#494 Anthony Almonte- Percussionist, Vocalist, Composer, and More!
A singer and percussionist, Anthony Almonte was born June of 1992 in New York City. As a child, Anthony'ís parents placed him in many activities, one of those being music at the age of 6, after showing much interest in "bomba" and "plena" rhythms during the holidays in Puerto Rico. Since then, he has studied with music greats such as Angel Ruben Rodriguez, Little Johnny Rivero, and Charlie Lagond, as he began performing live in New York at the age of 10. In his young career, Anthony has incorporated the Latin percussion instruments with carious styles and genres. As a vocalist who plays percussion simultaneously, Anthony'ís energetic performance and stage presence offer a breathtaking experience to audiences.
He is currently touring with "Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul" (Steven Van Zandt), and toured over the past four years with Kid Creole and the Coconuts. Anthony has recorded as a percussionist/vocalist for Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Little Johnny Rivero & NY Cartel, Edwin Bonilla y Su Son, and New York-based salsa bands Grupo Arcano and Los Hacheros. Anthony also recorded on Little Steven'ís latest single and music video, Merry Christmas (I Don'ít Want to Fight Tonight). Anthony was featured in a weeklong series of shows, ending on New Year'ís Eve, with the Carlos Henriquez Octet at Dizzy'ís Club Coca-Cola in New York City.
At a young age, he has already performed with a wide breadth of artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Peter Wolf, Paquito D'íRivera, Andy Montanez, and Dave Valentin. He participated in August Darnell'ís musical "Cherchez La Femme". In 2013, he also performed alongside star-dancers D'íAngelo and Amanda on "America'ís Got Talent." At Thalia Spanish Theater, he performed in Cali Salsa Pal Mundo'ís sold-out hit "History of Salsa", as well as AfroTango with world renowned bandoneonist Raul Jaurena.
Happy Birthday!
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 Kana Omori! Kana is an international marimbist and percussionist from Japan.
Kana has been awarded several prizes, including First Prize at the International Music Competition in Kobe, Japan in 2006 and the First Prize and Absolute Prize at the International Percussion Competition in Italy, in 2010, where she was also awarded a special prize from jury member N. J. Zivkovic. In 2011, she was awarded the Cultural Prize of the City of Kyoto.
Kana has performed as a marimba soloist with many orchestras throughout Japan and has appeared on several Japanese music television and radio broadcasts.
Having released six albums of marimba music. And her newest album, Gifts Of The Wood, has got an “Semi-Specialty Aword” in Japanese record magazine. Kana is always interested in performing, recording and premiering new works written for her. Her 7th album is coming soon. She has also published a collection of essays My Dreams and many books of her arrangements, include “Masterpieces of Classical Music on Marimba” by HCO Music. Kana’s many arrangements are published by Edition Svitzer.
Kana has given recitals, master classes and clinics around Europe, the USA, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, and Argentina. She was a member of the jury for the final round of The Japan Classical Music Competition. She has been a member of faculty and jury of The International Marimbafest Festival and Competition in Australia since 2019.
Kana completed both her Masters of Music and graduate studies at the Osaka College of Music. Additionally, Ms. Omori completed a Masters of Music at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, Germany, where she studied with a percussion legend, Dr. Peter Sadlo.
Kana is an international artist of Adams Percussion, Encore Mallets, Inc/Salyers Percussion, Aluphone, and Sabian Cymbals. Kana has her own signature line of mallets “Kana Omori Signature Mallets Series” with Encore Mallets, Inc. Fall Creek Marimbas designed a special glockenspiel model named after Kana Omori - the “KANA-Glock”. And, Adams Percussion has made a special pink colored marimba for her.
Now she is a tourist ambassador in Ishinomaki, Miyagi, Japan as well as a presenter of her radio program “Kana’s Marimba Twitting”. Starting in April of 2023, she is a lecturer of the Osaka College of Music.
Happy Birthday to Mike Zellers! Michael currently serves as the Director of Percussion at Leander High School in Leander, TX. In addition to working with the high school students at Leander, Michael is also the percussion director at Running Brushy Middle School. Zellers received his Master in Music Performance from the University of Delaware and his Bachelor’s Degree from West Chester University.
Michael Zellers is currently the electronics designer for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle corps form Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to joining Boston’s staff, Michael served on the percussion staff of The Cadets from 2011-2015. He served as a front ensemble technician from 2011-2013 and the Electronics designer from 2013-2015. During his time with The Cadets, the corps won their 10th DCI World Championship in 2011 and The Cadets Percussion section received the Fred Sanford Award for Best Percussion Performance in 2013. In addition to his most recent work with the Cadets, Zellers has worked with the Jersey Surf and Reading Buccaneers.
Happy Birthday to Cami Kies! Camellia Akhamie Kies is the founder and CEO of Akhamie Music, LLC & Beach Drum Shed ™, she is a military veteran, a graduate from the Navy School of Music, and a graduate from the University of Maryland University College. She currently holds a BS in Digital Media & Web Technology, a minor in Business Administration, and a Certification in Management Foundations
Born in Heidelberg, Germany in 1989, Camellia expressed deep interest in music from a very young age. During High School she began to study drums and percussion privately with Myles Overton III from The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own". For several years during and after High School Overton mentored and trained Camellia in all areas of drums and percussion.
