Famous Drummers From A to Z > W

Famous Drummers

W

Your complete resource to info on the most famous drummers in the world. This page contains everyone who's anyone with a last name beginning in the letter W.

Chad Wackerman
From Bill Watrous to Frank Zappa to Barbra Streisand to Alan Holdsworth, Chad is equally skilled both in Jazz and Rock. Bio, courtesy of Europe Jazz Network.

Narada Michael Walden
Born: April 23, 1952. Narada's work with Mahavishnu Orchestra and Jeff Beck is highly regarded. In addition to the skins, he has produced (and written for) such stars as Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Kenny G, and Al Jarreau. Check out his drum setup, courtesy of Pearl.

Bill Ward
Born: May 5, 1948. Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward's Official Web site. See what he's been up to post BS.

Billy Ward
In the last ten years, Billy has worked with Jim Beard, Bill Evans Supergroup, Leni Stern, George Russell, Living Time Orchestra, The Knack, Jimmy Webb, Carly Simon, Richard Marx, ex-KISS star Ace Frehley's Comet, Bill Champlin, Robbie Robertson, Yoko Ono, and Chris Whitley. Check out his Web site which, among other topics, features his "Two Hands Clapping" album, featuring 10 duets conceived and produced by Billy himself.

Click the following for a sample of his performance at the Cape Breton International Drum Festival 2005.

Kenny Washington
Here's a brief bio and discography of the jazz drummer who worked with Joshua Redman, Kenny Barron, Johnny Griffin, Tommy Flanagan, Clark Terry, Lee Konitz, Benny Goodman, Mingus Dynasty Band, Ron Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Sonny Stitt, Phil Woods, and many others, courtesy of ArtistDirect.com. Also, check out this feature on Kenny, courtesy of AllAboutJazz.com.

Charlie Watts
Born: June 2, 1941. It seems like the Rolling Stones have been around forever and so has the drummer providing the electricity for all those years: Charlie Watts. Join in on an interesting "Weekend with Charlie Watts," compliments of Rockmine.com.

Jeff "Tain" Watts
Here's a bio, discography, and some photos of Tain, from Downbeat.com.

William "Chick" Webb
Born: Februry 10, 1909. Died: June, 1939. Despite having a hunched-back, this powerhouse drummer displayed excellent technique in both ensemble and solo drumming. He was a favorite of Gene Krupa and other drummers of his time. Click the link above for the lowdown on his life, and here's a discography of Chick's work. Both from Duke University's Department of Music Web site.

Glenn Weber
Glenn has been teaching and playing drums for over thirty years and has been on the faculty of five universities. In addition to running his own school, New Jersey School of Percussion, he is also the Instructor of Percussion at Seton Hall University and the NJ Chapter President of the Percussive Arts Society. As a performer, Glenn has worked and recorded with numerous artists. (Tiger Bill is a former student of Glenn's.) Check out exclusive TigerBill's DrumBeat video of Glenn performing at NJ Chapter PAS Day of Percussion.

Dave Weckl
Born: January 8, 1960. Dave Weckl's Official Web site contains Bio, discography, itinerary, current drum set-up, photos, etc…

Max Weinberg
Here's an article about Max by Curt Schleier from the Jewish Bulletin of Northern California online. It's titled "E-Street to Conan, Max Weinberg keeps on drumming." Also, check out these interviews with Max.

Klaus Weiss
Born: February 17, 1942. Self taught, this jazz drummer's career began at the age of 16. Click the above link for his bio, discography, gear, and more, courtesy of JazzRecords.com.

Paul Wertico
Seven time Grammy award winner, Wertico has recorded with Ken Nordine, Bobby Lewis, Kurt Elling, Pat Metheny, and others, not to mention his own group. All you want to know is on his Official Web site.

George Wettling
From the '30s through the '60s, George Wettling worked with many of the greatest names in jazz, as his profile attests. From Harlem.org. Here's another bio and discography, from ArtistDirect.com.

Alan White
A pro since 1968. Alan has worked with YES (for nearly 25 years), Ginger Baker's Airforce, Plastic Ono Band, Joe Cocker, Billy Preston, George Harrison, John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Dave Mason, Bobby Keys, and others. Click the above link for his Alan's Official Web site. And here's an interview and audio clips of Alan with YES, from TheMusicIndex.com.

Lenny White
Born: Debember 19, 1949. Drumming legend Lenny White is at home with jazz as he is with funk. He's played with Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Stan Getz, Gato Barbieri, Gil Evans, Chick Corea, Wallace Roney, and many others. Lenny has also released several solo albums. From the SoulWalking Web site.

Ron Wikso
Ron has worked with The Storm, Foreigner, Richie Sambora, Cher, David Lee Roth, Tamara Champlin, Randy Meisner, Spencer Davis, Dave Amato, Ricky Phillips. David Glen Eisley, and many more. Click the above link for Ron's Official Web site, which includes audio samples of Ron's work and much more.

Tony Williams
Born: December 12, 1945. Died: February 23, 1997. Tony's death was a great loss to drumming, but he'll live on forever in recordings like this one from Verve, "Ultimate Tony Williams." Courtesy of Motion by State51. Also, don't miss this retrospective on Tony by Ralph Penland, courtesy of the Jazz Network News. And here's Tony's Final Interview.

Matt Wilson
Click the above link for Matt's Official Web site. Get more info on Matt's drumming and composing from JazzMap. And here's a feature on Matt from AllAboutJazz.com.

Kenny Wollesen
This drummer has performed on more than 30 recordings during the '90s and has recorded and toured with such diverse musicians as Tom Waits, John Scofield, John Zorn, Jim Hall, Tony Scherr, Sex Mob, Larry Grenadier,
Graham Connah's Sour Note, Crash Test Dummies, Curlew, Beth Custer, Chris Dahlgren, Din Sum Clip Job, Spottiswoode, and others. He is also a founding member of the New Klezmer Trio. Click the above link for Kenny's bio and discography, from Artist Direct.com.

Sam Woodyard
Here's a discography of the Duke's drummerman, from ArtistDirect.com.

Frank Edwin Wright III (aka Tre Cool)
Born: December 9, 1972.Better known as Tre Cool, Frank came to fame with a group called Green Day. Also, check out Tre's Official Web site.

Dony Wynn
Interview with Robert Palmer's drummerman, Dony Wynn. From The Unofficial Robert Palmer Webpages.

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