#438 Mike Dolbear- Drummer, Educator, Motivator and More!
This week’s guest is Mike Dolbear. Mike has been a professional drummer for over 30 years having studied with some of the greatest teachers including Kenny Clare, Max Abrams and Bob Armstrong. He has worked in a variety of musical situations, including studio, TV, musical theatre and backing cabaret covers bands and continues to contribute to the global drumming community.
After ending a 10 year residence at The Talk Of London, Mike set up his own studio in North London teaching and helping many professional students and teachers including Brian Bennett (The Shadows), Cherisse Osei (Mika), Kapil Trivedi (Mystery Jets), Steve Forrest (Placebo), Mark Richardson (Skunk), Emily Dolan Davies (Bryan Ferry/ Tricky) just to name but a few.
Mike consults for several major record labels and management companies, along with various TV stations, coordinating drum features for the BBC, CBBC and ITV
In 2000 Mike wrote the tutor book “Rhythm and Fills” which is now one of the biggest selling drum tutor books in Europe. But he has yet found the time to write book 2 which is still in manuscript.
In October 2011 Mike was asked to coordinate, audition and teach the 1000 drummers for the London Olympics 2012 opening ceremony, an experience that he says was one of the highlights of his career. ” To coordinate that number of drummers and then play on what is reported to be the biggest TV audience of all time was a true honour and one that I will never forget”.
After the olympics Mike started getting known as the guy to do “big mass drumming features” and worked for UEFA to co-ordinate the 500 drummers for the UEFA London champions final at Wembley in 2013. 2014 Mike then had a call from Hans Zimmer to co-ordinate the drum features in Hans first ever solo concerts in London featuring Johnny Marr, Lebo M and Pheriel Williams.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Hal Rosenfeld! Hal is equal-parts composer, music producer, percussionist, and orchestrator whose work can be heard in nearly 250 films, television shows, and video games.
Hailed for his extreme versatility, creativity, and expansive production across all genres, Hal has been involved with projects that have garnered Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony recognition, including The Greatest Showman, Fosse/Verdon, In the Heights, Only Murders in the Building, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2023), and Laufey's sophomore album Bewitched.
He recently co-scored NBC’s highly-acclaimed primetime sitcom American Auto and produced songs for Paramount’s upcoming Robbie Williams biopic Better Man (directed by The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey). In March 2024, Hal was appointed by the U.S. Embassy of Egypt as musical director for their 2024 Egyptian International Women’s Day Concert and has music-directed acts for Junior Eurovision, Lollapalooza, and international stadium tours, including Rosa Linn's opening spot on Ed Sheeran's 2024 Mathematics Tour. In 2019, he co-produced the music for FX’s Emmy-winning miniseries Fosse/Verdon, starring Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams, under Hamilton music director Alex Lacamoire.
He is prominently featured on blockbuster soundtracks such as Top Gun: Maverick, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Chicken Run 2, Fortnite, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and groundbreaking Netflix series The Witcher.
Working outside of film and television, Hal has appeared with Ringo Starr, Lady Gaga, Hozier, Yoko Ono, Kanye West, Jonas Brothers, Hans Zimmer, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Sting, Imogen Heap, Cuco, and Rosa Linn, as well as on albums that total millions of unit sales and over 1 billion Spotify streams, globally. His orchestrations have been performed by symphonic orchestras worldwide, including the LA Philharmonic, China Philharmonic, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; he is a recurring musical guest on Sweden’s TV variety show Bingolotto.
Aside from music, he actively raises funds and awareness to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Hal currently lives in Los Angeles, where he once made prolonged eye contact with Emma Watson at a party.
Happy Birthday to Camilo Molina-Gaetan! Camilo is a thirty-two year old accomplished percussionist from New York City. At the age of two, Camilo began studying with Los Pleneros de la 21 – a community based group dedicated to playing folkloric Puerto Rican music – in their children’s workshop. It was as a student in the workshops where Camilo met his first teachers: Alberto “Tito” Cepeda and Juan Gutierrez. Advancing in skill through the years, Camilo has progressed from a student to a teacher for the community workshops offered by Los Pleneros de la 21. At the age of Four, also Camilo began to study at Boys Harbor Conservatory of Latin Music with renowned percussionists Johnny Almendra and Louie Bauzó. Camilo is also a graduate of The Julliard School of Music (2003) under the MAP/PATH programs.
In the fall of 2000, Camilo had the honor of being selected as one of ten semifinalists to compete in the Thelonious Monk International Afro-Latin Hand Drum Competition. He went on to become a finalist and was selected as the third place winner, who, at age ten was the youngest finalist in the 14-year history of the competition. That year, Camilo received a proclamation from the City Council of New York honoring him for his musical talents and achievements. He was also the recipient of the Celia Cruz Scholarship (2004) and The Harbor Achievement Award (2001). Camilo has recorded on 3 Grammy Award Nominated albums (Eddie Palmieri’s “Rumbero de Piano”, Los Pleneros de la 21’s “Para Todos Ustedes” and Papo Vazquez’s “Marooned/Aislado”) and contributed his talents to an Emmy Award winning documentary, Banco Populars “Sono, Sono: Tribute to Tite Curet”.
