St. Louis' Own Drummer

Description:

Screen Name:

St. Louis' Own Drummer

Sex:

M

Age:

46

Studio Musician:

Yes

Level Of Commitment:

Very Committed

Years Playing Music:

30

Gigs Played:

Over 100

Tend to Practice:

More than 3 times per week

Available to Gig:

6-7 time(s) per week

Most available:

Mornings

ST. LOUIS' OWN DRUMMER...

Rod Lamour (the french name in our family which was used as a stage name)

ROD LAMOUR
Bio Music Playing History
Musical Timeline: 1970 - 1980 - 1990 - 2000 - Updated
Rod's Teachers:
Rod started playing at the age of 15, it was the same year Gene Krupa died. Since that year Rod has always felt a special sense of gratitude and appreciation for His style of playing. Rod played in Jazz Lab Band.. also playing outside of school with the orginal "Keytones-Second Time Around (jazz)" (Richard Smith, Dan Jersan, Dennis DeQuette, Susan Smith) Band at Lake St. Louis Country Club every weekend! Rod had a unique opportunity to jam every Saturday at a local all day music hangout... the experience was fantastic for Rod! He studied most days from 3:00pm M-F after school till 9 or 10:00pm. His parents were obviously in support. For Rod's High School he played before the assembly Chicago's "25 or 6 to 4" (Drummer Danny Seraphine - Chicago's rendition)and also sang the popular hit "Color My World."

Rod studied privately with percussionists Bob Matheny [Joe Bozzi Band], Joe Buerger [River City Ramblers], Carl Albright [Hosanna Integrity Music Tom Brooks], Kevin Gianino [Wester University playing currently Gary Dammer Big Band]. Rod is more of a 'Natural' Drummer though has been taught by some of this areas best drummers... Rod; "I think I have tried to learn, listening, and watching the greats...myself I'm still learning (I have personally met many) but all that effort never makes up for the 'Natural' gift from God that is within us... Gene and Buddy talked about the topic and others who were 'Naturally Gifted'drummers outside of themselves." "Some people on the fly can just pick up the sticks and do this thing,and I love when the spontaneous happens... the 'Natural' gift flows an the unexpected excels it makes the 'Naturally' gifted stand out head and shoulders from the rest...Oh,now I'm back quoting from Gene and Buddy, but its so true"...

Rod's Timeline - Music Career:
Rod was a student of Bob Matheny and Joe Buerger here in town. Dave Weckl and I were students together at that time with Joe Buerger. Rod was one of Joe's best students. Rod also studied with Carl Albright and Kevin Gianino after that.

Rod started playing drums here in St. Louis at the age of 15 and shortly was playing at the Lake St. Louis Country Club each week with the original "Keytones". During his early days Rod also played with such bands as "Rain 3" Beatle Type Rockin-Roll Band(Yaw, Powers, Lamour)..also "Raw Birch"(the Betsy Bircher Band). Roddy played with the original "Full House" Band (Berges, Dugan, Dugan, Lamour)." Rod subbed for Joe Buerger when he was booked up locally. Rod played on both the "St. Louis Admiral" and "The Spirit of St. Charles" River Boat (Ragtime Boys - Dan Stevens)
, being interviewed by the St. Louis Post Dispatch and Journals on His music. Rod was Nashville Country Artist "Buddy Keele's" Main & Favorite Drummer in St. Louis. Rod also sang backup for the Buddy Keele Band (Xavers off the Lindberg strip by STL Airport). The "Buddy Keele Band" was competing with the Rod Scott Band, & Nick Nixon Band and was written up several times in the Post Dispatch of which Rod was named as Buddy's drummer.
Rod has played Christian Music & Worship at Grace Church St. Louis in the 80s with Kent Henry and others. Rod as the band leader played with guitarist/songwriter Steven Nelson and bass player Sam Bailey, and singer/songwriter Laura Bidwell in a group called Celestial.
Rod led and played on "The Spirit of St. Charles" Riverboat with His "Gospel" music group called; "Beth Boshert (singer) & The Good News." "The Good News" (Clark, Melton, Moore, Lamour 1987) were written up in the Post Dispatch and 52 other local news papers on their fine playing- the heading entitled: "Rollin On The River - A Cruise With Spirit!"

