In New Orleans, there are more good drummers on Bourbon Street than crawfish in the Delta. So, why has crooner Harry Connick, Jr. been struttin' swamp parade beats on the drum set? "I just love the drums and have a tremendous respect for rhythm," Connick confesses. "Like my piano playing, I live and breathe second-line drum grooves."

He debuted his sticksmanship on his last album She, and took on even more drumming duties on his most recent, Star Turtle. These he shares with drummer Raymond Weber, who believes that his boss' playing abilities are quite innovative. "Harry's a good drummer, considering he don't practice," Weber says. "He can sit down on the drums and invent new things, and he challenges me to become the best drummer I can be. Harry once bet me all of the money in his pocket to better this one beat of his on the spot. So he played this pretty funky thing and then I played it, but put my own twist to it."

Unfortunately, Weber is unable to remember how much money he walked away with.

Originally published by DRUM! Magazine, September/October 1999
Reprinted with permission