Meeting Kenny Aronoff

Meeting Kenny Aronoff

I attended the University of North Texas for college in the early 1990s.   One fantastic experience of going there was the fact that I saw A LOT of drum clinics.  Most were great, some not.

On the day of my senior recital in November of 1995 Kenny Aronoff was at school to give his clinic.   I was planning on moving to LA as soon as I graduated and finished a New Year’s Eve gig in Dallas.

Kenny’s clinic was energetic and very insightful on many fronts.  One thing he said in his clinic to all of us drummers (maybe 150 in that room) was that once we’ve moved to a place like LA, we were then putting ourselves in the field of competition for gigs he was in.  Kind of a light bulb statement for a kid who’s about to make that move.

After the clinic about 5 drummers including myself approached Kenny to ask him a few more questions and pick his brain.  He’s was super cool, honest and forthright.  I’ll never forget that.  I actually asked him if he wanted to attend my senior recital. HA!   Of course he was heading back to Dallas or possibly flying off to some gig right after that…but what do you know when you’re 22 ?!?

If you’ve read my blog entitled “It Happens To All Of Us” you’ll know that this story came full circle with some recording I did in 2003.  I also toured with Melissa Etheridge and had a minute with John Fogerty both of which Kenny is known for playing with.

I’ve run into Kenny in airports, rehearsal studios and random spots a number of times in my 25 years in LA.  Always energetic, always cool and apparently … a soothsayer.

Blair