Camilo continues to make a name for himself early in his career, performing with acts varying in musical genres and styles. He is currently on tour as a member of Eddie Palmieri’s Orchestra. In addition, he has toured, recorded and performed with artists such as Santana, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Grusin, Los Pleneros de la 21, Miguel Zenón, Elio Villafranca, Teatro Pregones, Viento de Agua, John Santos, The Pimps of Joytime, Adonis Puentes, Iffy the Badman, Angel "Papo" Vasquez, Tato Torres y Yerbabuena, The Curtis Brothers, Sonido Solar, Jeremy Bosch, and many more.
Happy Birthday to Aaron Draper! In the Beginning: Like many young musicians-to-be, Draper gained his first exposure to live music in the church and begin to play the drums at the age of nine. As Draper started to develop his skills as a drummer, he started to branch out and play for various churches around Philly. Draper recalls in those early years learning “you got to pay attention, follow the service, stay on the beat, stay in the pocket, but also play from the heart.”
As he got older, Draper received a different kind of hands-on musical education at Gratz High School. There, Draper developed some jazz chops and began to learn theory. This time proved to be a turning point for the budding musician, (still primarily a drum set player), as he consumed not only what he was hearing in the church and in school, but also the work of musicians like Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Giovanni Hidalgo, Pancho Sanchez, Sheila E., Tito Puente, Jaco Pastorius, Weather Report, The Yellowjackets, and fellow Philadelphians Brian Moore and John Roberts. Meanwhile, radio staples like the The Winans, Marvin Gaye, and Michael Jackson.
After high school, Draper hit the road running, foregoing college and taking various rap, jazz, and soul gigs, which eventually led to a steady job with acclaimed soul outfit Jazzyfatnastees. Draper progressively moving up the industry food chain played in local festival events with visiting rap and hip-hop artists, including Doug. E. Fresh, Big Daddy Kane, and Common.
Mentoring: In 2001, Draper met Questlove drummer/producer for THE ROOTS. Questlove quickly took an interest in the young musician and wrote down more than a hundred names of artists that he thought Draper should listen to and study, with James Brown at the top of the list.
Questlove left a huge impression on Draper so much so Draper was dubbed “Babyquest”. He went as far as to wear the signature Questlove afro. At this point Draper was starting his transition from drum set to percussion, and began experimenting with a percussion setup in church. Questlove took note of the transition which led to an opportunity to occasionally sub for Roots percussionist Frank Knuckles, which allowed Draper to gain some exposure as he covered dates in various cities. The more he got a chance to play out and work with bands from behind his new world – a percussion rig – the more Draper honed what would become his signature and sought-after sound on his new instrument.
Big Break: Later in 2001, Jay-Z gave Draper his biggest breakto date. The rapper/producer/music exec had noted Draper’stalent at the local rap festivals in Philadelphia, and asked the 19-year-old to join him on his MTV Unplugged appearance. Draper thought ’How’d this happen?’” One listen to “Big Pimpin’” fromJay-Z Unplugged answers his question – the fluidity in Draper’splaying is so undeniable, the cowbell and woodblock pattern soin the pocket, that you forget that you are involuntarily bobbing your head, even as Jay-Z starts chiming in with acall-to-action: “Bounce! Bounce! Bounce!” On his cut and others from the broadcast, Draperfocus is now like a seasoned player on the heartof each song, and providing that steady flow of rhythm that keeps circling back to the heart.
Everything Draper does on this track, and on the majority of the Unplugged session, revolvesaround this approach – the product of a bornlistener.
In 2005, Draper would get his second major break when he started touring with powerful soul songstress Jill Scott.Throughout the years Draper has shared the stage with other accomplished artists. Draper’s resume is brimming with high-profile gigs such as: Common; Karen Clark-Shears; LL Cool J; Eminen and Dr. Dre. Yet the percussionist remains wide-eyed and humble about his success,the exposure, and traveling the world.
In the Lab: Draper’s skills extend beyond the stage. He has proven himself as a valuable asset in the studio and has recorded with Neo-Soul artists: Jill Scott; Musiq Soul Child; and Bilal. Draper made his debut in 2011 as a producer on Jill Scott’s “Light of the Sun” album with the song entitled “I Love You”.
In Style: However, he also knows that he has something special that keeps his phone ringing. Through trial and error, going back to his church band days, through listening sessions with Questlove and his earliestgigs in Philly, Draper developed a sound that works pointedly for this particular brand of music. Andoriginality and self-awareness are hot commodities when you’re a professional.
Draper’s style, ability and energy aren’t only notice by A-list artists, but by the music industry at large. In2011 Draper was awarded “PERFORMER OF THE YEAR” by Drum Magazine.
