Steely Dan
Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.
On The Beat with Leroy Clouden: Spreading the Music
Hey MD readers, this is Leroy Clouden! I’ve been fortunate to play drums and record with Steely Dan, B52s, Blind Boys of Alabama, Soul Stirrers, Lenny Pickett, and many more during my career. I also teach at The Collective in…
Ricky Lawson Passes
Ricky Lawson, the veteran drummer who worked with Michael Jackson, Steely Dan, the Yellowjackets, Phil Collins, Quincy Jones, and Earth, Wind & Fire, among other top artists, has passed away. Look for a full tribute to Ricky in an upcoming…
Steely Dan Rhythm Section Clinic With Shannon Forrest
On Thursday, August 16th, Shannon Forrest will be joining the Steely Dan rhythm section (Jon Herington on guitar, Freddie Washington on bass and Jim Beard on keys) for a clinic in Sterling Heights, Michigan. All four have been touring across…
Back Through the Stack: Harvey Mason
“I never really thought of being a professional musician,” says Harvey Mason. “Music is something I did for fun and enjoyment, and coming from a poor family, there was no way I was going to do anything that wouldn’t make…
Peter Erskine: Taste, Skill, And Artistic Ambition
Peter Erskine, one of the most articulate, enduringly popular drummers of the past few decades, has played drums since he was four, graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, and studied under famed percussion instructor George Gaber at Indiana…
The Greats: Jeff Porcaro
Jeff Porcaro was born on April 1, 1954, in Hartford, Connecticut. After moving to California with his family, he took an interest in drumming at an early age and began studying with his dad, Joe, who remains a well-known studio…
Bernard Purdie: Funky Hit Maker For The Ages
Bernard “Pretty” Purdie was born on June 11, 1939 in Elkton, Maryland, the eleventh of fifteen children. Bernard took an interest in rhythm at a very young age, and by the time he was fourteen he’d purchased his first real…
The Greats: Jim Keltner
Jim Keltner is inarguably a true studio drum god. Highly regarded for his session work on solo recordings by three of the Beatles, Jim could also be considered a close life-long friend of George Harrison, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr.…
A Few Minutes With Rick Marotta
By Billy Amendola Rick Marotta is no stranger to MD readers. And he’s certainly familiar to anyone who’s had the pleasure to see him play or crack jokes while hosting Yamaha’s Groove All Star show. A rock-solid session musician…
Keith Carlock: More Than Time For Sting
Making his Big Apple splash working with The Blues Brothers and Wayne Krantz, Mississippi-born Keith Carlock went on to record and tour with Steely Dan. A tremendous groove player who can also flatten your ears with his dazzling all-over-the-kit prowess,…
Jeff Porcaro: A Tribute
Ten years after his passing, the drumming and music community still feels the loss of the studio giant. I consider myself among the fortunate people whose life Jeff Porcaro touched - and there are a lot of us. If Jeff…
