#442 Mike Dawson- Drummer, Author, Educator and More!
The photo of Mike Dawson was taken by Jordan Bellotti.
This week’s guest is Mike Dawson. Mike is a Pittsburgh-based drummer/percussionist and co-leader of an ambient experimental duo with guitarist Tim Vitullo. Their debut album, LUNR ECCOS, was released in November 2024 on Elohino Records. Dawson hosts the Drum Candy Podcast, serves as chief creative officer for Drum Factory Direct, and is managing editor for the Percussive Arts Society's DRUMSET Magazine. From 2004 to 2021, Mike was an editor at Modern Drummer, and he produced 250 episodes of The Modern Drummer Podcast With Mike and Mike with online educator/clinician Mike Johnston. Dawson holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from West Virginia University and a master’s in music from the University of the Arts. He was a regular drumset substitute for the Broadway musical The Lion King from 2017 to 2020 and has taught courses, lessons, and workshops at various events and institutions, including PASIC, West Virginia Wesleyan College, UArts, Drummer's Collective, and the Peabody Institute.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Lea Mullen! Lea Mullen has been busy with debut ‘Jooks’ album release ‘Soft hands with Luis Conte’, workshops and teaching. As well as playing/touring with Vanessa Mae, Alan Leach, Paul Ryders ‘Big Arm’, ‘Rebel MC’, ‘Rachael McFarlane’ and writing reviews for drummer magazine. Lea was touring the USA with George Michael.
Happy Birthday to Marvin “Smitty” Smith! Marvin, Born June 24, 1961 in Waukegan (Illinois). "It was a very natural inclination for me to play drums," says Marvin "Smitty" Smith. A glance at his early life validates that truth. Born the son of a drummer, Marvin, Sr., was always surrounded by music in the house.
At six months old, he would climb up on the large lounge chair positioned directly in front of his father's drum set and would watch him practice, intensely. Whenever his father took a break, he would crawl over and press the foot pedals and attempt to emulate his dad. That experience, and banging on pots and pans, was the extent of his playing until he began formal training at the age of three.
Today, Marvin "Smitty" Smith is a young musician extraordinaire whose work has been described as a "comment on invention, firm and adventurous time and technical sufficiency." He has traveled extensively throughout the Orient, Europe, and the continental USA; and he has shared the stage with such greats as Sonny Rollins, Hank Jones, Frank Foster and Frank Wess, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Slide Hampton, and Milt Jackson. He is a former member of the Ron Carter Quartet, The New York Jazz Quartet, and The Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet.
Featured on more than 45 albums, additional performances and recordings augmented with Terence Blanchard and Donald Harrison, Ray Brown and Phineas Newborn, George Shearing, Bobby Watson, Hamiet Bluiett, Branford Marsalis, David Murray, Emily Remler, Peter Leicht, Kevin Eubanks, Donald Byrd, Monty Alexander, Diane Reeves, Michel Camilo, and Grover Washington Jr. Currently he's a member of Steve Coleman's Five Elements, and The Dave Holland Quartet. Smitty conducts seminars and clinics for students in jazz workshops, both in the United States and Europe; and is currently on staff of jazz program at the Banff Centre of Fine Arts, Canada, and Drummers Collective, New York City.
Smitty has been Downbeat Critics' Poll winner for Talent Deserving Wider Recognition, 1985 through 1987, and 1989. Smitty performed on the Soundtrack of filmaker Spike Lee's "School Daze", appeared in Sonny Rollins' music video "Saxophone Colossus", and a member of Sting's "Nothing Like the Sun" South American tour, 1987.
Regarded as a well rounded musician with the ability to play all styles, Marvin "Smitty" Smith is a blossoming composer and arranger, and his success has earned him two albums as a bandleader. As a versitile drummer, there seems to be nothing be cannot do. It's been said that he is the "John Coltrane of the drums.."
Happy Birthday to Kahlil Cummings! Kahlil was born in Los Angeles, California. It was clear at a very young age that world music captured his interest. Kahlil grew up sourrounded by Afro-Brazilian, Cuban, and West African music, and begain studying percussion intensively under the direction of his father, Rahsan Cummings. He has also studied with many master drummers and musicians, such as Mamady Keita, Amen Santo, Felipe Garcia, Cha’ Cha, and Monyungo Jackson. Kahlil is a Tam Tam Mandingue certified professor and teaches classes at Motherland Music in Los Angeles.
Happy Birthday to (Steven) Wolf! Steven Wolf (also known simply as "Wolf") was born in Philly, grew up in the Philly area, went to Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music, and then dropped out of Berklee at the age of 20 to move to New York City to play in Atlantic recording artist/guitar-hero Hiram Bullock's band.
Since moving to Nyc, Wolf's drumming virtuosity, musical versatility, and mastery of electronics (Wolf was one of the world's first drummers to incorporate drum machines and samplers into his drum setup) has allowed him to enjoy an active career as an international session and touring drummer with the world's top artists in virtually every musical genre including: Annie Lennox, Britney Spears, Chaka Khan, Cher, Pink, Anastacia, Celine Dion, Grover Washington Jr Will Young, Tribal Tech, Patti Austin, Steely Dan, Rufus Wainwright, and The Gil Evans Orchestra, to name a few...
He's played on stages all over the world... From Carnegie Hall to Royal Albert Hall, to CBGB's, to Wembley Arena, etc...
