Story by Steven Douglas Losey
Photos by Rick Malkin Page 2

MD: How did you develop your style?
David: By basically listening to a lot of different drummers and a lot of different music. I was real fortunate to be exposed to a ton of music at an early age. I'm the youngest of four, so I grew up with a lot of different kinds of music being played all around the house. I really gravitated towards guys who were extremely musical and who always played for the song, like Steve Gadd, Jeff Porcaro, Russ Kunkel, and Carlos Vega.
   I remember When I was young, I was intrigued by certain artists like Michael McDonald, Toto, Steely Dan, Queen, and Genesis. If I liked a song, I would investigate the album credits to find out who was playing. I became a credit junkie. It's funny, because I was listening to intricate stuff like Steely Dan way before I played the drums. What drew me to stuff like that was the smorgasbord of drummers - Bernard Purdie, Rick Marotta, and Ed Greene. I listened to so much Ed Greene around my house, because my mom was a big Barry White fan.
MD: What style best reflects your personal groove?
David: I love all styles, but if I had to pick two that I dug playing, it would probably be R&B and pop rock. The drummers I've emulated the most, the ones I've been drawn to, are definitely from that vein. I enjoy playing that kind of music the most.
MD: How do you best practice playing for the song?
David: By listening and playing with "big ears". Being "song supportive" is what I've always believed in and been into. I'm an honest, down-to-earth kind of guy. When I do drum clinics, one of the things I've always tried to expose young people to is that it's incredibly important to play for the song and for the groove. Sometimes that's overlooked by young players, because they want to be the fastest or they want to display great chops. They want to be involved in drumnastics - the fastest, the quickest, whatever.
   Great technique is important, and it shouldn't be overlooked or downplayed. But it's not all there is to being a musician. It's vitally important that ninety percent of what we do is accompaniment. You have to play as "song supportive" as possible. It needs to be the focus of your playing.

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