Rich Redmond

Rich devoured drum method books and used his knowledge to perform in every musical organization Middle and High School had to offer: Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Orchestra, Marching Band…Rich recalls: “I did it all. I was consumed with music. I practiced constantly and consistently and was determined to make a career out of music!” It was also during this time that Rich's exposure to The Police's "Synchronicity" record and Carmine Appice's "Realistic Rock" method book served as powerful aids in determing his destiny as a journeyman drummer.

By the time Rich graduated High School he had solid rudimental chops, a sensitive orchestral touch, good reading skills, experience playing all of the percussion instruments, and most importantly; lots of experience playing different styles of music on a drum set. Studies with Alan Shinn at Texas Tech University provided even more training in the percussive arts. Rich says, “I always knew that I would play drum set professionally, but I never wanted to limit myself. I also thought it was important to get an all around education. This period of my career was very fruitful. I played in every performing ensemble the school had to offer, performed two full-length recitals, and read over 2,000 drum charts! I also played in fusion bands, country bands, a British rock tribute band…even weddings and musicals.”

Rich’s intense focus on his craft led him to study with world-renowned educator, Ed Soph at The University of North Texas. Rich also studied with Ron Fink, Henry Okstel and Robert Schietroma. Rich toured and recorded with the world famous 1:00 Lab Band (under Neil Slater) and even played percussion in the equally remarkable 2:00 Lab Band (under Jim Riggs). “The 1:00 Band has produced some amazing drummers-Gregg Bissonette, Ray Brinker, Steve Houghton…I wanted to be in that band! It was a fantastic experience. We were responsible for hundreds of charts that were a mile long. We sight read intense material everyday. I even recall sight -reading a fast samba in 5/4 at a concert at The Morton Meyerson Hall in Dallas! Whew!” During this period, Rich also performed with many jazz/rock icons like:Randy Brecker, Lou Marini, Bob Mintzer, Airto, Andy Laverne, Frank Mantooth, Jim Snidero, Brad Dutz, David Charles, Tony Campise, Arthur Lipner, Joe Mosello, Billy Hulting, Steve Weist, Dennis DiBlasio, Bob Becker, Joseph Celli and many others. Rich was also the rehearsal drummer for Chad Wackerman in the U.N.T. Percussion Ensembles’ “Salute to the Music of Frank Zappa” in 1995.

After leaving North Texas, Rich moved into Dallas and developed a strong freelance career. “I played with the brightest talents in the Denton/Dallas scene…Bill Tillman (of Blood, Sweat and Tears), Dallas Brass and Electric, The Project, Beef Jerky, Ron Jones, Vicho Vincenzo, The Panhandlers, Carribbean Connection, Ghostown, The Dallas Jazz Orchestra, The Collection Jazz Orchestra, Dave Zoller, Joe McBride, Joseph Vincelli, Vicho Vincenzio, Random Axis and many others. “It was a period of amazing musical growth! I was covering all of the bases…playing in horn bands like Tillman, Dallas Brass, The Project, Frontline…smooth jazz with Joe McBride, Ron Jones, and Joe Vincelli…Calypso with The Panhandlers…straight up funk with Beef Jerky…straight ahead with Dave Zoller…Hard Rock with Tragic Hero, Top 40 with Random Axis…Actually, my fondest memories of this time were of the Random Axis Band.” It was with this band that Rich fine- tuned his abilities with programming, sequencing and playing with click tracks every night. “The Random Axis Band always had very versatile musicians…and that band worked a lot! They were (and still are) the most versatile working band in Texas, if not the U.S.”

