DEREK WOLFFORD
  • HOME
  • DRUMS
  • PEARL
  • BIO
  • CONTACT

Remembering Ricky Lawson

12/24/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Just heard the confirmed news that the world has lost Ricky Lawson, a fantastic drummer and beautiful human being. He's know for performing with Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Steely Dan, Whitney Houston, Quincy Jones, The Yellowjackets, and many many more.

I had the great pleasure of knowing him through my relationship with Pearl Drums. I'll never forget the story he told me about his "drum solo" on Whitney Houston's mega-hit,"I Will Always Love You". He said whenever his mother heard the song (& she was with friends) and the famous floor tom hit happened, she would proudly say... "That's my baby!" That story always makes me smile because he told it with such pride.

Ricky was on the gig right before he was taken into the hospital so you can say he did what he loved as long as possible. Glad I had the chance to get to know him... a real gentleman and amazing musician.  

In writing the article for Pearl Drums, I started compiling a partial list of artists that Ricky worked with... check this out:  

George Duke    
Roy Ayers
Dee Dee Bridgewater
The Jacksons
Tom Waits
Robben Ford
Flora Purim
The Pointer Sisters
Harry Nilsson
The Dramatics
The Emotions
Earl Klugh
Teena Marie
DeBarge
Paul McCartney
Bette Midler
Yellowjackets
Philip Bailey
Sister Sledge
Ramsey Lewis
Rockwell
Deniece Williams
Al Jarreau
Johnny Gill
Maurice White
Jeffrey Osborne
Bobby Brown
Regina Belle
Dave Koz
Bette Midler
Kirk Whalum
Fourplay
David Benoit
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Lionel Richie
Babyface
L.A. Jazz Syndicate
Night Ranger
Faith Evans
Jimmy Reid
Barney
Mariah Carey
Frankie Beverly
Nancy Wilson
Kenny G
Doc Powell
Steely Dan
Maze
Patrice Rushen
Chet Atkins
Earth, Wind & Fire
Brian McKnight
Boyz II Men
Tom Scott
Ruben Studdard
Justin Guarini
Aretha Franklin
Michael McDonald
Keb' Mo'
John Mellencamp
Stevie Wonder
Smokey Robinson
India.Arie
Warren Hill
Rod Stewart
Fattburger
Dianne Reeves
Michael Jackson
Whitney Houston
Anita Baker
Nancy Wilson
James Ingram
Tevin Campbell
Sheila E.
Kenny Loggins
Gladys Knight
BeBe & CeCe Winans
Beyoncé
0 Comments

PEARL ON LOCATION: Chuck Fields

12/13/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
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!     

0 Comments

PEARL ON LOCATION: Rafael Pereira 

12/3/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.

0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Alan Evans
    Al Kooper
    Andrea Young
    Batman
    Bill Brasky
    Bill Finger
    Bill Hicks
    Billy Sherrill
    Birthday
    Bo Bice
    Booker T. And The MGs
    Brian Frasier Moore
    Brothers Of The Southland
    Bruno Mars
    Buddy Harman
    Calvin Rodgers
    Casey Cooper
    Chad Sexton
    Chevelle
    Chris Dave
    Chris Kent
    Chris Mitchell & The Collection
    Christmas
    Cody Hanson
    Comics
    Concert
    Craig Morgan
    Dante’ Roberson
    Disturbed
    Dj Misphet
    Dr Hook
    Drummers Live
    Drums
    Duane Eddy
    Dungeons And Dragons
    Eddie Kramer
    Eric Herandez
    Fantasy Football
    Fatherhood
    Friday Night Videos
    Garth
    Gary Forkum
    Gavin Degraw
    George Jones
    Hinder
    Huey Lewis & The News
    Incubus
    Influences
    Interview
    James Wesley
    Jeff Porcaro
    Johnny K
    Jose Pasillas
    Karate
    Keith Richards
    Kelley Norris
    Kid Rock
    Kim Thompson
    Lasers
    Led Zeppelin
    Leon Redbone
    Living Colour
    Longstrap
    Marcel Chagnon
    Marc Quinones
    Marc Tyler Nobleman
    Mark Ortmann
    Mark Wehner
    Marvin Mcquitty
    Melinda Doolittle
    Michael Baroody
    Mike Mangini
    Mike Wengren
    Modern Drummer
    Movies
    Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
    Musicians Hall Of Fame
    Ned Zeppelin
    Night Flight
    Night Tracks
    Omar Hakim
    Pearl
    Percussion
    Percy Sledge
    Phil Everley
    Project 108
    Rap
    Red Solo Cup
    Rick Goodwin
    Rick Patin
    Robert Searight
    Rodney Howard
    Sam Loeffler
    Scott Holt
    Scott Johnson
    Sean Bates
    Snarky Puppy
    Social Media
    Society
    Soulive
    Sput
    Stanton Moore
    Star Trek
    Star Wars
    Steve Potts
    Styx
    Suzanne Morissette
    Suzi Oravec
    Television
    Terence Higgins
    Thanksgiving
    The Beatles
    The Bottle Rockets
    The Crickets
    The Memphis Horns
    The Wayback Machine
    This Day In History
    Time Machine
    Todd Sucherman
    Tom Roady
    Tom Tom Magazine
    Trent Willmon
    Trial By Fire
    Trypta-phunk
    Twitter
    Umphrey's McGee
    Vic Danger
    Vine
    Virgin
    Wilson Phillips

    Archives

    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    July 2023
    February 2023
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    March 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008

    View my profile on LinkedIn
  • HOME
  • DRUMS
  • PEARL
  • BIO
  • CONTACT