2011 has proven to be yet another busy year for our great Combo artists. Here's an update on what our artists have been up to...
 Gordy Knudtson, drummer for the iconic Steve Miller Band since 1987, has been busy with Miller's infamous summer tour. This celebrated tour sells out every year and is considered by many to be the ultimate outdoor summer concert party! This year's tour also featured the great Joseph Wooten on keyboards, Kenny Lee Lewis on bass and Blues great Sonny Charles on vocals. In November, the band traveled to Brazil and recently taped a performance on Austin City Limits. Miller's most recent CD, featuring Gordy's great playing, entitled Let Your Hair Down, shows Miller re-living his love for the Blues - the style most influential of his music. Gordy, a well-respected educator and author, announces his new book, Morphing Double-Strokes With The Open/Close Technique, and it is due out later this year. Keep an eye on www.gk-music.com for announcements!
Mark Beckett, House Drummer for the Grand Ole Opry, (a position he shares with Eddie Bayers),recently played with Michael W. Smith, Ronnie Milsap, Alison Krauss, Keb Mo, Tommy Shaw, Paul Williams, and Vince Gill. Mark has also worked recently on upcoming releases by Ashton Shepard, Uncle Kracker, Charlie Pride, Josh Thompson, David Frizzell, and Kenny Chesney for an ESPN spot. Mark also just performed on an Academy of Country Music (ACM) special for Tom T. Hall, backed up 18 artists for the recent CMA Music Fest and also found time to drum for 4-time Grammy winner Steve Wariner on some road dates in Texas, Oklahoma, and Carolina! This December, Mark is spending some time out on the road with Olivia Newton-John.
Dirt Drifters drummer Nick Diamond finished his work on their new album This Is My Blood, which was debuted in July and climbed to #13 on the iTunes country albums charts! This album is a kind of rarity in Nashville in that all of the band members actually played on the album. These guys are constantly on the road.
 John Spittle was out all summer, on tour with the great Trace Adkins. Trace's new CD entitled Proud To Be Here was released on August 2nd. Target stores will feature a limited edition release with some bonus live tracks on which you can hear John playing. John says he LOVES his IP-RK "Rock" sticks!
Jeff Pegues is currently touring with country artist Laura Bell Bundy, as well as doing shows with Love & Theft and steel guitarist Aubrey Ghent. Jeff has also been in the studio working with Gospel Artist Kenny Springs and is currently writing and working on his own album.
Doni Washington recently played on the new K'Nann Album (yet to be titled) and rehearsals began in August for a fall tour. This tour was co-billed w/Bruno Mars. Doni tells us to check YouTube for K-Nann’s latest video - "Skee", where he's prominently featured.
Dave Mahurin was busy touring with Jerrod Niemann (shows with Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton). This tour saw 25-35,000 seat houses and lasted through September. Jerrod then embarked on another tour co-billing w/Dierks Bentley. Dave says he LOVES his IP-RK Rocks! In his words, "I can't break 'em and love their durability!"
 "Big Tez" Sherard played on Edwin McCain's new album Mercy Bound, on 429 Records which was due out end of summer. A fall tour followed. Big Tez is also staying busy with several projects including three house gigs in home his town. He loves his BB-1s and says, "They have great balance with just the right thickness".
John McTigue has been touring a lot with Mavericks' great front-man Raul Malo. In April, they did a tour of Australia which included the Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival. June saw a small run in Texas & Canada, and in July, they spent 2 weeks in Europe. In addition, the group spent some time in the UK for a couple of weeks doing shows in England & Scotland. A live recording with the Northern Sinfonia Orchestra in Newcastle was a recent highlight, featuring Paul Gambill of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra as the conductor. This recording will be released in the spring of 2012. John also performed on a new recording with Raul and Seth Walker that should be out sometime next year. In between touring with Raul, he's been playing the Grand Ole Opry and also doing a few road dates with Elizabeth Cook.
Kirjuan Freeman is touring with Jordan Knight, co-billing with New Kids On The Block and also just got back from Los Angeles where Knight was featured on the George Lopez show. In September, they prepared for a 12-city tour in Canada, followed by a national tour in the States. More TV appearances are to be announced soon, as well. Kirjuan says, "I thank Innovative Percussion for being a tremendous company to me!"
Frank "Knuckles" Walker, percussionist for The Roots announced that they have been working on their 13th album, which was due out sometime around October/November. Known as the highly-visible band for the hit TV show, "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon", they're enjoying being part of what is now a 3-time Emmy nominated show! On weekends, when off from the grueling TV schedule, The Roots still remain busy performing all over the place. Recently, they were featured at a Democratic Convention in New York and have proudly performed for President Barack Obama. 
IP's own Rich Mangicaro is enjoying his new affiliation as Innovative Percussion's new Artist Relations Manager for Combo Products. An endorsee himself, Rich has been using IP's tools for many years. His schedule remains busy as the percussionist/background vocalist for the Glenn Frey/Joe Walsh Band, performing shows with the duo when the Eagles are on their rare down-time. Two new recordings that feature Rich on drums and percussion are debut releases from Los Angeles artists Jonathan Clark (entitled "I'm Just Sayin") and James Paige Morrison (entitled "Son To The Boy"). Clark & Mangicaro are currently doing shows in California to promote the new release. Actor/Musician James Morrison is known for his starring role as Bill Buchanan on the hit TV series, 24, as well as current roles on HawthoRNe and Private Practice and has also appeared on Six Feet Under, X-Files, Frasier and Steven Spielberg's hit film, Catch Me If You Can.
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