Drummers, Steve Gadd and Simon Phillips, Visit Lansing

Marshall Music hosted two of the world’s most renowned ­drummers in April. Drumming legend, Steve Gadd, visited Marshall Music to meet fans and sign autographs and then presented a clinic for over 700 people at Holt High School on Wednesday, April 13^th. One week later, Simon Phillips was in the Lansing store to sign autographs and present a clinic.

Steve started drum lessons when he was seven years old and played with Dizzy Gillespie when he was eleven. He studied music at Eastman playing in the university ensembles by day and at night played local clubs with such names as Corea, Mangione, Romano and Pullara. After three years in the army Gadd formed a trio that eventually broke up and he began his career as a studio musician. Steve can be heard on recordings with Corea and Paul Simon (Steve created the famous drum accompaniment in “Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover”). In addition he has performed with Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Streisand, McCartney, Carly Simon and Warren Benson to name a very few.

Steve Gadd has become the most copied and in-demand drummer in the world. In Chick Corea’s words, “Every drummer wants to play like Gadd because he plays perfect… He has brought orchestral and compositional thinking to the drum kit while at the same time having a great imagination and a great ability to swing”

Simon Phillips’ professional musical career began at the early age of twelve, performing and recording with his father’s - Sid Phillips - Dixieland band until he turned sixteen. His career took off with an offer to play in the musical, Jesus Christ Superstar. Phillips soon became one of London’s most celebrated session drummers. In his early twenties he was well on his way to having a musical career nothing short of brilliant. He has toured and recorded with many bands and artists, including: Mick Jagger, The Who, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Peter Gabriel, Joe Satriani, Tears for Fears, Judas Priest, Roxy Music, Michael Schenker, Nik Kershaw, Phd., Al DiMeola, 801, Pete Townshend, Russ Ballard, Robert Palmer, Stanley Clarke, The Pretenders, Jon Anderson, Whitesnake and Dave Gilmour... to name but a few. In 1992 Steve moved to the U.S. and began his career with Toto.

The appearances by Gadd and Phillips are part of Marshall Music’s ongoing efforts to enhance the music making experience whether it’s a school musician, rocker or aspiring pianist.