 VIP, June 1996
Gordy Knudtson
Since 1987, Gordy Knudtson has been the drummer of the Steve Miller Band.
Gordy has performed on the "Wide River" and "Born 2B Blue"
albums and has done 8 tours with the band which continues to be among
the top drawing acts in the country. From 1982 to 1994 (between tours
with Steve Miller) Gordy played jazz clubs and festivals around the world
with the Ben Sidran Quartet. Gordy performed on Ben Sidran's "Cool
Paradise", "Too Hot to Touch", and "On The Live Side"
albums. When he's not touring, he can be heard with the house band called
"The Trio" at Mackenzie's in downtown Minneapolis. The band
is a jazz organ trio that recently released it's first CD called "The
Trio - Live at Mackenzie's".
Gordy has won ten Minnesota Music Awards for "Best Drummer"
and been featured in Modern Drummer and Drum Tracks magazines. He's played
with a list of msicians and stars long enough to fill a book, but in addition
to Gordy's great music he's also contributed greatly to music education..
In 1989 he was approached by Music Tech to create a Percussion Program
to equip drummers with the essential skills needed to survive and succeed
in today's competitive music scene. He hired the faculty and wrote the
curriculum based on his many years of professional playing and private
teaching experience. He runs the department, and teaches Master Classes
when he's not touring.
To publish his educational materials Gordy founded GK Music Publishing
in 1989. In 1994 the company became GK Music Inc. which created, developed,
and marketed a brand new practice tool for drummers called Drum Phones
TM, the first commercially available hearing protection headphones equipped
with stereo sound. DrumPhonesTM help to protect a drummer's hearing by
reducing the level of external sound reaching their ears when they practice.
They were an unqualified success! Professional and amateur drummers from
all over the world placed orders and said what a great idea this product
was! They also said it would be great to make a studio quality version
of DrumPhonesTM, so in 1996 GK Music created SuperPhonesTM, the first
20db hearing protection headphones equipped with professional recording
studio headphone drivers.
Gordy's sincere efforts on behalf of hearing health and his commitment
to music make him a perfect choice as our V.I.P for the Month of June.
H.E.A.R is honored to recognize Gordy for his years of work and for his
great music.
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