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BiographyName: Steve Gasper
Styles/Influences: Classic Rock & Roll of the 50's to the 80's is my favorite to perform & listen to. I have been in all types & styles of bands from originals to Big Band, Country, Rock, etc.. In my early years Sandy Nelson (Wood Foot) was an influence on me, then in my teens and twenties Floyd Sneed (Three Dog Night) had a great influence on my style and on me moving up to a larger kit. Then in the 80's pretty much through to the present, Steve Smith of Journey and now Vital Information has been a large influence on me; probably more as a mentor that encouraged me rather then as an actual teacher. History: I'm Steve G. (AKA) Doctor Rhythm, (since '84) owner of Doctor Rhythm Sound (since '92). I have been a professional Entertainer-DJ-Musician for 25+ years, although I have been playing for 35 years as of 2004. I'm a 47 year old Virgo with moments of backsliding and I have been a freelance touring Drummer/Percussionist for the majority of my career. My performance kit is a royal blue metal-flake Pearl Master Custom 10 piece maple-wood, including 2 kick & 2 snare drums. It also includes 10 cymbals, 4 cowbells, 4 rock blocks, 6 foot pedals & other misc percussion items. I also have a jet-black Mapex Saturn series kit set up the same way, with just one kick & one floor tom. I use it for rehearsal and as a back up. I also have a 9-piece midi electronic drum kit using tunable 12" pads & 8 cymbals. I have done a quite lot in my career even though it was cut short in early 2000, including a 10-year stretch as a weekend warrior when my kids were young. Although I often toured in some of the summer months they were not long, except for one year I went on with a band called "Dancer". It was a very hectic fast passed tour where we did 82 cities in just 90 days, and yes we were in a different city or venue every night. The longest time I spent with any one band was 4 1/2 years with Deja Vu, which was a 5 piece Classic R&R / R&B band playing music from the 50's to the 80's. Most of my work in the mid to late 90's was as a replacement that filled in for disabled, ill or absent band members. One of my claims to fame is the "Kansas Vietnam Veterans and Family Reunion", where I was the MC-Entertainer-DJ (Entertainment Director) for 6 years in a row, my last being their 10th annual in 1998. I have worked with the Coasters, the Diamonds, Buddy Holly's Crickets and the Neon's among others. I do not sight read and have no real formal training, I have always had a natural talent for it from a very early age and made it my career once I was old enough and felt ready. I wanted to take lessons to learn more than just the teachings I received during my four years of Band, Orchestra, Stage Band & Marching Band while in High School. But, several older, wiser and more talented people told me that it would ruin my natural uniqueness and talent if I took traditional lessons. Because I was not able to sight read music very well during my career it was a bad decision, but from the standpoint of being different and unique it was definitely a good decision. I have been with several agents/agencies through the years depending on whether they booked single musicians or groups as a whole. I have not ever been in a musicians union for the most part, unless the area that a certain group might be performing in required it. I have performed in 29 of the lower 48 states and have been in 39 of them on my motorcycle (if that interests you). I can and have performed most all types of music, but most of my experience has been in Classic Rock & Roll of the 50's to the 80's. I also like and will perform Blues, R&B, Rock and Rock-A-Billy, but Classic R&R of the 50's to the 80's (no disco) are my favorite to perform and is also my favorite to listen to as well. I was considered one of the premier drummers in the Midwest for a few years, although there is probably little or nothing left now to reinforce that. I have done studio work in the past, everything from jingles to up and coming artists, generally small local type studios, nothing real major, I just went from gig to gig freelancing. In 1999 I fell ill and went down hill very quickly, and by mid 2000 the doctors still had not found out all of what was wrong with me, then in early 2001 it all came to light. (Read about my disability/illness history below) By early 2001 I was listed as permanently disabled and went on Social Security Disability, by mid 2002 I had lost my insurance carrier and went on Medicare. I have been out of the mainstream part of the business since then, but I try to keep up with changes in the industry and in touch with some of those I have worked with through the years. I do still have most all of my equipment, which includes 3 drum kits, (2 acoustic & 1 midi), along with a small 2,400 watt sound system, 10,000 watts of lighting with a 48 channel controller board, theatrical fogger, etc.. I also have a basic percussion trap set up as well for when such a gig or need comes around. My Live DJ service offers an all CD Music Library of 10,000+ song titles, but I have not added any modern music since the mid 90's. The reason being is that most of my business is made up of Korean, Vietnam ,and Desert Storm era Veterans, their friends and families. I have tried my best to keep up my chops as best I can here at home and by getting invited to perform as a guest and/or jamming with some friend's groups from time to time. Unfortunately I am no longer able to move, load or haul equipment and I generally need to have help with setup and loud out, which can be a pain in the wallet. I would be very interested in getting into an oldies cover group, tribute band, or a Classic Rock & Roller's back up band. Hopefully someone that does not have too hectic of a performance schedule. I have performed and recorded original music with a few bands or individuals, I'm able to write and work out my own parts and I have been a good collaborator and producer in the past. I'm sure I could and would love to do it again with the right musicians and studio situation, of which the paying ones are tough to find, as most players know. I will end here before I start spouting meaningless technical babble that would mean little or nothing to any non players who may read this far down. Have a great day and a better tomorrow, stay well, be safe and always keep the faith. Gear
Drums: Pearl Master Customs (6-ply maple) in Blue Sparkle (metal flake)
Cymbals: Various
Hardware & Misc: DW (except where noted)
I also use the following: • Rock Block (high) on left • Rock Block (low) on left• LP Double Ching-Ring on Hi-hat• LP 8" Black Mambo Cowbell (muted)• LP 6" Black Rock Cowbell• Rock Block (high) on right• Rock Block (low) on right• LP 6" Chrome Timbale Cowbell• Rhythm Tech TambourineI also have several other hand percussion items on a small trap table on the floor behind the drum throne. Everything but the main snare & 16" floor tom is all rack mounted on a Pearl DR-2 series three sided rack system using 16 heavy duty clamps. Heads: Remo Toms - Coated Emperor Batter & Ebony Ambassador Reso
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finish (except where noted)
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Email: mrmusicplease@hotmail.com |
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Website: www.geocities.com/mrmusicplease67277/
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Yahoo: mrmusicplease67277
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