RayzzDRUMMER, VOCALIST, TEACHER
ENGINEER, SONGWRITER
Welcome to my web page. A veteran of the Edmonton music scene for the last 40 years, I started my music career at the age of 12 as a drummer and briefly thought about switching to guitar. I have a diploma from the United Conservatory of music where my principal instrument was guitar but, for me, it has always come down to the drums. It became clear that I was destined to be a drummer as, it was two months after I got my first drum I did my first paying gig. I was 12 years old and made 5 dollars for the gig. I was rollin’ in cash! After that I played in country bands, polka bands, jazz bands and big band dance bands with my father who was a very skilled guitar player. Much of my early teen years was spent playing with my two brothers also. (one was a Bass player and the other was a Guitar player). An experience I remember from those days was a gig I did with Edmonton Jazz legend Big Miller. We were in the middle of a swing tune and Big turned to me and said, “play that sock man, play that sock!” I’m a 15 year old kid and I’m thinking, “what the hell is a sock?” Luckily, he grabbed and shook my hi hat at the same time. I’d not heard that term for a hi hat ’till then.I decided to quit school and pursue a music career full time when I was 17 yrs. old. I basically played “the bar circuit”, live club dates and some studio sessions throughout Western Canada. Though these years were not financially rewarding the years of experience gained from playing so many different styles of music, I wouldn’t trade for anything. I should say that I got my high school diploma years later and it has been an advantage having it. After almost 20 years on the road I found I had a ton of playing experience, but was tired and was ready to “settle down.” (at least a bit)I started working in the Graphics business and got out of playing for about ten years. This is the longest time I have ever gone without playing. It was good to find out there were other things in life, as well as music. I began to accumulate things other than music gear – like furniture and permanent places to live! The Graphics business at the time was in transition and computers were making their way to the forefront of production. I was drawn to computers and seemed to have a knack for using them. As time went by the Graphics biz transitioned into the Media and Multimedia biz. I got out of the Graphics business around 1998 and started freelancing as a video and audio editor. I worked on a number of projects for TLC, the History Channel, Discovery Channel and other Independent film makers.
At the time I bought a Pro Tools digital recording system and started to do post production and also used an Avid system for video editing. I did this ’till about 2004 when I got a job working for the Alberta Government through a connection I had with The Film and Video Arts Society of Alberta. Been there ever since working as a recording engineer, HTML programmer, photo editor and resident “media type guy.” We create multimedia resources for Blind and Perceptually disabled students in Alberta Schools from kindergarten to grade 12.
I got married in 2007 to a wonderful woman who understands my continued passion for making music. She has let me build a recording studio in our basement, after all!!
I have recently bought a MOTU 24 I/O and am using Digital Performer 7 software. I switched basically because the Pro Tools stuff is so expensive. (over priced in my opinion, although they have made their software compatible with different interfaces recently.)
I have played Rogers and Gretsch drums. These days my favorite set is a kit made by Sonor called the ‘Jungle’ model with a 16X16 kick drum! Small but punchy, they underlie the great sound of my current band, KickbacK.
I’ll put some more stuff up here as I think of it…..Cheers!