<![CDATA[DEREK WOLFFORD - BLOG]]>Thu, 19 Jun 2025 05:27:12 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[My Buddy]]>Thu, 30 Nov 2023 06:17:53 GMThttps://www.marketingdrummer.com/blog/my-buddy
Picture
]]><![CDATA[Frank Sass]]>Thu, 30 Nov 2023 06:00:28 GMThttps://www.marketingdrummer.com/blog/frank-sass​From the late 90s to the early 10s, my BIG 3 sound guys were Steve Kimbrough, Michael Bracy, and Frank Sass... these guys were incredibly important to the fabric of live music in Nashville then. It was just August of 2021 that Steve left us, and now I found out today that Frank has passed. 
Picture
Photo courtesy of the NIMA Awards
​He not only provided some of the best live sound EVER but also delivered (unintentionally and sometimes very intentionally) some of the funniest soundcheck moments onstage. He absolutely did 'not suffer fools gladly,' and if you weren't smart or experienced enough to understand his process... you found out quickly! Had social media existed then, he could've easily originated the 'Fk Around And Find Out' chart. "Ok, gentlemen, if you could find it in your hearts to listen carefully and let ME get what I need, then YOU will get what YOU need... it will not go the other way around. Thank you, and let us proceed! Mr. Drummer, please give me some bass drum." 
One of the best moments was Frank vs a background vocalist👩 whose name had a traditional spelling but wanted it pronounced in an exotic way, which she announced to Frank in a very direct tone over the mic . Of course, Frank ONLY pronounced it in the traditional way at every opportunity even after he had moved past bgvs... "Mr. Keyboardist, could you give me your top board and I hope the sound is comparable to the dulcet tones of Ms .👩's voice." Classic Frank!

I played many shows with him at Exit/In, The Rutledge; and the last one was in 2019. Whether it was a 4, 9, or 13-piece configuration onstage, it ALWAYS sounded great cause he cared deeply about music and the live experience. I picked up on his deep-cut Fantastic Four reference, so we always talked comics, movies, and 'historical' pop culture. Wow, what a character... R.I.P. Frank.
]]><![CDATA[55]]>Sun, 15 Oct 2023 05:44:53 GMThttps://www.marketingdrummer.com/blog/55Happy Birthday to me... 
Picture
]]><![CDATA[Dom Famularo]]>Fri, 29 Sep 2023 05:31:30 GMThttps://www.marketingdrummer.com/blog/dom-famularo​The drumming world lost its Global Ambassador today, the one and only Dom Famularo. He shared his love for drumming for over 40 years, becoming one of the world's most influential and beloved drummers, teachers, and motivators.

His was only the second drum clinic I had ever been to.. the first being Liberty DeVitto at the local college. I had seen Dom's name in issues of Modern Drummer and decided to take a chance and drive the two hours to Houston and see him at The Drum Keyboard Guitar Shop. It was held in a smaller room in the back of the store, and there may have been 25-30 people in attendance. He was a great player, but my takeaway from that afternoon wasn't what he played but was from what he said. His remarkable enthusiasm for drumming, music, and the industry was so infectious that it was the first time I thought I could be a part of the drum world that I only read about. I didn't have any plan at that point, but his words got the ball rolling... and I got to thank him much later at a NAMM Show in the '00s. 

Thanks for your perseverance and dedication, Dom... you really made a difference.  
Picture
]]><![CDATA[28]]>Wed, 19 Jul 2023 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.marketingdrummer.com/blog/28Thankful to celebrate Season 28 at The Best Reason To Play Drums...!
Picture
]]><![CDATA[Rip Raquel Welch]]>Wed, 15 Feb 2023 20:41:53 GMThttps://www.marketingdrummer.com/blog/rip-raquel-welchLiterally
Picture
]]><![CDATA[Ringo Sucks!]]>Thu, 02 Feb 2023 15:32:53 GMThttps://www.marketingdrummer.com/blog/ringo-sucksI watched a bio feature on controversial filmmaker John Milius and it opened with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt, who provides the perfect response to the comment of "Ringo Sucks!". (You can substitute Ringo's name with anyone you believe doesn't deserve their fame or credentials...)

In other words, be constructive in your public criticism and if you can do better... then do it.
Picture
]]><![CDATA[A Burning Sensation]]>Sat, 02 Jul 2022 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.marketingdrummer.com/blog/a-burning-sensationSweaty performances are expected with outside gigs but this one was a drencher! A river of sweat dumped in both eyes during the delicate outro aaaaaarrrrggghhhh!!!
]]><![CDATA[Seeing Red In Iowa]]>Tue, 14 Jun 2022 06:10:04 GMThttps://www.marketingdrummer.com/blog/seeing-red-in-iowaUsed the production company's house kit for the show in IA... very nice of them to put my initials on the bass drum head😁 I usually have a left 14" and right side 16" but this kit was a left 18" and a right side 16"... a REALLY liked having the 18" so that could change things.
Picture
It was B.Y.O.shorty hi-hat stand, tambourine, cowbell, throne, and electronics...
]]><![CDATA[Gilbert]]>Tue, 12 Apr 2022 20:16:46 GMThttps://www.marketingdrummer.com/blog/gilbertI'm not even sure what to say except he (like Norm McDonald) had no fear when it came to comedy and defended the craft no matter the consequences. I highly recommend watching his 2017 documentary entitled, Gilbert, to see the man behind the voice.

​What a loss...
Picture
]]>