DRUMMER CAFE

I just played three concerts with the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

I got a call on Saturday, Feb 2 around 3:30pm, to check my availability to play tympani and vibes for an 8pm concert that evening with Aretha at the Pechanga Indian Casino Theater in Temecula (just north of San Diego).  No rehearsal, just haul butt down there and be ready for the downbeat!  When I arrived, I met with the musical director who handed me a stack of charts that were a mixture of master rhythm, guitar, and piano parts with a few tymp rolls written in and a few real percussion parts.  Our ten minute talk-thru was all I got.  As it turned out, they had hired two percussionists but neither was capable/comfortable playing the tymp/mallet book; however they were both smokin' latin percussion players.  A few days after the show, the contractor called to book two more concerts on Feb 14-15 at the Nokia Theater (7,000+ seats) in Los Angeles.

The band was the same at both venues...her regular rhythm section (musical director, piano, B3 organ, guitar (her son Teddy) , bass, drums, 5 singers hired locally, big band horn section, string synth and 2 percussion.  At the LA shows she also had a full gospel choir for the last few songs.

Working with a legendary performer was spectacular especially since she still has a great voice, a loyal fan base and a commanding stage presence.  I've been listening to Aretha since the 6th grade and it was just magical to be on the same stage.

Sir, you just had a real treat. It's been many years since I played with talent of that caliber. Thanks....Let us know if you play with her again. I know I would sure be excited.   

Congratulations.  Outstanding.

You have pulled off what few of us will ever do.

Enjoy.

My drum instructor in college had that gig last year.  He only played one concert.  It seems funny to me that they'd do it that way instead of having a set band for the tour.

Aretha sex goddess Franklin?, thee? Aretha?, the one and only ARETHA!?. Ya, shes put on a few pounds but this little cracker had a crush on her for a decade!. You were on the same stage?, since Arethas gone maybe ill just give you! a kiss instead!. THEE ARETHA??? .

Paicey:  Yes, she has put on a...um...ah...a few pounds!  And, yes, THEE ARETHA, Queen of Soul...me and Sista Re on the same stage...just 10 feet in front of me.


Bobhead: Thanks for the compliment.  There wasn't any dead time at all!  Whenever there was no tymp part or written vibes/bells part, I just comped 4-mallet changes on the vibes.

To all of you DrummerCafe drum-heads (Bart, Chip71, Chris Whitten, NY Frank, mudlark, ryan, Michael Beechey)...thanks for all of the kind words.

BTW, check out this YouTube vid: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z7qQdo-Vxj4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Z7qQdo-Vxj4</a>
At 3min 38sec into the clip (at the end of the song), as Aretha gestures to acknowledge the backup singers, you can see my bald head at the far left of the screen.  My 2 seconds of internet fame!

Sir just saw this, congrats on the gig!

Great work and congratulations

We all play becuase we love it but these little treats make all the work worthwhile. We all hope to achieve something like this and you have shown that it can happen.

Congrats again!