Happy Birthday to Bobby Allende! Born and raised in New York City, Bobby's foundation in Afro-Cuban Percussion commenced at the age of three. With the patient and constant guidance of his Uncles Angel Allende and Papiro Allende (well-respected musicians) Bobby embarked on a journey that has taken him around the world twice over. His dedication to his craft and spirited personality has earned him the respect of some of the top names in the industry. His performances with Buddy Rich on the Mike Douglas Show (age 7) and with Julio Iglesias at Madison Square Garden (age 10) helped open the doors of opportunity. At a performance at Madison Square Garden the legendary Tito Puente invited Bobby to perform alongside him. Thus, the formation of the juvenile group the "Rumberito All Stars" was born. The group continued to be the opening act for Tito Puente through 1980 and allowed Bobby to refine his craft under the supervision of a legend. Bobby moved on to work with and tour with many other Latin musicians such as Hector Lavoe, Jose Alberto "El Canario", RMM All Stars and Ruben Blades among an extensive list of many others. Later, he became the Musical Director for Willie Colon, Marc Anthony and La India. Bobby's expertise does not only limit him to the Latin Music Industry but has given him the opportunity to work with the likes of David Byrne, Grover Washington, Jr., Rodney Jones, Spyro Gyra and Marion Meadows. His versatility with Latin rhythms did not escape the sights of Paul Simon and earned him a place in the orchestra for the Broadway musical "The Capeman." It also afforded him the opportunity to continue his working relationship with Salsa/Pop performer Marc Anthony. In addition to his work with the New Santana Band, Bobby is currently the Musical Director for Tito Nieves and a member of the Grammy winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra. Bobby is frequently called upon as a Musical Consultant to audition and hire musicians, rehearse and create set lists for new artists. His strong musical background and almost 30 years in the entertainment business have successfully allowed him a natural progression into this role.
Gig Alerts
The Jam Cruise 2026 lineup has been announced. It will take place Feb 7th-12th 2026 going from Miami to the Bahamas and back.
The Seoul Jazz Fest is happening in South Korea from May 30th-June 1st at Olympic Park.
The Roots Picnic is happening May 31st-June 1st in Philadelphia, PA.
The Capital Jazz Festival is happening June 6th-8th in Columbia, MD.
Damon is playing this week in Boston at the different Cisco Breweries at the Seaport and near Fenway.
Educational Spotlight
Just a reminder, PASIC is happening this November 12th-15th. Registration is now open. Both Damon and friend of the show, Ivan Llanes will be giving clinics.
Friend of the show, Kai Stensgaard, is giving a masterclass through the Mexico PAS chapter on June 9th.
Iconic Recording
Mike picked “Rosanna” by Toto as the iconic recording for the week. Jeff Porcaro is playing drums and friend of the show, Lenny Castro is on percussion.
Music News
It’s time for Congress to pass the No Fakes Act – at least according to 21 Savage, Billy Idol, Deadmau5, Joe Walsh, Lainey Wilson, and a number of others who are backing the bill ahead of a Senate hearing today. -Article
Gateway Studios & Production Services (GSPS) has opened its new studio complex in Chesterfield, Missouri—the largest and most advanced rehearsal and production campus in the US. -Article
Mike Dolbear Interview
The song leading into the interview is from the 2012 Olympic Games called “Pandemonium Drums”
Mike was instigated to be a guest of the show by friend of the show, Emily Dolan Davies. He also mentions another student, Cherisse Osei.
There are more resources for female percussionists these days like Tom Tom Magazine.
There are several committees that are part of the Percussive Arts Society.
Mike talks about a work-family life balance, scheduling and time management.
Mike mentions the competition he has been hosting in the UK for 23 years is finally coming to the USA with the help of Zildjian. CLICK HERE for more info on the Young Drummer of the Year Competition.
Damon and Mike talk about planning financials with a professional.
Mike used to play in the house band for Talk of the Town (later known as the Talk of London).
He is phasing out his website, over at Mike Dolbear (dot com).
Mike talks about how he got into teaching and helping other drummers behind the scenes.
Mike talks about learning with dyslexia.
Mike makes the connection between motor skills in music to other activities.
Mike talks in more detail about the Young Drummer of the Year Competition.
Mike studied with the great Kenny Clare.
Here are some great Sunday Roasts in London.
Mike wrote a book Rhythm & Fills, Book 1.
If you want to participate in the Young Drummer of the Year Competition in the USA, the deadline to enter is June 16th, 2025 and you have to be 16 years of age or younger.
Mike is still involved with the UK Drum Show, and the Europe Drum Show.
Mike talks about transitioning from clinic tours to masterclasses.
Mike talks about trust and confidentiality.
Mike mentions the 2012 Olympics.
Shout-out to Danny Boyle.
Mike picks the iconic recording for the week.
Mike designed the Vic Firth Essentials stick bag.
Shout-out to Vic Firth, Kenny Clare, and the legendary drummers that have influenced him and become his friends.
