Drum Channel Podcast Don Lombardi

Hello everyone, Billy Amendola here.
 
My guest today Fred Coury is mostly known as the drummer from the eighties MTV-multi-platinum-band Cinderella. 
 
Coury and Cinderella parted ways in 1991 and Fred joined Stephen Pearcy of Ratt to form the band Arcade and record two albums. 
 
Fred also briefly substituted for GnR’s drummer Steven Adler in 1987 when health issues forced Adler off the road.
 
At age five, Coury started taking violin lessons and by age six, studied at the Beirut Conservatory of Music in Beirut, Lebanon. At age ten, he added the trumpet to his repertoire, and at age twelve he started playing the drums. Shortly after, as a teen, Coury was accepted to Berklee School of Music in Boston, for violin.
These days Coury spends most of his time in his Los Angeles recording studio, Double Forte Music, composing as an Emmy multi-award-winning composer for top television shows and sports teams. 
In 2021, Coury also co-produced pop sensation and singer/songwriter Debbie Gibson’s “The Body Remembers” 
An avid hockey fan, Coury combined his love of the sport with his musical skills to create the “Goal Song” theme for the LA Kings hockey team. 
Let’s welcome Fred. Enjoy! 

Hello everyone! Billy A. here with my guest Cole Marcus, who is no stranger to our Drum Channel audience.

I remember meeting and seeing Cole mesmerize a crowd at a NAMM SHOW when he was four years old, which doesn’t sound odd these days, but over two decades ago, it wasn’t as common as now.

These days, now twenty-five years old, Cole has released a new single “Cause & Effect,” which he wrote, recorded, sang, as well as playing all the instruments.  

In this segment, we talk about recording, songwriting, his early years appearing in movies, and TV commercials, and transitioning into composing for films.

Let’s welcome Cole back to Drum Channel. Enjoy!

Hello everyone, Billy Amendola here on Drum Channel with my long-time friend and R&B/Soul legend Earl Young. 
 
Earl, known as the founder and singer of the group The Trammps, (and recording drummer) took the disco world to the mainstream pop charts with their smash hit “Disco Inferno” among others. 
 
Always having success as both a vocalist as well as a drummer, many didn’t realize that Earl, along with the rhythm section, of the late, Ronnie Baker and Norman Harris, created what’s known as TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)
 
Along with producers/songwriters Gamble & Huff, the trio went on to record classic R&B/Soul hits throughout the 70s. Creating a sound all their own. 
 
When the Baker, Harris, and Young hit-making machine stretched out to form MFSB and Salsoul Orchestra, the trio took their trademark sound with them. 
 
Let’s listen in on how Earl’s career started from his early childhood to his teens, to an adult, to a now young 84-year-old, who’s still out playing and touring with his version of Earl Young and The Trammps. This show is a history lesson for sure. Enjoy! 

Hello everyone! John Cowsill is back, and this time he brought his beautiful wife Vicki. 
 
Most of you on Drum Channel should be familiar with John’s career, he’s been drumming almost as long as he’s been walking. 
 
We’re going to talk about his appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show at age eight years old with his family band The Cowsills, and their hit song, “The Rain The Park and Other Things” (which most people know as “The Flower Girl” song.) and also the inspiration for the popular TV show The Partridge Family and more. 
 
We speak to Vikki about her group The Bangles, featuring Debbi Peterson (Vicki’s sister) on drums & vocals, Susanna Hoffs on guitar & vocals, and bassist Micki Steele (who before joining in 1983, was in The Runaways for a minute) replacing original and now current bassist Annette Zilinaskas.
 
The female foursome went on to become one of the most popular bands of the eighties with hits, “Manic Monday,” Walk Like an Egyptian,” Eternal Flame,” and “Hazy Shade of Winter,” along with sold-out tours all over the world.
 
Vicki’s sister Debbi also joins us, via Zoom, to talk about her experience as the drummer/singer in the Bangles, getting started, a few of her influences, and more. 
 
Happy New Year! Let's enjoy! 

Hello, my Drum Channel family! Billy Amendola here in my “Bubble” with, our special guest, superstar Rick Astley. 
 
Before exploding on the pop charts in the 1980s, Astley was playing drums in bands and singing from behind the kit. Once he stepped out front, a new calling began. He was labeled one of the best singers to come out of the U.K. and take America by storm with his powerhouse vocal style with his two number-one hits, “Never Gonna Give You Up” and “Together Forever.” 
 
Working for songwriters/producers Stock, Aitken, and Waterman, the most successful songwriting and producing teams of the 80s, scoring more than 100 UK top 40 hits and selling over 40 million records, Rick became an international star. 
 
In 1993, Rick took a six-year hiatus to take a break from stardom to raise a family. He was itching to return after seeing how much he was missed and respected in the industry by writing, recording, and playing all the instruments in his home studio as a present to himself, turning 50 years old. 
 
He has since released new music, played huge shows, and found out Dave Grohl and one of his favorite bands, the Foo Fighters, were huge fans. 
 
Rick talks about his insight into the songwriting and recording process, as well as his continued passion for playing drums. 
 
Listen to this one with your family and friends. Enjoy the words & music. 

Hello Hello! Billy Amendola in my “Bubble” with today’s guest, who is not only one of the most respected musicians/producers on the planet, but he’s also been a mentor, an inspiration, and a dear friend to me for decades.
He appeared on the scene in NYC from Michigan as a drummer and teacher. A few of his students include Omar Hakim, the late Tony Thompson, and many others who launched successful careers.
At 21, he joined the Mahavishnu Orchestra on the recommendation of their previous drummer (who was at the top of his game with the title “greatest drummer”), the one and only Billy Cobham.


Now a band-member, he goes from the road into the studio to work on the next Mahavishnu album with John McLaughlin, Jan Hammer, and legendary Beatles producer George Martin.   
A few years later, he took the world by storm on the dance floor by releasing his solo album; singing, writing, producing, and playing, and he became a star in his own right.
 
If that wasn’t enough, a few years later, he became one of the world’s Top Ten producers of all time, crafting number-one hits for Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Cindy Blackman, the list goes on and on.
 
With Multiple hit records, Grammy after Grammy, as a band leader, solo artist, producer, singer/songwriter, spiritual leader, and drummer, touring with Jeff Beck, Journey, and his band, there’s nothing the man can’t do.
 
We catch up to discuss his latest album “Euphoria” and more. Please welcome Narada Michael Walden back to Drum Channel. Enjoy!