#486 M.B. Gordy- Drummer, Percussionist, Composer, Producer, and More!
This week’s guest is M.B. Gordy! M.B. is an acclaimed drummer, percussionist and educator whose credits include albums by iconic recording artists, blockbuster films, TV series, video games, and prestigious rock/pop/theatrical and orchestral live performances and tours. As a session player he is a go-to resource for the industry’s top composers and record producers.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Dr. Brian Zator! Since 2001, I’ve served as Director of Percussion at East Texas A&M University, where performing and teaching is both my career and calling. I am honored to have been named a Regents Professor, the highest honor awarded by the Texas A&M University System. My journey has taken me around the world, performing at festivals and conventions across five continents and a solo marimba concerto performance at Carnegie Hall.
An active leader within the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), I am a Past President, founder of the PAS Leadership Academy, and have served on multiple committees and international competition panels. I also served as a School Board Trustee for 12 years for the Royse City Independent School District.
Under my direction, the East Texas A&M Percussion Ensemble has twice won the prestigious PAS International Percussion Ensemble Competition (2023 and 2010) and is preparing to release its third CD in 2025. Our students and alumni thrive—earning graduate teaching assistantships, winning international contests, performing in elite ensembles, and teaching from elementary through collegiate levels—all united by our shared vision: Empowering Excellence.
Happy Birthday to Joel Rosenblatt! Joel is best known as the drummer for Spyro Gyra, one of the most successful pop-jazz groups ever. Joel’s varied early work including Dominican pianist Michel Camilo, bluesman Matt “Guitar” Murphy, jazz artist Paquito D’Rivera, and country-rock band Pure Prairie League, has given him a wide range of experience as well as making him one of the most diverse drummers around.
Having toured the world many times over, Joel brings an international musical awareness to the music. Currently the owner and main engineer at world class CliffSound Productions, Joel is also actively involved in producing and cultivating new artists. Below is a partial list of credits:
Bill Evans, Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, Chieli Minucci and Special EFX, Ken Navarro, Oz Noy, Chuck Loeb, Mike Manieri, Steve Khan, Randy Brecker, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Russel Ferrante, Michel Camilo , Bernie Williams, Eliane Elias, Michael Davis, Peter White, Manhattan Transfer and many more.
Gig Alerts
There are new job openings posted by friend of the show, Jeffrey Barudin on his website.
International Jazz Day is being celebrated in Chicago this year on April 30th.
The Beachlife Festival is happening in Redondo Beach, CA on May 1-3.
Damon will be at Jazz Fest in New Orleans this weekend with Ziggy Marley.
Educational Spotlight
There are upcoming Day of Percussion events for the month of May through the Percussive Arts Society’s various chapters.
There are also other deadlines happening by the end of April. Go to PAS dot org to jump on it!
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording for the week was chosen by M.B. It is “There’s a Rhythm” by Bon Iver from the ‘SABLE, fABLE’ album.
Music News
Michael moonwalks to new heights for biopics of all kinds with a record-smashing $97 million domestic opening, beating Straight Outta Compton. -Article
Live Nation announces Summer of Live, kicking off with a week of $30 tickets to over 4,000 shows, spanning numerous genres in venues of all sizes. -Article
M.B. Gordy Interview
The song leading into the interview is, “NO WAHALA” by Matt B, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Matthew Benson, and Buguma Mark from the ‘ALKEBULAN II’ album.
Damon mentions meeting M.B. at a music conference.
They talk about his full name, Marvin Bounds Gordy III.
M.B. grew up in Salisbury, MD. That is not where Salisbury steak is from.
M.B. talks about his drumming began.
M.B. talks about his first paid gig at age 16.
M.B.’s first live concert was Jimi Hendrix.
M.B. attended Towson State University for a year. After that he attended Glassboro State University which is now Rowan University.
M.B. went to grad school at Cal Arts and studied with John Bergamo.
M.B. traveled to Germany during college to visit his sister. He talks about that adventure.
Damon brings up studying abroad and traveling.
After Germany M.B. spent time playing gigs in Philly.
M.B. talks about studying with Joel Thome.
He also got turned onto world percussion by seeing Colin Walcott. He studied Ewe drumming and two styles of Gamelan.
M.B. talks about getting into film music and Emil Richards.
M.B. has his own studio called Riot Drum Studio. He mentions one of the films he recorded on from there.
Damon mentions the varied genres M.B. plays in.
M.B. talks about working with John Williams on a film score.
Damon brings up the “Beat of the Traps” that M.B. did at the MoMA and will be doing at the MoCA.
M.B. talks about his current and upcoming projects.
M.B. mentions this Keith Moon book.
Crystal Aura Music is project created by MB Gordy and Don Dailey dedicated to composing music for meditation, relaxation, yoga, and lullaby.
M.B. talks about his audition story for Frank Zappa.
Shout-out to Chad Wackerman, Ed Mann, and Ruth Underwood.
M.B. picks the iconic recording.
Be on the lookout for more from this Phil Collins project.
Shout-out to John Bergamo and Joel Thome. Shout-out to Sir Simon Rattle and Gustavo Dudamel and the many composers M.B. has been fortunate to work with.
Shout-out to friend of the show, Alex Acuña.
M.B. mentions some other influential recordings.
You can follow M.B. on his Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
The song leading out of the interview is, “Caravan” by Opium Moon, from the album with the same name as the band.
