Kenny Aronoff

Kenny Aronoff, an SAI advisory board member, is a world class professional drummer and percussionist who had spent many years in Bloomington, Indiana before he relocated to California recently. With his drum and percussion work included in over 30 Grammy-nominated recordings, Kenny is considered to be one of the most influential and in-demand drummers in the music industry. Kenny was named the No. 1 Pop/Rock Drummer and the No. 1 Studio Drummer for five consecutive years by the readers of Modern Drummer Magazine.

Kenny grew up in Massachusetts and began as a self-taught drummer who was in his first band by the age of 10. Throughout his junior high and high school years, Kenny played in local bands. At the age of 16, he began to study classical percussion with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, as well as world-renowned tympanist Vic Firth. He continued his musical education at the University of Massachusetts and then at Indiana University (IU). While at IU, Kenny studied with the well-respected tympanist George Gaber, and was awarded the school's prestigious Performer's Certificate. After graduating from IU in 1976, he continued his musical training by going to Boston and New York to explore jazz and fusion music. He returned to Indiana soon after and toured the Midwest with a local band.

In 1980, he became the drummer for the John Mellencamp band and toured with the band for 17 years. Kenny's innovative drumming can be heard on 10 of the John Mellencamp band albums, recorded during the '80's and '90's.

While in the John Mellencamp band, Kenny gained a reputation as an excellent studio musician. He has played on numerous recordings with artists, such as, John Fogerty, Joe Cocker, Melissa Etheridge, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Smashing Pumpkins, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, Puddle of Mud, and many others. To see a full list check, out his Discography page. Kenny has also toured and played live with numerous artists. A full list of his live performances are at Live History.

Kenny's brilliant musicianship led him to take a position as an Associate Professor of Percussion at Indiana University, Bloomington from 1993-97. He continues to give to the next generation of percussionists with the Aronoff Percussion Scholarship, which is awarded annually to IU percussion students.

Kenny is still highly sought-after and continues to record and play live for celebrated artists from a range of genres, in a variety of venues.

For more information about Kenny Aronoff's music, please visit his website at <www.kennyaronoff.com>.