Rod has played drums here in town with a vast amount of bands which would include world class musicians... bands such as with Blueberry JAM, (Dugan Brothers BB King type blue music/ Yard Birds type rhythm and blues), Jim Powers Band (Power Rock Group), Jazz Guitarist/ Bass Player - Glen Smith (Departure), Raw Birch (Singer Artist) Betsy Bircher band (Eddy Frits' singer STL) recently backup singer with Ken Hesley -Glimps of Glory and her own new Cd "Believe on the road to Damascus"), Guitarist Bob Berges & Orginal "Full-House Band," Nashville Country Artist - Buddy Keele, The Pat Holt Singers, Spirit of St. Charles Ragtime Boys, The Good News - (Lamour,Carson,Moore,Stevens), Dan Brown's Dixieland Band (on the down town Admiral river boat), Guitarist Doug Carson of the (Bob Kuban Band),Guitarist-Banjo-Clarinet Buddy West (Dan Stevens), Blues Guitarist Steve Nelson, Keyboardist -Phil Gomez of Clav Sol,The Funk-Band, 'Doc' Jim Evans (Bass Player touring with Merle Hagard, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, 38 Special)also has played with Bass player "Michael Liss" (with internationally known Blues Star -Boo Boo Davis) and has played modern Christian music and worship, (Jazz Worship with The Good News), played with well know organist (StL) "Denise Denny," (Worship Artists "Kent Henry," "Steven Burket," "Mary Wetzel," "Aaron Latina," "Corey Pursley," "Kingsley Walker" and "Scott Bowels") Modern Contemporary Worship Styles.... Contemporary Spirit Lead Worship/Black Gospel/ Southern Gospel, etc. for large Mega-Church and Churches in the STL area. Rod has played with the largest (a 16 piece worship orchestra) at Living Word Ministries (Full Gospel Pentecostal - Arkansas) [South County] not to leave out LWM's modern youth band "Zube" totally modern worship style! (171 passionate worship performances which ran 1 year and 2 months at Living Word Ministries) Rod has been played at Grace World Outreach (Grace Church STL), Liberty Christian Center (Independent), Church of God, Assemblies of God, Calvary Church... (Evangelical Free), Discovery Church (Independent),Hope Lutheran ELCA,
Living Waters Ministries (AIGA), The 'Life' Church House Of Prayer, (including The Gathering -Friday Night) ... Rod has his own band project which include different players locally from which he does yearly worship projects... In 2008 he aspires to do more ... looking for other dedicated musicians.
Now Rod sometimes gigs around town musically... continuing playing with many outstanding professionals...

Special Comments:
UK Guitarist/Vocalist /Electric Violinist "Tim Roberts" which has played with Rod is quoted here... coining the phrase - "Rod Lamour is John Bonham meets Praise & Worship!" ... "Roberts" is only expressing what he saw and heard in Rod's drumming which was nothing short of "Pure Power, Passion and Feeling!" "Rod can be very powerful or very sensitive, and always a taste player"...
One of Rod's Favorite Worship Drummers is Terl Bryant which replaced Bonham with Led Zepland... played for Iona and many others. Worship drummers encourage each other.
Terl is founder of UK's "Psalm Drummers"... and Carlos Benson is founder of Nationally based -"Drummers For Jesus U.S.A." Rod highly endorses them both for skill, encouragement and spiritual perspective.
[Christian] Influences: Terl Bryant (Iona, Edens Bridge, John Paul Jones) Duncan Phillips (Newsboys), David Carr (Third-Day), Art Gonzales (Salvador), Alex Acuna (Koinonia and others)
[Rock] Influences: Ronny Tut (Elvis),Peter Rivera (Rare Earth), Danny Seraphine (Chicago),Stewart Copeland (Police) Larry Mullins Jr.( U2),Neil Pert (Rush),Steve Smith (Journey),
Joe English (Wings), Abe Laboriel Jr. (McCartney)....
[Jazz] Influences: Krupa,Rich,Bellson,Shaughnessy,Morello,Burns,Gadd ...

Rod approaches each project with different perspectives
relative to each style and feel that is needed for the groove.

Comments Before, During, and After Playing

Jim Powers (Known in the U.S.A.- Rock Guitarist)
"Rod is my personal friend and as creative a drummer that you will find musically."

Cindy Dugan (Singer-Actress) "From a Singer-Actress point of view, Rod has a 'theatrical ear' which hears the big build-up dramatics of the songs I would sing."

