The Cubby O'Brien Interview

Annie Get Your Gun, The Producers, Gypsy...and so much more!

In this episode of Broadway Drumming 101, I enjoyed interviewing the legendary Cubby O'Brien. You may know him from his days as a Mouseketeer on The Mickey Mouse Club, but his drumming career goes way beyond that. We talk about his early start in music, following in the footsteps of his drummer father, and his work with some of the biggest names in the industry—Lawrence Welk, Bernadette Peters, the Carpenters, and more.

Cubby shares stories from his incredible journey through different eras of music, from the early influence of The Beatles and playing alongside icons like Steve Gadd. We dive into his Broadway experiences, where he brings his unique energy to every performance and his thoughts on teaching and adapting to the ever-changing world of music. Whether you're a fan of musical history, a drummer, or just curious about what it takes to build a long-lasting career, this episode is packed with insights and memories you won’t want to miss.

Tune in to hear about his collaborations with legends like Shirley MacLaine and Nathan Lane and his work on Tony Award-winning shows—it’s a deep dive into a life well lived!

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:16 Chance Encounter on Broadway Cruise

00:57 Sports Talk: Cowboys and Dodgers

02:49 Cubby's Early Drumming Influences

04:48 The Mickey Mouse Club and Early Career

10:10 Transition to Studio Work and Variety Shows

15:18 Working with the Carpenters

18:43 Electronic Drums and Siegfried & Roy

21:08 Collaborations with Bernadette Peters

26:32 Learning the Drums: Insights from Jack Sperling

27:13 Meeting Susan Stroman and the Producers Journey

28:52 The Creative Process with Mel Brooks

29:47 Challenges of Repetition in Broadway Shows

31:30 Selecting Dependable Substitutes

34:44 Transitioning to Gypsy and Working with Marvin Laird

36:23 The Joy of Live Performances

39:00 Maintaining Longevity and Avoiding Injuries

42:41 Choosing Eugene, Oregon

44:03 Advice for Aspiring Musicians

44:38 Memories with Shirley MacLaine

47:01 Appreciation from Fellow Musicians

48:04 Preferences in Drum Kits

53:05 Top Five Favorite Drummers

54:27 Concluding Remarks and Future Plans

Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.

Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. As a skilled sub, he’s contributed his talents to Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, Hadestown (tour), and many more. He has also appeared on major shows, including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.

Clayton proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.

Learn more about Clayton Craddock here: www.claytoncraddock.com