Billy Cobham's Official Web Site.
Only a few times in history has a musician been singled out as the world-class master of his instrument. Billy Cobham is one of those few artists. For over 30 years, he has received international acclaim as the total consummate percussionist.
The legendary Billy Cobham, with his matchless, dazzling, ambidextrous skills as a drummer, has applied the same insistent fervor to his long list of monumental achievements. He’s an accomplished composer and record producer.
It is a rarely known fact that he was at the forefront of the electronic music industry and it’s development through Jazz. He was one of the first percussionists, along with Max Roach and Tony
Williams to utilize the Electronic Drum Controller made in 1968 by the Meazzi Drum Company in Milano, Italy while on concert tour with Horace Silver in Europe. He is one of the few Percussionists, specializing in the Jazz drum set to lead his own band. The award winning Cobham has custom designed trend setting acoustic and electronic drum sets and has endorsed products that he created and refined ...
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b. Leonard White III, 19th December 1949, New York, New York State, U.S.A.
Lenny White was born in New York in 1949.
He began his career as a drummer, initially playing in local groups.
In the early 1970's he played with Miles Davis on 'Bitches Brew' before joining Return To Forever.
As a drummer he has recorded sessions with artists including John Klernmer, Miroslav Vitous, Pharaoh Sanders, Santana and Bob James while he has also produced for Zuice ('I'm A Survivor'), Wax ('Do You Believe In Magic'), Pieces Of A Dream and Nicki Richards ('Naked To The World') amongst others.
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Sam Kelly, five times "Drummer of the Year", "I started playing back in the early 70’s on a kit that belonged to my brother. Playing was my form of ‘anger management’ back then, but out of that came discipline, creativity and obviously some musical talent. I’d sit down in the basement of our house, thrashing away at the kit taking in the tunes from the old Marble Arch compilation albums that were drifting down through the house as my brother played them on the record player.
My playing career started totally out of the blue. A band called Metre was playing locally to me in Kennington, but their drummer didn’t turn up. Somebody said there was a guy down the road about a quarter of an hour away, so they turned up at my door and I went and played. ………And it started from there.
Within weeks of the gig, I was the drummer with Cymande, a new band formed by ex-members of Metre - Patrick Patterson, Steve Skipio & Mike Rose. Cymande was an 8-piece ’Nyah Rock’ band, the original line-up being Patrick Patterson (guitar), Steve Skipio (bass), Mike Rose (sax). Sam Kelly (drums), Derek Gibbs (sax), Pablo Gonsales (congas), Peter Serreo (tenor sax) and Ray King (vocs). Desmond Atwell and Joey Dee later replaced Serreo and King. "
Although not well known in the UK, Cymande toured and recorded in the States between 1971 – 1974, releasing 3 singles (The Message, Bra and Brothers on the Slide) and 4 Albums (Cymande, Second Time Round, Promised Heights and Arrival). The band may not have been around for long in the 70’s but the Cymande legacy continues with Bra and The Message being sampled by Fugees, De La Soul and others. Cymande tracks have also been featured in the Spike Lee films, Crooklyn and 25th Hour. (Picture: Cymande 1971-2 in Balham before going to the States )
Fast Forward ………………. After Cymande split, Sam settled into the London gig scene with Sox (Chris Cameron, Mick Parker, Gordon Hunt & John Reed), who after a busy time on the pub/club circuit toured with Linda Lewis and Billy Ocean. This was followed by a freelance stint in the 'drum seat' with both Jimmy Lindsay and Desmond Dekker. , Sam then went “rocking” around Europe with Roger Chapman & the Shortlist, Kevin Coyne, Michelle Shocked (pictured above), and many others.
"Just bear with me for a few seconds as I reminisce over some of the names I have worked with during the past years (How many names can you run through in a few seconds?) .................... Liz McComb, Sista Monica, Eddie Floyd, Big Joe Duskin, Johnny Mars, Screaming J Hawkins, Dr John, Diz Watson, Chaka Khan, Zoot Money, Precious Wilson, Fred James, Ben E. King, Eddie Floyd & Dorothy Moore, Lefty Diz, Mojo Bruford, Charlie Sayle, Plaz Johnson, The Butler Twins, Deacon Jones & Freddie Hughes, Billy C Farlow, Bill Thomas, Sonny Black & the Dukes, Wolfie Witcher & His Brew, Steve Waller, Hershey & The 12 Bars, The Bop Brothers, Gordon Smith, Shakey Vicks Blues Band, Chuck Farley and Root Jackson & The G.B. Blues Band, to name but a few (Yes, there are others, but I wouldn't like to bore you!)" ...
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Steve Smith was originally drawn to the drums by hearing marching bands in parades as a child in his native Massachusetts. At age nine, in 1963, Smith began studying the instrument in earnest with local teacher Bill Flanagan, who played in big bands in the swing era.
Smith's early inspiration at this time was drawn from the great drumming stars of the big bands such as Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson and Kenny Clarke, among others. In particular, regular trips in his youth to The Boston Globe Jazz Festival, where he first saw and heard his idols, made a special impact on his musical endeavors.
Smith performed in the usual school band program and garage bands while in his teens, but also began to broaden his performing experience by playing in a professional Brockton concert band and even the big band at the local college, Bridgewater State. After high school, Smith began studying music at the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1972. There he received valuable instruction from such renowned teachers as Gary Chaffee and Alan Dawson. His drumming influences at this time came to include such notables as Tony Williams, Billy Cobham, Lenny White and Steve Gadd ...
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