Although probably best known as a member of John Mellencamp's backing band, drummer Kenny Aronoff is one of rock's most in-demand session players, having played with some of the genre's biggest names.

 

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Raised in Massachusetts, Aronoff was self-taught early on, as he played in his first band at the age of ten (and subsequently played in various local rock outfits throughout his teenage years). But by the age of 16, Aronoff began to seriously study classical music, as he picked up a thing or two from members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, before studying at the University of Massachusetts and at Indiana University (where he was awarded a 'Performer's Certificate'). Even during summers off from his schooling, Aronoff continued to hone his chops by playing at both the Aspen and Tanglewood Music Festivals. Upon graduating from Indiana University in 1976, Aronoff was offered spots playing timpani with several different orchestras throughout the world, but turned down the offers to relocate back north - studying and playing (mostly fusion-jazz) in both Boston and New York. After a year, Aronoff opted to relocate back to Indiana, where he paid his dues over the next few years playing regularly with bands on the Midwest club circuit.

 

By 1980, Aronoff had landed the break in his music career that he had long sought - nabbing a spot in John Mellencamp's group. Although Mellencamp had released several albums during the late '70s, it was shortly after Aronoff's arrival into the band that Mellencamp's career took off, as he focused more on a roots-rock direction/sound. Aronoff remained with Mellencamp for over 15 years, supplying the back beat on such hit albums as 1980's Nothin' Matters, 1982's American Fool, 1983's Uh-Huh, 1985's Scarecrow, 1987's Lonesome Jubilee, 1989's Big Daddy, 1991's Whenever We Wanted, 1993's Human Wheels, 1994's Dance Naked, and 1996's Mr. Happy Go Lucky.

 

Beginning in the mid '80s, Aronoff served as a session drummer for countless renowned artists, as he played on albums by Bob Dylan, Jon Bon Jovi, Bob Seger, Belinda Carlisle, Indigo Girls, Meat Loaf, Lisa Germano, Melissa Etheridge, Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alice Cooper, Travis Tritt, and Willie Nelson, among countless others. Besides backing other artists on record, Aronoff has also performed and/or toured alongside others besides Mellencamp, including Willie Nelson, Melissa Etheridge, Bob Seger, John Fogerty, Richie Sambora, Smashing Pumpkins, Joe Cocker and many others. Additionally, Aronoff has taught as an associate professor at Indiana University, performed at drum clinics, and produced several instructional videos, including Power Workout One, Power Workout Two, and Laying it Down: the Basics of Rock Drumming. Aronoff has also been named the top 'Pop/Rock Drummer' four five years and 'Studio Drummer' for four years by the readers of Modern Drummer Magazine, proving that his talents haven't gone unnoticed by music fans worldwide.

 

Some Things That Came Up:

 

-Drummers know how to survive

-I want to play in the Beatles, Mom! Call them!

-RPS - Repetition, Preparation for Success

-PPP - Personality, People Skills and Perseverance

-Mellencamp's Producer fired him 5 weeks in

-"Am I your drummer or WHAT??"

-Recording the iconic fill in Jack and Diane

-American Fool was the hardest record he ever made

-Singing "Hurts So Good" while playing makes you more confident

-Playing with Michelle Branch

-Departing from John :: I've been working with one superstar, now I'm going to work with all the others!

-Don Was comes to light

-It's not about ME, it's about THEM

-COVID wrecking the live performance industry

-Having to adapt

-Staying healthy and eating right

 

Follow Kenny:

www.kennyaronoff.com

@kennyaronoff

 

The Rich Redmond Show is about all things music, motivation and success. Candid conversations with musicians, actors, comedians, authors and thought leaders about their lives and the stories that shaped them. Rich Redmond is the longtime drummer with Jason Aldean and many other veteran musicians and artists. Rich is also an actor, speaker, author, producer and educator. Rich has been heard on thousands of songs, over 25 of which have been #1 hits!

 

Rich can also be seen in several films and TV shows and has also written an Amazon Best-Selling book, "CRASH! Course for Success: 5 Ways to Supercharge Your Personal and Professional Life" currently available at:

 

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Jim McCarthy is the quintessential Blue Collar Voice Guy. Honing his craft since 1996 with radio stations in Illinois, South Carolina, Connecticut, New York, Las Vegas and Nashville, Jim has voiced well over 10,000 pieces since and garnered an ear for audio production which he now uses for various podcasts, commercials and promos. Jim is also an accomplished video producer, content creator, writer and overall entrepreneur.

 

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