Deeper Digs: Kiss the Sky - Jimi Hendrix Special Pt. 2
Part 2 of Deeper Digs’ celebration of Jimi Hendrix! Christian this time sits down with two greats that worked with Jimi, drummer Carmine Appice and percussionist Gerardo Valez.
CARMINE APPICE
"Carmine Appice, the creator of heavy rock drumming as we know it" - Drummer Magazine, UK
“Carmine Appice set the foundation for heavy drumming, before Bonham, before Ian Paice, before anyone else.” - Rick Van Horn, Modern Drummer
One of the premier showmen in rock, Appice became known worldwide for his astonishing live performances, in addition to becoming a highly sought-after session drummer, recording with countless artists throughout his career. In ‘76, he joined Rod Stewart‘s band, touring, recording and writing two of Stewart‘s biggest hits, “Do Ya Think I‘m Sexy’ and “Young Turks.’ He left Stewart to record his first solo album, “Rockers’, and tour Japan and North America with an allstar band. . In the early 80’s, he toured with OZZY Osborne ,Ted Nugent . In the mid 80’s, he formed King Kobra for two Capitol albums and international touring And in the late 80’s, Carmine played on a Pink Floyd record “Momentary Lapse of Reason’ and formed Blue Murder with Whitesnake‘s John Sykes and The Firm‘s Tony Franklin. In the early 90s, he pounded away soul-style for The Edgar Winter Group.
As an educator, Carmine was the first to legitimize rock drumming with his landmark book, The Realistic Rock Drum Method, selling over 400,000 copies (now in video format). He was the first Rock Drummer and Rock Musician to conduct instructional clinics and symposiums around the world.
https://www.carmineappice.net/index.php#about
GERARDO VALEZ
It's a little concert you might have heard of? Woodstock Music and Art Festival in 1969. When Jimi Hendrix took the stage and pointed to the crowd of thousands, sitting right behind him was his percussionist; Gerardo Velez.
Gerardo "Jerry" Velez said, "It was my birthday, and my first professional performance, and I was playing with the greatest guitarist in rock and roll history Jimi Hendrix?.what a weekend!"
"The right place at the right time" has guided Gerardo's legacy in life. Mr. Velez went on to perform with such luminaries as David Bowie, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Destiny's Child, Stevie Nicks, Chaka Khan, Marc Anthony and countless others. Then he was poised for greatness as an original member of the Best Selling Contemporary Jazz Groups of all time Spyro Gyra, garnering multiple Gold and Platinum recording awards, also best new group of 1978, several number one hit songs, Billboard Magazine's Jazz Band of the 80's and 14 Grammy Nominations.
Mr. Velez's event company Gerardo Velez Productions (GVP) has been producing hundreds of shows and events since 1981. Nationally and internationally creating events, gala's, concerts, festivals for such clients as New York Stock Exchange, The Security Traders Association of New York, Bank of America, HBO, Comedy Central, SAP Software, Time Warner, Donna Karan, Chopard Jewelry, Mirimax Films, and Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino just to mention a few.
Mr. Velez's charitable work endeavors have been legendary having collaborated with President William Clinton, Mikhail Gorbachev, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Queen Nora, Lady Ferguson Duchess of York, Dan Rather, Bill Cosby, Michael Jackson, Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Russian Prime Minister Dimitri Medvedev and other worldly power brokers.