Perry Senn

26

Freelance Musician, Educator, Author

Hello Drummers, Musicians, and Everybody,

So,  

I have been playing, recording, touring, and teaching on drums and percussion for over 30 years professionally.

I grew up in Northwestern WI.(a small town near St Paul, MN.)-My father was my jr. High band director. He was inspirational to many, including me. I garnered many rudimental awards early on at Regional and State music competitions.

I started college at Green Bay University for my first two years of college. Studying classical percussion. Then an opportunity to attend another college came up. I ended up transferring to and finishing my degree (changing to the Jazz Studies and Performance program)  and graduating from William Paterson University in N.J. (Besides noted for its Jazz Program, It's just across the river from NYC-where all the jazz masters were playing nightly!)

After a year out of college -I moved with my then-fiance to Phoenix. Mainly putting us closer to both our families... and there was a busy music scene that I thought I may be able to break into. It turned out to be a good move for a young (not yet very experieinced drummer) as my formative playing years developed in Phoenix, AZ. I was soon regularly playing 6-10 gigs and teaching over a dozen drum students, a week.

Two dear friends and fellow drummers of mine worked the studio gigs that Phoenix had. Part of my decision to eventually move to LA.

That led me to ultimately work with and play on stages with several of my musical heroes (most publically recognized)- The legendary Chuck Berry; Alex Ligertwood-(long-time vocalist for Santana), Jack Sheldon-(TV fame and jazz recording star); Rob Chiarelli-(2x Grammy winner), David Garfield- (Top-call recording session and touring-(for George Benson, Natalie Cole, etc.)

And too many other fantastic people and top-call players to mention, heavies in the touring and recording circles... I feel blessed for the years I got to have time around them, and play music, and hang out with each other. Happily, many of them are friends of mine, and they continue to inspire and encourage me greatly, sometimes with a call...sometimes just from knowing their relentlessness and excellence.

Music has been good to me. I've toured for four years, while in LA... Not only sharing concert and festival stages with big-name, main-stream Country and Blues artists, employed by some- and as an opening band for several other major Artists, playing the U.S. and beautiful, amazing, countries in Europe, Canada, and Mexico.

In 2008-unaware of the ensuing economic downturn right around the corner... I decided to finish working away from LA -on the road, for the sake of my new wife. What I didn't see coming, or knew how to navigate, was that there was going to be very little local work...Embarrassing to admit, I soon had mortgage issues that contributed to us moving back to Phoenix... Having our child, and there-after, getting divorced.

Today is great! I find myself about three years that I have lived in the Denver, Colorado area --- to be Dad to my little girl.

I continue to teach and play as a freelancer - Exciting times for the bands that I am involved in, as all are all firing up for hopefully a busy year. One called Burn DeVere is currently recording exciting music that I can’t wait to publish.

Still actively recording and always open to more studio session work. Currently, also adding to my online courses.

Life is exciting and full…

Play Drums, Have Fun, 

And Keep Groovin’,

Perry