 For more than 25 years, Dave Weckl
has developed and maintained a reputation among fans, peers, and
the international music community as one of the great living
drummers. For this, he has received numerous accolades and
honors; Modern Drummer inducted Dave into their Hall of Fame and
named him "one of the 25 best drummers of all time."
But these honors, in addition to many more bestowed by the music
community, are the product of Dave's undying commitment to
making great compositions. Dave's incredibly dynamic and diverse
drumming, which has inspired musicians worldwide, is built on a
solid foundation of knowledge and respect for music.
Born in St. Louis Missouri, January 8th, 1960, to a mother who
loved music and a father who played the piano as a hobby, Dave
started playing drums around the age of 8.
During his high school years, Dave received many awards from the
NAJE (National Association of Jazz Educators) for outstanding
performances in his high school's competition-winning jazz band.
He was involved with numerous local groups from a very young age
while studying with St. Louis-area teachers Bob Matheny and Joe
Buerger.
 At age 16, Dave began to work professionally with local pop and
jazz groups. In 1979, he moved to the East coast to study music
at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. At just 19 years
of age, Dave was getting recognized.
While playing the club scene in New York City with a band called
Nite Sprite, Dave started to receive accolades from established
studio musicians such as Steve Kahn, Michael Brecker, and
especially drumming great Peter Erskine. It was Peter who
recommended Dave for his first 'big gig' in town with a group
called French Toast, forerunner to the Michel Camilo band, which
has been recorded quite extensively over the years.
From this group, legendary bassist Anthony Jackson recommended
Dave for the prestigious Simon and Garfunkel reunion tour in
1983. After this tour, it was not long before Dave was regularly
being called for radio and TV jingles, sound track sessions, and
top recording dates with such artists as George Benson, Peabo
Bryson, Diana Ross, and Robert Plant, to name a few.
In 1985, Michael Brecker suggested to Chick Corea that he look
into Dave's services for his new Elektric Band. That was the
beginning of a seven year relationship with both the Elektric
and Akoustic Bands, where nine recordings and three videos were
produced, including a Grammy for the first Akoustic Band
release.
 The Elektric Band showcased Dave's cutting-edge drumming and
innovative use of electronic and acoustic drums, bringing him
world-wide recognition. Though the Elektric Band went on a
10-year hiatus in the early '90s, the band is once again touring
from time to time. It also released a 17-part conceptual album
entitled "To The Stars" in mid-2004.
As a solo artist, Dave has recorded and produced nine recordings
to date, including GRP/MCA solo releases Masterplan, Heads Up,
and Hardwired. In 1998, Dave realized his long-time goal of
forming a world-touring band.
The Dave Weckl Band released five studio records, including: Rhythm Of The Soul,
Synergy, Transition, Perpetual Motion, and
Multiplicity. The
band also released a hot live album, LIVE (and very plugged
in) and a compilation of DWB and instructional videos entitled
The Zone.
More recently, Dave has enjoyed taking on more sideman work. He regularly joins
guitarist Mike Stern, Chuck Loeb, and Oz Noy, among others. When
off the road, Dave keeps busy with session and production work
at his home studio in Los Angeles. He also
teaches at the annual
Drum
Fantasy Camp. Additionally, Dave has many instructional
video/DVDs and
play-along packages on the market.
 A constant student of the art of drumming and music, Dave gives
back every chance he gets through clinics and classes all over
the world. Of teaching, Dave says:
"It is my goal to inspire as many young (and not-so-young)
people as possible to want to play music, whether it be on drums
or another instrument. With all the negatives in the world
today, I feel this is my way of contributing a positive action
toward spiritual happiness, which music can be a big part of, if
you let it. So parents, if your child has a talent for music,
please allow them the opportunity to develop that talent!"
Of course, a guy this busy does need to get around town
efficiently. A fan of automobiles, Dave stays on schedule by
driving a 335 horsepower Audi S4. And, he's
always on the lookout for something faster!
But beyond all the recording, producing, touring, teaching,
working with companies he endorses to build better products, and
tearing up the highway every now and then, Dave's passion is
spending quality time with his daughter, Claire, Sophia (his
Golden Retriever), and friends.
This is what all the hard work is for - the inspiration to keep
doing it - and that perspective is probably Dave's biggest
asset.
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