George "Spanky" McCurdy

Last updated
George "Spanky" McCurdy
George McCurdy Kongsberg Jazzfestival 2019 (220422).jpg
George McCurdy in a concert with Lauryn Hill at Kongsberg Jazzfestival 2019
Background information
Birth nameGeorge McCurdy
Born (1981-06-28) June 28, 1981 (age 41)
Olney, Pennsylvania
Origin Philadelphia
Genres Pop, gospel, neo soul, hip hop, house
Occupation(s)Drummer
Years active1994–present
Website www.myspace.com/spankydrumz

George "Spanky" McCurdy (born June 28, 1981) [1] is an American drummer. Spanky has toured with Lady Gaga, Kanye West, P.Diddy, The Backstreet Boys, Jill Scott, and Floetry. He has also collaborated with Queen Latifah, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Q-Tip, Bubba Sparxxx, Nas, Brandy, and Tye Tribbett, among others. [2] [3]

Contents

Life and career

Early life

George McCurdy grew up in Olney, a neighborhood located in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [4] At about age four, George was given the nickname “Spanky” and has gone by it ever since. Spanky’s love for music began at an early age. Growing up, he attended Settlement Music School then subsequently attended Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University, and received lessons from the famous drummer Little John Roberts. [5]

Musical beginnings

Spanky’s childhood was surrounded by church and gospel music. He grew up watching the choir director and says it is why he is used to working with musical directors. Spanky also credits playing in church as the reason he is so fearless and has so much fire in his musical style. He also credits Philadelphia natives Little John Roberts, Vidal Davis, and Brian Frasier-Moore as his musical influences. By age 13, Spanky was playing with several local acts, including various gospel groups. It was through these groups that Spanky met other musicians that taught him what he knows today.

"Off Time/On Time"

In May 2013, Spanky and Hudson Music released an instructional DVD on drumming called “Off Time/On Time”. In the DVD, Spanky explains and demonstrates various drumming concepts in order to teach viewers new creative drum techniques.

Discography

YearAlbumArtistCredit
2002JustifiedJustin TimberlakeDrums
2002A Love StoryVivian GreenDrums
2003Who Will I Run To/Kiss Me Like ThatKiley DeanDrums
2003Presents Don Cello and FriendsLarry GoldDrums, Main Personnel
2003DeliveranceBubba SparxxxDrums
2004Who Is She 2 UBrandyPercussion
2004Somethin' 'Bout LoveFred HammondDrums
2004LifeTye Tribbett & G.A.Drums
2004Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2Jill ScottCongas, Drums, Main Personnel
2004AfrodisiacBrandyPercussion
2005The AppetizerEric RobersonDrums
2006Victory Live!Tye Tribbett & G.A.Drums, Member of Attributed Artist
2006SurroundedMen of StandardDrums
2006Bold and BeautifulVikter DuplaixDrums, Main Personnel
2007Tye Tribbett & G.A. Smooth Jazz TributeSmooth Jazz All StarsComposer
2007Trust YouAmy DeanDrums
2007The Very Best of Praise and Worship, Vol. 2Various ArtistsComposer
2007The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3Jill ScottDrums
2007Never Forget: A Journey of RevelationsDr. Cornel WestProducer
2007LuvanmusiqMusiq (Soulchild)Drums
2007Celebrate!: Songs of PraiseVarious ArtistsComposer
2007...LeftEric RobersonDrums
2008Stand Out LiveTye TribbettDrums
2008PurposeAlgebraDrums
2008The PsalterJas KnightDrums
2009The Best of Gospel Superfest (CD/DVD)Various ArtistsComposer
2009Songs 4 Worship: Friend of GodVarious ArtistsComposer
2010My SoulLeela JamesDrums
2010I Believe: LiveJames FortuneDrums
2010FinallyLowell PyeDrums
2011The Original Jill Scott from the Vault, Vol. 1Jill ScottComposer, Drums, Producer
2011The Light of the SunJill ScottComposer, Drums, Producer
2011The Sound of VictoryMaurette Brown ClarkDrums
2011Born This Way: The CollectionLady GagaDrums
2012So In LoveAmber BullockComposer
2013Off Time/On Time (DVD)Composer, Drums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Bozzio</span> American drummer (born 1950)

