Formal Education...
A graduate of Berklee College of Music, drummer/percussionist Kathy Burkly has been hittin' the skins since high school.
School of Hard Knocks ...
As with most versatile and talented musicians, Kathy Burkly has had a varied, colorful career... touring all over the USA and Canada (with a few trips to Thule AFB and Sondrestrom AFB in "fabulous Greenland"), and performing with a number of successful bands. (See "Kathy's Highlights" page to learn about some of the terrific bands and artists she's worked with)
Influences...
Listening to the numerous demos and CDs to which Kathy Burkly has lent her skills, one is impressed both by her versatility and her powerful-yet-tasteful contributions to the arrangements. Here is what she has to say about the influences that helped form her style:
"Well, let's see... my influences are pretty wide, but when I first started playing, I saw Buddy Rich and his band play four or five times, and was just completely knocked out...
"My favorite funky drummer has always been David Garibaldi (Tower of Power). For country, it was John Ware, who played with Emmylou Harris when she did her AMAZING "Luxury Liner" album... and, I really love the way Lonnie Wilson plays.
"For blues, I like the Texas-style shufflers, and the guy who played on Lowell Fulsom's records, and I have always really liked Little Feat's drummer, Ritchie Heywood...
"When I was really into Motown & Stax/soul stuff, I soaked up all that I could of Bernard Purdie and that whole bunch ...
"I guess the thing that ties most of these drummers together is their being forceful, but allowing the song to be what it is -- none of them were just background, but they didn't overpower the song either -- they enhanced it.
"And They Had Fun !! Like Me!"
When asked what set her on her musical path, Kathy says: "I've always liked to hit things, usually drums and cymbals!" And that primal urge has taken her a long way!
Oh Yeah... FYI:
Kathy plays EAMES DRUMS, hand made by Joe MacSweeney of Eames Drum Company, Saugus, MA. To get a hold of these swell drums, please give Joe a holler at: tel.(781) 233-1404.
"the badest cats play Eames!" |
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