He's appeared on the top tv shows: the Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, the Today Show, David Letterman, the Grammys, etc...
And he's played on records that have combined sales in the tens of millions...including the 1996 grammy winner for album of the year (Celine Dion's "Falling Into You")
In the recent years, he's been making the move into the world of production and writing and remixing...a natural transition, as he began to get more and more work programming and arranging tracks in the studio.
Happy Birthday to Ryan Brown! Ryan is a professional drummer and percussionist in Los Angeles, California. In addition to his gig as the drummer for Dweezil Zappa, he plays with Los Angeles-based bands The Young Royals, Black Belt Karate, SexTapes, AM/FM, The Fuxedos and Madras, and in the bands of artists Arrica Rose, Karem Malicki-Sanchez, Colin Armstrong, Josh Canova, Space Oddity and rapper J Naugh-T.
He has toured with Taiwanese pop star Chyi-Chin and L.A. bands OWL and Ultraviolet, performed on “Last Call with Carson Daly” with Ingrid Michaelson and played the Bern Jazz Festival in Switzerland with R&B artist Niki Haris. He has recorded tracks and albums with producers Marti Frederiksen, Mark Hudson, Mikal Reid, Russ Irwin, Rob Seals, Glen Laughlin, Rob Shrock, Brian Dobbs, Klaus Derendorf, Brian Paturalski, Billy Morrison, Larry Crane and David Weisberg, including the hit single “The Real Thing” from Bo Bice.
Ryan can also be heard on releases by Foreigner, Circus Diablo, Hannah Montana, Clay Aiken, Cassie Davis, Nick Lachey, Jesse McCartney, Heather Graham, Suzie McNeil (Rock Star INXS) and Stephanie McIntosh, as well as on the movie soundtracks for Ice Age: Continental Drift (Adam Schlesinger), Kung Fu Panda (Hans Zimmer and John Powell) and The Dark Knight (Hans Zimmer). He’s performed on recordings with Alex Lifeson, Earl Slick, Elliot Easton and Rudy Sarzo.
Ryan has also appeared as a sideline musician in numerous TV shows and movies, including Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World’s End, Desperate Housewives, Jag and Samantha Who?. He plays all styles of music, including rock, R&B, jazz, ska, funk, blues, folk and country. He is on the drum faculty at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Calif., and teaches private lessons as well. A native of Denver, Colorado, he has played drums and percussion since he was 11 years old. Ryan graduated from Indiana University with a degree in jazz studies and percussion.
Gig Alerts
The JammCard app has a new tab called “Jobs” where you can see if there are job openings in your field and apply for them.
The Glastonbury Festival is happening in Pilton, UK from June 25th-29th.
The Country Stampede Festival is happening in Bonner Springs, KS from June 26th-28th.
The GroundUp Festival Alberobello is happening in Alberobello, IT from June 26th-28th.
The JAS Aspen Experience is happening in Aspen, CO from June 26th-29th
Educational Spotlight
The educational spotlight is the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, Snare competition. The deadline to enter is June 30th.
Iconic Recording
The first iconic recording is “Monkey Chant” by Glenn Kotche.
The second iconic recording is "Shirl" by Matt Chamberlain.
And the third iconic recording is “Picture 3” by Jack DeJohnette.
Music News
After the 2025 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival was canceled due to bad weather, organizers announced 75% refunds—pissing off long-time Bonnaroovians in the process. -Article
A group of state attorneys general asks a federal judge to side with PBS and NPR in the legal battle over plans to end the networks’ federal funding. -Article
Maine has enacted a sweeping new ticketing law aimed at protecting consumers from deceptive practices, excessive fees, and price gouging in the live event marketplace. -Article
Mike Dawson Interview
The song leading into the interview is called, “Rust of a Red Star“ from the album LUNR ECCOS, by Mike Dawson and Tim Vitullo.
The interview starts with Mike and Damon reminiscing about the trade show poster Damon is on for LP.
Mike talks about which writers get the job that he works with.
Mike works at Drum Factory Direct. He talks about his job duties there.
Mike also hosts the Drum Candy Podcast.
Mike wrote a new book and he talks about what is different about it and why you should get it!
Damon mentions the book that Mark Guiliana wrote.
Mike mentions the book by friend of the show, Carter McLean.
Mike mentions his Patreon Page. You can find him at any of his socials @MikeDawsonDrums.
Mike gets into his podcast development and production.
Mike mentions the snare hoop podcast episode and how well received it was.
Damon and Mike brainstorm and workshop ideas for content.
Mike talks about timing and playing in and around the beat. Damon talked a little about this with friend of the show, J.J. Johnson.
Damon and Mike talk about groove in the rhythm section.
Mike talks about playing with the click.
Mike talks about the PA Snare Competition.
Damon and Mike talk about Pennsylvania. Mike mentions the Yeti street sign in Northwest PA.
Mike teaches lesson and you can email him at: mike@drumfactorydirect.com
Damon mentions the program for teaching called Go React.
Mike picks the iconic recordings.
Mike went to see the band Deerhoof recently and talks about that experience.
Shout-out to Drum Factory Direct, David Throckmorton, Thomas Wendt,
Mike uses Bucks County Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, and ProMark Sticks.
You can follow Mike on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
The song leading out of the interview is called, “Praries and Ghosts“ from the album LUNR ECCOS, by Mike Dawson and Tim Vitullo.