Norman Gerike (STL Keyboardist - also Southwest Christian Church Music Director)..."I grew up with Roddy... I saw him through the years develop into one of the fine drummers of our area... I remember Roddy doing some fancy drum fills (to Neil Diamond Songs)including some bass drum kicks when I auditioned him for our group."

Besty Bircher (Known in the U.S.A. - Singer) "Roddy backed me with 'rim shot' drive."

Dan Stevens (STL "Buddy West" Guitar/Banjo/Clarinet) - "I have personally recommended Rod to people I have known that needed a drummer with a 'Kicking' downbeat."

Vince Clark (STL Bass Player) "Rod and I locked in the first time we played together."

Kent Henry (Vocalist/Keyboard/Guitar/Songwriter/Worship Leader - "Rod... you really play in the Spirit."

Carla Riehl (Super singer) - "Rod you play good" (Celestial Band) ...

Glen Smith (Super Jazz Bass & Guitar player) "I always liked Rod's playing, he's very innovative in his playing."

Doc (Jim) Evans (STL Bass Player)"Rod... my favorite is Buddy, I personally like your playing... and I like those special sticks you use... you definitely got it going on kid...or else you wouldn't be playing here!"

Pat Holt (Pat Holt Singers) - "Rod your doing a fantastic job"..

Phil Gomez (Keyboard Extrodinare -Clava Sol) - "Rod makes the music..
so much feeling comes through those sticks.. his phrasing.. I love the way he plays it."

Bill Gerdel (STL Trumpet - Mr. HIGH NOTES!)"Rod is one of the finest drummers I have known or played with... and a great fellow to work with."

Bill Oliver ("Sassy Jazz" Trumpet -Dixieland Style) "'Sticks'...(as Bill calls Rod).. always plays it cool!"

Michael Liss (Mr."In-There" Bass Guitar St. Louis) "Rod is solid, he's right there making the groove happen."

Aaron Latina (STL Worship Leader - Music Director/Vocalist -Keyboardist) ... Rod, I like those off beat (Celtic) accents you do (Doxology Theme).

Corey Pursley (STL Worship Leader - Music Director/Vocalist -Guitarist) ... Rod loves the Spirit of God... he is a true worshiper of Jesus.

Mike Mora (Lead Guitarist-Songwriter) ..."I'm into the music...you groove!"

Kingsley Walker (STL Worship Leader- Music Director/ Vocalist/Keyboardist)..."that's...some good percussion playing!" (Rod playing 8 piece conga set)

Scott Bowles (STL Worship Leader,Singer,Guitarist) ...Rod - "You're right in there!"... (Rod spots Scott looking over his shoulder every time he does something special."

His Hand Drum Playing
Rod also plays various hand drums which include: (thai) ramwong (means: festival sm.drum - twoheaded),spanish bottle drum (like UDU or IBO type vessel drum), native indian drums,jembe (african), doumbek (mid-east), bodhram (frame drum), congas, cahun (means: fat conga -wood crate south-america), india bells, shells, ratan, taptan, and other percussions instruments as a backup player behind local acoustic musicians in smaller groups.

Past Playing In "Sit-Ins"
Rod loves playing in "sit-ins"local jazz jam sessions around STL...("The Dan Band" (Dan Thacz), and ...playing music melodic romantic love songs from the past 50's-60's and 70's...

Rod is now doing mostly Contemporary Christian Music and Worship at this time... which is his love and forte! He loves to write, play and sing Christian music. He is available for studio recording projects.

His Scheduled Bookings...
Are you looking for a band? Book Rod's band ...
Looking a Drummer for your band? /A Sub Drummer for a night or week? Rod is versatile in different styles of music.
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CHECK OUT MY DRUM TRACK GROOVES!

Consider Rod for your project...
My Experienced ... My time.. My playing out... I'm local to the St. Louis Metro and Surrounding Areas...
Check me out at an audition... call me if you are looking for a drummer just call 6363669673 give me all your details... email or Yahoo IM is beat_of_heaven ... I do play regularly out.. so booking me into your band gig is a call me as soon as possible situation.

Thanks,

Drummer Rod Lamour

Influences:

Straight ahead great back beat.. improvise according to what is creatively happening or song calls for... can play all styles ...

Audio/Video Downloads

1. (Grooves) Valley of Megedo! By Rod Lamour.mp3