(Photo credit: Maxwell Schiano)
The positive responses to my Q&As with some of the most important drummers in funk and soul has led to a live radio program with Red Bull Music Academy. The first round: Greg Errico (Sly & the Family Stone, Weather Report, Betty Davis), Leslie Ming (B.T. Express, Mtume, Kashif) and Bernard “Pretty” Purdie (everything…literally)! Stay tuned…
Interviewing my musical heroes has been amazing. It’s also been school for me in the process of learning my instrument. And after the flurry of musical losses 2016 threw at us, giving these amazing musicians the chance to tell their stories while they’re still with us (and in many cases still active) gives me some relief. It’s been great to let them know they’re appreciated. The latest installment in my Give The Drummer Some Series with Red Bull Music Academy is with Tower of Power’s David Garibaldi, a guru of Bay Area Funk.
Dig in and read the interview here
After a three month hiatus, I’m back to my Give The Drummer Some column at Red Bull Music Academy. For the current installment, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dwight Burns, drummer for late ’60s funk band TSU Toronadoes, who happened to also be the band playing on Archie Bell and the Drells’ “Tighten Up.” Dwight is one of the founding fathers of the drum break and an important musician from an important band that never quite got its due. We talk about not getting credit/payment for the million selling (and game-changing) “Tighten Up” and the shadiness of the music business, but also about drumming and the TSU Toronadoes’ contributions to funk. Any collector knows this if you’ve tried to buy some of the band’s 45s and any drummer knows what Dwight brought to the set. I was honored to interview him, so check it out…
RBMA Interview with drummer Dwight Burns
And go get some TSU Toronadoes in your library.
My latest Give The Drummer Some installment at RBMA is with the steady and prolific Steve Ferrone. From Average White Band; to Brian Auger; to Tom Petty; to Eric Clapton; to Roberta Flack – he talks drumming for them all. We also discuss his beginnings in England and avoiding some of the pitfalls of the music business. READ IT HERE! Enjoy.
I’m honored to play a (minor) role in a very dope modern soul album – Michael Kiwanuka’s Love & Hate on Polydor Records. Track #3 (“Fallin'”) features me on drums. Check it out! Shout out to Danger Mouse and Mr. Kiwanuka for a fine slice of soul.
My Red Bull Music Academy drummer interview series continues with Steve Arrington, the man who held it down behind the kit for three years for one of my favorite bands, Slave. The multi-talented Dayton native opens up about his tenure playing drums with the band, as well as his solo career and all other areas of a 40-year musical journey that has impacted everyone from OG Baby Boomers to neo-funk Millennials.
Read the interview here at Red Bull Music Academy
More interviews to come. Click here to read other RBMA drummer interviews I’ve done with Kool and the Gang’s “Funky” George Brown, jazz-funk legend Mike Clark and Ohio Players’ Greg Webster.
After a brief hiatus, I continue my drummer interview series with Red Bull Music Academy. This time around I was fortunate to chat with founding and last surviving original member of The Ohio Players, Greg Webster. Greg’s recollection of the band’s early days is still sharp; we go through the formative years on the chitlin circuit through the oft-sampled Pain and Pleasure LPs. His departure from the band in 1972 (right after “Funky Worm” became a #1 hit) is another example of how frustrating the music business can be, but Greg’s e-book tells all and I’m honored to be able to interview one of the drummers who inspired me to play. Read the interview with Greg Webster here!
I’m still building up an archive of these interviews, but if you like this, be sure to check out my interviews with “Funky” George Brown of Kool and the Gang and Headhunters/Herbie Hancock drummer and jazz-funk legend, Mike Clark.
My first ever musical goal was to play bass in a funk band with a big afro. Genetics have allowed me to still have all my hair after the 30 years it took to live out that dream and the time is now! I’m putting the finishing touches on an EP with my long time mastering engineer and Tom Tom Club guitarist, Pablo Martin. Our group is called The Du-Rites. I’m on drums, bass, combo organ and turntables; Pablo holds down guitar, bass and keys and mastering. Two musicians doing the work of seven – a funkier, more raggedy Steely Dan, I suppose. The only thing missing is the three piece horn section. Check the teaser below and look out for the EP this summer.