Terry John Bozzio is an American drummer best known for his work with Missing Persons and Frank Zappa. He has been featured on nine solo or collaborative albums, 26 albums with Zappa and seven albums with Missing Persons. Bozzio has been a prolific sideman, playing on numerous releases by other artists since the mid-1970s. He was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1997. His son and stepdaughter are also drummers with the latter, Marina, being a member of the band Aldious.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elvin Jones</span> American jazz drummer (1927–2004)

Elvin Ray Jones was an American jazz drummer of the post-bop era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jojo Mayer</span> Swiss drummer (born 1963)

Sergé "Jojo" Mayer is a Swiss virtuoso drummer born in Zürich and currently residing in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aynsley Dunbar</span> British drummer (born 1946)

Aynsley Thomas Dunbar is an English drummer. He has worked with John Mayall, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Journey, Jefferson Starship, Nils Lofgren, Eric Burdon, Shuggie Otis, Ian Hunter, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Mick Ronson, Whitesnake, Pat Travers, Sammy Hagar, Michael Schenker, UFO, Michael Chapman, Jake E. Lee, Leslie West, Kathi McDonald, Keith Emerson, Mike Onesko, Herbie Mann and Flo & Eddie. Dunbar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Aronoff</span> American drummer

Kenneth D. Aronoff is an American drummer originally from Massachusetts. He has played in backing bands for singers such as John Mellencamp and John Fogerty, plus session work on many albums and TV shows. He has taught drumming at the college level and owns a recording studio as well. His drumming skills have been recognized by magazines such as Rolling Stone and Modern Drummer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Gadd</span> American drummer

Stephen Kendall Gadd is an American drummer, percussionist, and session musician. Gadd is one of the best-known and highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, recognized by his induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1984. Gadd's performances on Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "Late in the Evening" and Steely Dan's "Aja" are examples of his style. He has worked with other popular musicians from many genres including Simon & Garfunkel, Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Harry Chapin, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Raitt, Grover Washington Jr., Michael Brecker, Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, Paul Desmond, Kate Bush, Chet Baker, Al Di Meola, Chuck Mangione, Kenny Loggins, Eric Clapton, Pino Daniele, Michel Petrucciani, and Toshiki Kadomatsu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hip hop production</span> Creation of hip hop music in a recording studio

Hip hop production is the creation of hip hop music in a recording studio. While the term encompasses all aspects of hip hop music creation, including recording the rapping of an MC, a turntablist or DJ providing a beat, playing samples and "scratching" using record players and the creation of a rhythmic backing track, using a drum machine or sequencer, it is most commonly used to refer to recording the instrumental, non-lyrical and non-vocal aspects of hip hop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Wallis</span> Musical artist

Gary Wallis is a British drummer, percussionist, drum programmer, producer and musical director. He has worked with a wide range of artists and bands, including Nik Kershaw, Pink Floyd, 10cc, Il Divo, Westlife, Girls Aloud, Atomic Kitten, Paul Carrack, Dusty Springfield, Bonnie Tyler, Mike Rutherford, Mike + The Mechanics, Spice Girls, All Saints, Tom Jones, Jean-Michel Jarre, Helene Fischer and Schiller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Lang</span> Austrian drummer (born 1967)

Thomas Lang is an Austrian drummer. He is the founding member of the Los Angeles-based progressive/avant garde metal band stOrk and is known for his international session work on a wide variety of genres such as rock, pop, jazz, and heavy metal with artists such as Robert Fripp, and Sugababes, among many others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Husband</span> British jazz/rock musician

Gary Husband is an English jazz and rock drummer, pianist, keyboard player and bandleader. He is also a composer, arranger and producer.

Joe Bergamini is a drummer from New Jersey in the United States. He is the co-founder of the instrumental progressive rock band 4Front. 4Front's other founder, guitarist/songwriter Zak Rizvi, went on to become a member of the classic rock group Kansas in 2016. Since 2000 Bergamini has been a member of progressive rock band Happy the Man, and appears on their 2005 album The Muse Awakens. In 2003 Bergamini began working on Broadway, with his first show being the New York and national tour productions of the Billy Joel musical Movin' Out, and has also performed at the Broadway productions of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, School of Rock: The Musical, Rock of Ages, In The Heights, The Lion King, Jersey Boys, Pippin (revival), Jesus Christ Superstar (revival), Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, and Million Dollar Quartet. In addition to performing with Billy Joel himself at Movin' Out, Bergamini has also performed with Bumblefoot, Dennis DeYoung and Deborah Gibson. He held the drum chair for the short-lived Broadway show Gettin' the Band Back Together in 2018. Bergamini was born in Belleville, New Jersey, and grew up in East Hanover. He attended the New Jersey Institute of Technology, receiving a bachelor's degree in architecture while studying drums with Dom Famularo on Long Island, as well as teachers Al Miller, John Riley, and Jim Chapin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organ trio</span> Form of jazz ensemble

