Richie Gajate-Garcia Receives Honorary Doctorate from Lincoln College

This past May 5, the percussionist, educator, and author Richie Gajate-Garcia received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois, in recognition of his contributions to the areas of the arts and music education. Gajate-Garcia is the author of four instructional books, a faculty instructor at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, and the inventor of the popular Latin Percussion Gajate Bracket pedal accessory. A longtime LP endorser, the drummer is also a creative collaborator on the manufacturer’s Richie Gajate-Garcia Signature congas, bongos, and djembe.

Founded in 1865, Lincoln College awards honorary degrees in recognition of individuals whose accomplishments and character embody Abraham Lincoln’s spirit of simplicity, sincerity, and high achievement, among other qualifications.

“The entire LP family is proud to share in this honor with Dr. Richie Gajate-Garcia,” says Drum Workshop founder/LP chief product officer Don Lombardi. “Richie’s longtime devotion to sharing his knowledge and experience with aspiring percussionists through his teaching, workshops, and books is unsurpassed. His innovation in creating the Gajate Bracket, which has become an industry standard and a prized tool of drummers and percussionists, has left an indelible mark on our industry.”

Gajate-Garcia earned a bachelor’s degree and teaching credentials from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago before launching his professional career with Frankie Valli. His hybrid style of simultaneously playing drumset and percussion earned Gajate-Garcia the affectionate nickname “El Pulpo,” meaning “The Octopus.” The drummer has accompanied Phil Collins, Don Henley, Diana Ross, Patti LaBelle, the Boston Pops, and Richie Sambora, among others. His recording credits include albums with Stevie Wonder, Sting, John Denver, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He’s also worked on Oscar award–winning film scores and Grammy award–winning projects.

Drummers Join Hunger Relief International to Launch the Beat Hunger Benefit Campaign for Haiti

Internationally celebrated drummers and percussionists will unite in New York, Los Angeles, and London to lend their unique voice to a multimedia campaign that supports the nongovernmental organization Hunger Relief International. The Beat Hunger campaign was created and produced by Addition Media to benefit Haitian children and their families living in extreme poverty. It will launch this October across broadcast television, radio, print, digital media, and social media platforms.

Beat Hunger’s participants include Stewart Copeland (the Police, Gizmodrome), Evelyn Glennie (independent), Sheila E. (George Duke, Prince), Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, John Fogerty), Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction, Hellflower), and Kristen Gleeson-Prata (Børns). The campaign hopes to bring awareness to the ongoing need for nutritious food and support for millions of Haitians living in extreme poverty.