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BiographyName: Jim Brousseau (aka J.J. Brown)
Styles/Influences: In the early days: Krupa, Max Roach, Philly Jo Jones, Clyde Stubblefield. Then came the modern era: Steve Gadd, David Garibaldi, and Russ Kunkle. History: I started playing at 5 yrs old and I guess I was considered a prodigy. When I was 7, I was with Franky Fontaine's minstrel show out of Boston (who later became Crazy Guggenheim on the Jackie Gleason show). At 12 I appeared with Bobby Hackett's big band. I played through high school in the Jazz band, studied at Berkley's percussion workshops in Boston, and studied from Stanley Spector. Then onto the Army, I played in the 7th Army band. After that, I toured with a jazz quintet throughout Europe. I settled in Philly, and played on the road with "Jimmy J and the Jays" (their style was R&B) until 1970. I still went to New York a few times a year to study from Spector. I traveled to L.A. and hooked up with a funk group for a while, and then went back east where I ended up with Philly Groove Records, and Philadelphia International at Sigma Sound as a studio drummer, and played with a lot of area bands. Then I started my own southern rock band called "Southbound" and we toured for 5 years. I married a girl from Delaware and settled down. I still played full time but locally, did session work and taught. Then in 1997 on April Fool's Day I had a head on collision with a tri axle dump truck (my fault). I broke both ankles, shattered my left leg, had a compound break in my right leg, shattered my pelvic into five pieces, ripping the nerve bundle going to my left leg. I broke my left wrist, shoulder, collar bone, broke all my ribs and one of them lacerated my spleen, and I fractured the L5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and C3 & 4 in my spine. The Nurses at the hospital called me the train wreak. I got out of the acute care unit in July, and started rehab until the present, so that's 8 1/2 years so far. Three years later I tried playing again and I got really depressed, then I asked God to help me. Well I can walk a little and I am playing with a band now. I still can't use the hi-hat that well, but that's o.k. My hands still work well, and the kick drum leg is weak but o.k. I have learned how to cope with the pain, and every three months I get an epidural spinal steroid shot and a selective nerve block that really helps me. I have faith that some day I will get it all back before I leave this earth. I know I did not die for a reason. I do walk in faith from God, and I am thankful for what I still have. God Bless - J.J. Gear
Drums: Mapex in Coral Fade Finish
Cymbals: Zildjian
Hardware & Misc: Mapex (except where noted)
The rest of my stands are B950 boom stands and an S550 snare stand. I also use a 9" cowbell on my kit as well.Heads: Remo Sticks: Zildjian 7A, Vic Firth 5B, Thunder Rods & blast sticks |
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