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Doing some light practicing while nap time is happening upstairs. The Remo SilentStroke Drumheads have a hidden 'turntable simulation' feature that I really enjoy.
They pair up perfectly with the Zildjian Gen16 Low Volume Cymbals... Great night at the Pearl Party and happy to celebrate year #20 with the absolute best crew in the industry!
Gene Okamoto has left the building! Tomorrow will start his retirement from a monumental career as Product Specialist for Pearl Corporation. Starting in Sales at Drum World in CA, Gene would become a global figure in the drum industry.
standard noun \ˈstan-dərd\ 1. a level of quality or attainment. 2. an idea or thing used as a measure or model in comparative evaluations. This is the word that comes to mind when I think of Gene Okamoto. Over the last 18 years, I’ve witnessed Gene’s constant endeavor to make things better. There’s a reason his knowledge of drum history is revered throughout the industry (and is amazing to witness in person). I’m eternally grateful for everything I’ve gained from simply being in his presence. His retirement is greatly deserved and I wish him a long and adventurous life.
It would be really difficult for me to choose one story that encompasses Gene setting the standard… it’s just something he did every day. Don't miss the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime performance to see the custom kit we did for the Red Hot Chili Peppers!
I've had the pleasure of knowing this guy for almost 20 years and it was awesome to interview him for the latest Pearl On Location video... Chuck was actually working at Pearl Drums Headquarters when I joined them in 1995. Like most of the staff, he was playing gigs on the side and making his way up the social ladder of Nashville drummers. He soon left Pearl to commit to drumming full time and although he wasn't here in body, he has always been considered one of The Family. It's been great to see him reach milestones in his career and personal life... a tough thing to successfully do for a road musician. Chuck breaks many drummer stereotypes so don't be discouraged when he doesn't kick his drums over at the end of the video! Pearl videographer Garrett DeLozier and I went down to The Ryman on a brisk Sunday afternoon to meet Rafael Pereira, percussionist for Janelle Monáe. We timed it just right as Rafa and his beautiful wife had just arrived to the venue. After a quick set-up, we discovered that there could be no noise from the stage for another 45 minutes due to venue restrictions. So we found a great spot outside to shoot the interview portion but there was construction going on nearby. Not to mention that some of the workers walked up to see what was going on... "Hey, whuch you guyz iz doin', huh? Is dis a video... will i be on cameras?" We quickly bounce back inside and find an ambient stairwell that had some vibe to it. As soon as we start rolling, doors from upstairs and downstairs were opening and closing but Rafa (a total pro) nailed everything in one take. We finished that just in time to catch some footage of him onstage and that's it... hugs and kisses and we're out! Getting curve balls thrown our way is always expected but its so nice when the subject is just as chill and goes with the flow... Rafa is water! You'll also be seeing more of him in some 2014 videos so stay tuned to Pearl Drums' social outlets. Here's another installment of the Pearl On Location series I shot with Garrett DeLozier... this one with the musical chameleon, Terence Higgins! He's one of those special players that embodies the spirit of the place he hails from. However, if you look at his resume you'll see that he's much more versatile than his zip code let's on. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, John Scofield, Warren Haynes, and recently Ani DiFranco are only a small amount of artists he's collaborated with. Over the last decade, I've seen him transform into the world class player he is. There's no doubt he has formal training by his touch on the drums but his "real world" drumming skills are sharp and deadly... approach with caution! Terence is as good as they get... on and off stage and I'm pleased that I could include him in this ongoing series. This one was a special one... Wuv was one of the first artists I signed to the Pearl roster way back in 1999 so it was a pleasure to include him. We've had some pretty good times together and the P.O.D. camp has always been the best. Need a great example of not resting on your laurels and always being on the hustle... look no further than P.O.D. This is the third installment of Pearl On Location... links the the first and second below: Here's the first of several videos I recently shot with long time Allman Brothers percussionist, Marc Quinones. Click Read More to see more videos...
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