581 - Rick Dior: Studying with Joe Morello, Building a Useful YouTube pg, Performing with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Working DrummerShow Notes
Born in Brooklyn, New York Rick Dior began his professional music career at the age of thirteen, freelancing in and around the metropolitan area in various small ensembles, orchestras and theater productions. He is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with timpanist Fred Hinger and jazz composer Bob Mintzer. He also studied extensively with famed jazz drummer Joe Morello. Rick has performed as a percussionist with a variety of superb artists in many musical genres including James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Al Jarreau, Roberta Flack, Martina McBride, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Linda Rondstadt, Glen Campbell, Bobby McFerrin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Randy Newman, and Marvin Hamlisch. He has added his drum set talents to performances with many great jazz artists including Marvin Stamm, Bill Watrous, Rich Perry, Harold Danko, Clark Terry, Red Rodney, Chris Potter, Lionel Hampton and Russell Malone. Rick also has an extensive orchestral percussion background and has performed as principal percussionist, section percussionist and timpanist with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Charlotte Ballet and Opera Carolina since 1990. As a first-call theater percussionist and drummer in Charlotte NC, Rick has performed in dozens of Broadway show tours. They include Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar, Wicked, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Spamalot, Hairspray, South Pacific, West Side Story, 9 to 5, Mary Poppins, Bring It On, Newsies, and Beautiful. His recording credits are extensive and include CD releases, movie soundtracks and commercial radio/television spots. As an engineer and producer Rick has been involved in hundreds of recordings. These include recording projects with artists such as Branford Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, Ed Thigpen, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Spiro, Joey Calderazzo, Michael Carvin, and Jimmy Cobb.
Rick is also a very active educator and has served as the Professor of Percussion at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte since 2001. He also maintains a busy private and online teaching studio.
In this episode, Rick talks about:
The variety of demands performing with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Playing percussion with touring musicals and the skills needed
How important it is to develop fundamental technique at an early age
Studying with and befriending the legendary Joe Morello
Rick’s Youtube channel: it’s beginning and it’s appeal
His custom built drumsticks
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