Kenny Aronoff is one of the world's most influential and in-demand
drummers. The list of artists he's worked with reads like a who's who
of the music industry, and includes John Mellencamp, The Smashing Pumpkins,
Bob Seger, Melissa Etheridge, Jon Bon Jovi, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Rod
Stewart, Alanis Morissette, The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Willie
Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Puddle of Mudd, Avril Lavigne, John Fogerty,
Joe Cocker, Mick Jagger, Alice Cooper, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Raitt, Ricky
Martin, Santana, Trey Anastasio, Michelle Branch, Vince Gill, Gladys Knight, Aaron Neville, Trisha Yearwood, Patti LaBelle, George Jones, Conway Tritty and many others. With
a style of playing that combines power and finesse, Kenny was named
the #1 Pop/Rock Drummer and the #1 Studio Drummer for five consecutive
years by the readers of Modern Drummer Magazine, and in addition has
played on over 30 Grammy-nominated recordings.
Growing up in Massachusetts, Kenny joined his first band at age ten.
A self-taught drummer, he played in local bands throughout junior high
and high school. At 16, he decided to focus on classical music and began
to study seriously with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, including
world-renowned tympanist Vic Firth. He went on to study at the University
of Massachusetts and at Indiana University, where, among other honors,
he was awarded the school's prestigious Performer's Certificate. During
summer breaks he participated in the Aspen and Tanglewood Music Festivals.
After graduating from IU in 1976, Kenny was offered timpani positions
in several symphony orchestras, but instead decided to head to the east
coast, where he studied drum set in Boston and New York. During
this time he began to concentrate on jazz and fusion music, and in 1977
he returned to Indiana and spent several years in a popular local band,
playing throughout the Midwest. In 1980 he joined the John Mellencamp
band, recording 10 albums and touring with him over a 17-year period.
Kenny's innovative style and solid backbeat became the driving force
behind Mellencamp's long run of definitive hit records in the '80's
and '90s, a list that includes American Fool, Scarecrow, Uh Huh,
The Lonesome Jubilee, Whenever We Wanted, Dance Naked, Big Daddy,
Human Wheels and others.
In the mid-80s, Kenny began to develop an enormously successful career
as a studio musician. Today he's among the world's most in-demand session
drummers, having played on hundreds of records. Recent recording projects
include Rod Stewart, Avril Lavigne, Puddle of Mudd, Meat Loaf, John
Fogerty, Tony Iommi, Melissa Etheridge, Jason Michael Carroll and many others. For a complete
list of his recording credits check out the Discography.
Kenny has also performed live and toured worldwide with artists including
The Smashing Pumpkins, Bob Seger, Melissa Etheridge, John Fogerty, Joe
Cocker, Willie Nelson, Michelle Branch and many others. For a complete
list visit the Live
History page.
From 1993 to 1997, he was Associate Professor of Percussion at Indiana
University. The Aronoff
Percussion Scholarship is awarded annually to a percussion student
enrolled at IU.
Whether it's recording, touring, drum clinics or his instructional
DVDs and books, Kenny brings tremendous drive, enthusiasm and creativity
to everything he does. For all the latest information about his current
projects including tour dates, clinics, recording sessions and much
more be sure to check out the News.