In 1997 Rich made his move to Nashville. Rich quickly developed a solid reputation and earned his place in the ultra-competitive Nashville music scene. Rich has toured and/or recorded with a grab bag of major label recording artists in the world of rock and country, including:  Jason Aldean, Susan Ashton, Jim Brickman, Brolle (Swedish mega-star), Catherine Britt, Deana Carter, Anita Cochran, Earl Thomas Conley, The Evinrudes, Andy Griggs, Jedd Hughes, Jewel, Big Kenny (Big and Rich), Stan Lynch, Lalaine (Lizzie McGuire Show), Lila McCann, Malibu Storm, Mindy McCready, Robbie Nevil, Rick Orozco, Vaughn Penn, The Pointer Sisters, Ronna Reeves, Regina Regina, Rushlow, Jo-El Sonnier, Sparkeldrive, Marty Stuart, Pam Tillis, Gene Watson, Hank Williams III, Lucy Woodward, and many others. Rich has appeared countless times on the CMT and GAC networks (and their related websites) and on T.V. shows such as Grand Ole Opry Live, Austin City Limits, The Donnie and Marie Show, and on the Fox, BET, and ESPN networks. Rich's drumming is also a staple on commercial radio and satellite networks Serius and XM. Rich has also been mentioned many times in publications like Modern Drummer, Drum!, Billboard, Downbeat, Keyboard, and Country Weekly.

Rich has shared recording and performance credits (as a drummer and/or percussionist) with some of world's brightest creative talents: James Achor, Eddie Bayers, Bruce Bouton, Spady Brannan, Pat Buchanan, Tom Bukovac, Gary Burnette, Sam Bush, Derek O’ Brien, David Cleveland, Chad Cromwell, Paris Delane, Bruce Dudley, Dan Dugmore, Glen Duncan, Stuart Duncan, Mike Durham, John Foster, Paul Franklin, Jack Gavin, Rob Hajacos, Tony Harrell, Russ Hicks, Johny Hiland, Mark Hill, Jim Hoke, Paul Hollowell, Dan Huff, Mike Johnson, Viktor Krauss, Troy Lancaster, Mike Loudermilk, James Lowry, Terry McBride, Chris McHugh, Terry McMillan, Kerry Marx, Catherine Marx, Brent Mason, Jimmy Mattingly, Greg Morrow, Gary Morse, Johnny Neel, The Nashville String Machine, Jimmy Nichols, Justin Niebank, Mike Noble, Russ Pahl, Billy Panda, Larry Paxton, James Pennebaker, Alison Prestwood, Michael Rhodes, Dave Roe, Mike Rojas, Matt Rollings, Randy Scruggs, Harry Stinson, Buddy Spicher, Michael Spriggs, Bryan Sutton, Crystal Taliefero, Kevin Teel, Billy Thomas, Kenny Vaughn, Wanda Vick, Dennis Wage, Barry Walsh, John Willis, and Jonathan Yudkin, amoung others. 

Rich has also worked with some of the world’s leading songwriters: Greg Barnhill, Dillon O’ Brian, Jude Cole, Jim Collins, Jennifer Day, Tom Douglas, Keith Follese, Adrienne Follese, Jewel, Marv Green, Cesar Lemos, Kasia Livingston, Stan Lynch, Wendell Mobley, Danny Orton, Robbie Nevil, Tim Nichols, Jason Scheff, Itall Schuur, Darryl Simmons, Anthony Smith, Stephony Smith, Jeff Stevens, Lucy Woodward, and many others..