In June 2008 Camellia graduated from Woodbridge Senior High School, and shortly after receiving her diploma she auditioned and was accepted into the United States Navy Music Program, she served 6 years in the US Navy Fleet Band as a full time drummer and percussionist, she lived in Yokosuka, Japan for the majority of her service and while she was stationed there she traveled the Pacific Rim performing in over fifteen countries with the US Navy 7th Fleet Band.
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 Heather Thorn! She is a xylophonist in Orlando, FL where she performs with her band Vivacity and as a freelance percussionist. She holds a degree in Music Performance with a minor in Theatre from Ithaca College. In 2019 and 2022, she was featured with Vivacity as the headline act for the I Love Jazz International Jazz Festival in Brazil. She was also a guest soloist with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in 2021 for the Holiday Pops concert. Heather has been featured as a guest artist with Michael Andrew and Swingerhead, Carol Stein, the John Depaola quartet and as an opening act for the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
As band leader of Vivacity, she frequently performs for swing dances and at renowned Central Florida venues including Timucua Arts White House and the Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts; in 2018 she gave a concert at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Heather wrote and performs her musical stage show Nostalgia Radio Hour- featuring an original script with classic tunes from the 1920’s- 1950’s, and characters inspired from the Golden Age of Radio. She also leads a jazz quartet at the Sea World Christmas Celebration and subs with the Walt Disney World Orchestra.
Heather has performed for the Suncoast Jazz Festival and New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival as well as several arts festivals and community events all over Central Florida. She regularly features jazz luminaries such as Adrian Cunningham, Ed Metz, and Charlie Bertini as guests with the band. Heather has a private teaching studio of 25 students and is a clinician in several schools along with co-directing the Trinity Prep School percussion program. Additionally, she has given master classes and/or performed at Virginia Tech and the universities of South, Central and North Florida.
Heather has a passionate interest in the history of xylophone and is working with Bill Cahn on a project to digitize and preserve nearly 1500 recordings of xylophone and percussion music from 1898-1929. She has attended the Leigh Howard Stevens Marimba Seminar and was on faculty for the Bob Becker Ragtime Institute in 2014. Her teachers have included Gordon Stout and Bob Becker.
Gig Alerts
Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind, and Fire are touring from June 24th-August 14th for the Sing-a-Song, All Night Long tour.
Anthony Almonte has an album release show on July 9th at Jazz @ Lincoln Center. Friends of the show Marcos Lopez, Jhair Sala, and Camilo Molina are playing timbales, bongos, and congas respectively.
Friend of the show, Jeffrey Barudin has a bunch of gigs available as well as graduate TA positions and more on his website.
Damon is about a week into the Brightside tour with Ziggy Marley. Come say hi if they are coming near you.
Educational Spotlight
PASIC prices have gone up as of June 16th. Register now before the next price increase on Sept 1st.
You can also renew your PAS membership to get a discounted price as well as reserve your hotel room.
If you want to dive deeper into reggae drumming, check out this video from Drumeo below.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording was chosen by Anthony. it is “Working Day and Night” by Michael Jackson from the album ‘Off the Wall’. You can check out the rest of the personnel by CLICKING HERE.
Music News
Live Nation unveils $99 four-packs of tickets to certain shows throughout North America this summer, going on now until July 17 while supplies last. -Article
The Recording Academy announces some changes ahead of the next Grammy Awards, including five new categories and Best New Artist changes. -Article
Anthony Almonte Interview
The song leading into the interview is, “Rompecorazones” by Anthony Almonte, Alexander Abreu, Jonathan Montes, Juan Cosme, and Leider Chapotin from the album ‘Conversando Con La Luna’
The interview starts with Anthony talking about having a place to decompress off tour to avoid burnout.
Anthony talks about playing in both Little Steven Van Zandt’s band (and the disciples of soul) and Bruce Springsteen’s band (and the E Street band).
Anthony talks about his singing as well.
Shout-out to friend of the show, Everett Bradley.
Shout-out to friend of the show, Kevin Ricard and his new abum.
Anthony talks about being a front person vs. being a side person.
Anthony mentions playing on Sirus/XM.
Damon mentions Pedrito Martinez’s melodic conga playing.
Anthony talks about his songwriting process.
Anthony teases a forthcoming tour/residency in support of this album.
Anthony has a signature series line of drums with Toca Percussion.
Anthony tallks about the specs for his drums. Damon goes into more detail about drum spec differences.
Damon and Anthony talk about imposter syndrome.
Shout-out to friends of the show, Marc Quiñones and Karl Perazzo.
Anthony talks fitness. Damon mentions the NY Times 7 Min Workout.
Anthony talks fashion. He mentions the now discontinued AG waxed jeans that you can find on poshmark.
Some of the other artists Anthony names are Edwin Bonilla or Maxwell, Michael Jackson, or his current boss Bruce Spingsteen.
Anthony uses Toca percussion instruments, Zildjian Cymbals and Sticks, Cympad, SE microphones, Audio 64.
Shout-out to Angel Ruben Rodriguez, Charlie Lagond, and Lil Johnny Rivero, and Eddie Montalvo.