An organ trio is a form of jazz ensemble consisting of three musicians; a Hammond organ player, a drummer, and either a jazz guitarist or a saxophone player. In some cases the saxophonist will join a trio which consists of an organist, guitarist, and drummer, making it a quartet. Organ trios were a popular type of jazz ensemble for club and bar settings in the 1950s and 1960s, performing a blues-based style of jazz that incorporated elements of R&B. The organ trio format was characterized by long improvised solos and an exploration of different musical "moods".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ziggy Modeliste</span> American funk drummer

Joseph "Ziggy" Modeliste, also known as Zigaboo, is an American drummer best known as a founding member of the funk band the Meters. He is widely considered an innovator in the funk genre and New Orleans style drumming. The Meters' music had a defining role and set the stylistic tone of New Orleans funk. Due to his work with the band, Modeliste is credited as an integral part of bringing New Orleans second-line grooves into popular music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Saunders (bassist)</span> American bassist and synthesizer player

Tony Saunders is an American bass player and synthesizer player in the genres of jazz, gospel, R&B, pop and world music. He is a composer, arranger, music producer, and head of his own studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Bayers</span> American session drummer (born 1949)

Eddie Bayers is an American session drummer who has played on 300 gold and platinum albums. He received the Academy of Country Music 'Drummer of the Year Award' for fourteen years, has three times won the Nashville Music Awards 'Drummer of the Year,' and was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019. He was also a member of two bands: The Players, and The Notorious Cherry Bombs. In 2022, Bayers was one of four inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame along with Ray Charles, The Judds, and Pete Drake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Rickman</span> American drummer

Sean Rickman is an American musician from Washington, D.C. He has worked with Shawn Lane, Garaj Mahal, Dapp Theory, Steve Coleman, Maxwell, Meshell Ndegeocello, Blacksheep, Phil Upchurch, David Fiucynski & Screaming Headless Torsos, Kai Eckhardt, Anthony Tidd's Quite Sane, K'Alyn, Angela Bofill and George Duke. Rickman was lead singer and drummer for Garaj Mahal from 2007–2011 and his rock band Big Mouth featuring guitarist Leonard Stevens. He was also featured alongside Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Marcus Miller on the Tribute to Miles 2011 tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean J. Kennedy</span> American musician & Educator

Sean J. Kennedy is an American drum set player, percussionist, recording artist, author and educator. Kennedy's drumset method book Camp Jam: Rock Solid Drums was nominated as Educational Drum Book of the Year in the 2011 Modern Drummer magazine reader's poll. Kennedy's release Sixty Second Solos won 2nd Runner Up in the 2015 DRUMMIES, DRUM! Magazine's an annual readers poll award. Kennedy has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records for participating in "most people performing a drum roll online simultaneously", with Legacy 150 Celebrations Society, Vancouver, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Moffett</span> American drummer

Jonathan Phillip "Sugarfoot" Moffett is an American drummer, songwriter and producer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Beginning in 1979, Moffett collaborated with the Jackson family, particularly Michael Jackson, over the course of 30 years. More recently, he has worked with other notable artists and producers such as Madonna, George Michael, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and many others.

Carlos Vega was a Cuban-born Los Angeles-based session drummer best known for his performances with James Taylor. As a part of the L.A. studio scene from the late 1970s through the 1990s, Vega contributed to a wide variety of music during the rise and popularity of the California singer-songwriter movement.

Anika Nilles is a German drummer, composer, solo musician, and musical educator. She launched her career on YouTube during the early 2010s, and has released two full-length albums to date, both with backing band Nevell: Pikalar in 2017 and For a Colorful Soul in 2020.

References

  1. "Drummerworld: George "Spanky" McCurdy". www.drummerworld.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  2. Corporation, Roland. "Roland - Community - Roland Users Group - Artists" . Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  3. "Part 5: Musician George "Spanky" McCurdy". CBS Philly. 4 February 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  4. "Tayyib's Beat: Exclusive Q+A with Spanky McCurdy". Uwishunu - Philadelphia. 14 September 2010.
  5. Haque, Eshika. "Interview: George Spanky". Schön! Magazine.