pop Music! Its not who he has played with but who hasn't he played with and what hasn't he done.. awesome. The same has to be said for Billy Cobham and Lenny White. These world travelled drummers Alphonse Mouzon, Billy Cobham and Lenny White maybe noted for jazz, but these three highly skilled drummers have played all genres with the cream of the music world from the blues to jazz to pop to rock.
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Mickey Hart

Mickey Hart is a true pioneer, known by many for his amazing work in Grateful Dead. He soon joined the Dead in 1967, making it one of the first rock bands to feature two drummers. He has a huge thirst & hunger for music from every part of the globe. His tireless study of the world's music has led Mickey to many great teachers and collaborators, including his partners in Planet Drum. Planet Drum's self-titled album not only hit #1 on the Billboard World Music Chart, remaining there for 26 weeks, it also received the Grammy for Best World Music Album in 1991-- the first Grammy ever awarded in this category.Mickey's experiences have paved the way for unique opportunities beyond the music industry. He composed a major drum production performed by an assembly of 100 percussionists for the opening ceremony of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Additionally, Mickey has composed scores, soundtracks and themes for movies and television including Apocalypse Now, Gang Related, Hearts of Darkness, The Twilight Zone, the 1987 score to The America’s Cup: The Walter Cronkite Report, Vietnam: A Television History, and The Next Step. In 1994 Mickey was inducted with The Grateful Dead into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Mickey has also performed with the Diga Rhythm Band, The Beast, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Mickey Hart's Mystery Box, New Riders of the Norton, Buffalo, County Joe & The Fish, David Crosby, Purple Sage, Babatunde Olatunji Giovanni Hidalgo, Jerry Garcia, Dzintars, Zakir Hussain, David Garibaldi, Kitaro, Flora Purim, Sikiru Adepoju, Chalo Eduardo, The Other Ones, Bob Weir, Bobby Vega, Bill Walton, Doc Watson, Paul Winter, Ned Lagin, Bob Matthews and many others.
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Bill Kreutzmann

At 59 years old, Bill Kreutzmann has lost none of his expertise and stamina, still playing regular three hours showings of non-stop drumming. It all started at school and by the end of 1964 he co-founded the band The Warlocks, along with Phil Lesh, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and Ron "Pigpen" McKernan. Their first real gig was May 5, 1965, two days before Kreutzmann's 19th birthday. In November of 1965, the Warlocks became The Grateful Dead. Meeting fellow percussionist Mickey Hart in the fall of 1967 would have a big impact on Kreutzmann's career. The two percussionists' remarkable cohesion, synchronicity, and driving power would a be a hallmark of the Grateful Dead sound for the next thirty years. Their ten-minute drums solos, a feature of every show from 1978-1995 became legendary in the rock world. Kreutzmann remained with The Grateful Dead until its dissolution following the sad passing of Garcia in 1995, making him one of the four members to play at every single one of the band's 3,500 shows. By 2000 Bill was back on the road with The Other Ones (Weir, Hart, Bruce Hornsby, Steve Kimock, Mark Karan, and Alphonso Johnson). The Other Ones were so successful that, in 2003 the band began touring as The Dead (keeping Grateful retired out of respect for Garcia). Bill also does work as a visual artist and, in 2001, began releasing limited edition reproductions of his digital artwork. Beautiful too, see for yourself.
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Butch Trucks

For 30 years now, Butch Trucks has helped to propel the intricate rhythms behind The Allman Brothers Band's intricate harmonies. This hard hitting drummer has been there with fellow drummers Jai Jaimoe and Marc Quinones to lift the Brothers' fans off their feet. That otherworldly zone of rhythm and harmony and true-as-blue blues-rock has made The Allman Brothers Band one of the greatest live outfit in the history of rock 'n' roll. Twenty years ago, they were the pioneers of Southern Rock. Now with more than a hundred jam bands that name the Brothers as a direct influence, as do some of the finest contemporary blues musicians, the band is so much more. As excited as he is about the Brothers' upcoming 30th anniversary, Trucks seems equally enthused about his new supergroup side project, Frogwings, featuring Quinones; Burbridge, who also plays with Aquarium Rescue Unit and in his own Peacemakers side project; his keyboard-playing brother and fellow ARU member Kofi Burbridge; ARU-Jazz Is Dead guitarist Jimmy Herring; Blues Traveler vocalist-harpist John Popper, and Trucks' 19-year-old guitar sensation nephew Derek Trucks.
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Frankie Banali

This hard hitting, deep pocket, heavy rock drummer from the LA rock scene is maybe mainly known through his bands Quiet Riot & WASP; As well as his heavy band schedule Frankie has sessioned with many other great bands & artists including Billy Idol, Glenn Hughes, Gary Hoey, Billy Thorpe, Monarch, Pat Thrall, Heavey Bones and others. His influences over the years range from Ringo and Charlie Watts to John Bonham to Terry Bozzio and other progressive players. Quiet Riot were recently animated and featured on "The Simpsons" television show in the episode "The Father, The Son and the Holy Guest Star." Quiet Riot has now entered in the Simpsons Hall Of Infamy following in the footsteps of musical luminaries as the Beatles, The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Aerosmith, The Who, Peter Frampton, Paul and Linda McCartney and U2's Bono.
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ROCK DRUM PERFORMANCES

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LINKS of INTEREST

"The Magnificent Eric Delaney"
by Eddie Sammons
ERIC DELANEY ...a remarkable musician ...a remarkable showman ...a remarkable person ...a remarkable life. Now, at last, Eric has given his blessing to a book about him and made his files and records available. Within these pages just a little of his dynamic life and his bands is revealed. He himself has a few words to say and so do his many friends and colleagues. "I think he's one of England's greatest performers" - Kenny "R2-D2" Baker "A wonderful human being." - Kenny Ball "The greatest showman without a doubt." - Elkie Brooks ".showman and musician supreme." - Tony Fisher "I've admired his musicianship and I admire him as a person." - Terry Lightfoot "Technically he is superb.one of the great showmen." - Humphrey Lyttelton "He's just fantastic." - Alan Skidmore "An artist, an absolute showman." - Sheila Southern .. That's ERIC DELANEY

Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk

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