Rich has also shared live billing with some of the biggest names in popular music (in no particular order): George Strait,The Temptations, Chubby Checker, Racall Flatts, Spyro Gyra, The Yellowjackets, Aaron Tippin, Willie Nelson, SheDaisy, Kathy Mattea, Marty Stuart, Patty Lovelace, Marc Chestnutt, Sister Sledge, Confederate Railroad, The Statler Brothers, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Roy Parnell, Brooks and Dunn, Clint Black, Kenny Rogers, Ty Herndon, Mark Wills, John Michael Montgomery, Diamond Rio, Hal Ketchum, Dwight Yoakam, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Neil McCoy, The Letterman, Suzanne Sommers, Glen Campbell, Patricia Conroy, Clay Walker, Sonya Isaacs, Jimmy Hall, Matraca Berg, Tracy Byrd, Dale Watson, Three Dog Night, Cravin’ Melon, Derek Trucks, Jeb Loy Nichols, Holly Dunn, Randy Travis, Eagle Eye Cherry, Charlie Daniels, Travis Tritt, Larry Gatlin, Burlap To Cashmere, The Grass Roots, Gaelic Storm, Jerry Reed, Ted Nugent, Vitamin C, Cary Pierce, Highway 101, Gene Loves Jezebel, Billy Yates, Craig Morgan, Jennifer Hanson, Rodney Atkins, Emerson Drive, The Pleasure Club, The Living Things, Local H, Kumbia Kings, Kevin Denney, Brian McComas, Sawyer Brown, Jimmy Wayne, Steve Azar, Rachel Proctor, Brian Setzer, Blue County, Ashley Gearing, Ronnie Milsap, Venus Hum, Last Train Home, Josh Turner, Jeff Bates, Rhonda Vincent, Archie Bell, Suzi Boggus, Buddy Jewel, Sherrie Austin, Billy Dean, Phil Vassar, Lorrie Morgan, Carolina Rain, Sara Evans, Deep Blue Something, Bow Wow, Warrant, Smashmouth, Pat Green, Sugarland, Jack Ingram, Cowboy Crush, Ryan Shupe, The Fixx, Hot Apple Pie, Blaine Larsen, Montgomery Gentry, Marshall Tucker and many others.

Rich’s versatile playing is a Frankenstein-like mosaic of a lifetime of eclectic influences. “Anyone who has struck a drum has influenced me in some way. I try to steal from everyone! …Ringo, Appice, Bonham, Moon, Copeland, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Max Roach, Elvin, Porcaro, Gadd, Aronoff…They are all in there!” Rich says: “I just always remember this magic formula that has worked for me: Time, Groove and Feel!!!! I also try to play like it's the last time I'll ever get behind my drums!!!" Rich has also been inspired by these great drummers (in no particular order):Shawn Pelton, Vinnie Colaiuta, Hal Blaine, Clem Burke, Omar Hakim, Tony Thompson, Eddie Bayers, Lonnie Wilson, Louis Bellson, Baby Dodds, Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Peter Erskine, Prince, Josh Freese, Joey Kramer, Pancho Sanchez, Matt Sorum, Terry Bozzio, Denny Carmassi, Tico Torres, Steve Smith, Carlton Barrett, Mitch Mitchell, Abe Laboriel Jr., Jerry Gaskill, Kenney Jones, Ian Paice, Tommy Aldridge, Tommy Lee, Simon Phillips, Billy Cobham, Clyde Stubblefield, Benny Benjamin, Will Calhoun, Matt Cameron, Dave Weckl, Joey Waronker, Elvin Jones and many others...

Rich was a member of the contemporary country outfit RUSHLOW (Lyric Street) from 2002-2004. The band recorded their debut record Right Now with industry veteran Jeff Balding (Faith Hill, Megadeath) and released it in December of 2003. The band’s debut single, “I Can’t Be Your Friend” spent 34 weeks on the R+R Charts and peaked at #13. The video was also a top request on the GAC network. The band also developed a strong relationship with The United States Navy and brought a slice of U.S. entertainment to The Middle East, Greece, Italy and many other countries.

Rich Redmond will continue to bring his versatile musicianship, experience, and extreme showmanship to all the stages and studios of the world… 2005 found Rich recording and touring with Capitol recording artist Amber Dotson, Capitol recording artist Emily West, Broken Bow recording artist Jason Aldean, Curb recording artist Amy Dalley, Vanguard recording artist Deana Carter, Lofton Creek recording artists BrittonJack, up and coming rock artist Ryan Keith, Elton John favorite Catherine Britt (RCA)and a host of other talents. Rich will tour relentlessly with Jason Aldean for all of 2006, playing opening slots for The Rascal Flatts all arena tour and every honky tonk, club, theatre and festival in between. “I’ll see ya there.”

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