This is my "bragging rights" section where I get to talk about those students of mine who have gone on to create something really cool and wonderful in the drumming world.
So, if you are a former student of mine and are doing anything in the music world, send me some info and I will be glad to do a feature article on you.
Zak Najor and I met at Music Mart on Convoy St. in San Diego in about 1991. He was about 15, I was 21 or 22. I used to go up to his house in Del Mar, CA. and set up in the garage with him....for hours we would sit there and play back & forth! It was a great time for us both.
Time went by and he was involved in different bands- Schmaltz was my favorite. It was Robert Walter on keys, Chris Stillwell on bass, Mike Watson on guitar, and Zak on drums. Eventually the band added a sax player (Karl Denson) and The Greyboy All-Stars were formed and defined a style of music called "Acid Jazz".
So, here's my homey Zak. We still talk. He "seeds churches" and is quite successful at that. I'm glad that he has been able to do so much god in life, not just drumming.
In 1994 I was "staff instructor" at Orange County Drum & Percussion in Lake Forest, CA. (Yes the OCDP brand of drums) During my tenure there, many great players were coming in and hanging out. Taylor Hawkins was dropping in every so often to practice his audition tapes in my teaching room. Turns out he was learning the Alanis Morrissette gig!
