The Shannon Ford Interview
Drummer For Kimberly Akimbo
SHANNON FORD grew up in Washington, DC, playing rock, jazz, blues, and country. He has performed and recorded with various artists in NY, Nashville, and LA, including Paul Simon, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Phoebe Snow, Lou Christie, Kenny Rogers, Roger Miller, Danny Gatton, and many others.
Shannon has spent the last 25 years working on Broadway productions such as Next To Normal, Chaplin, Godspell, Beetlejuice, and Kimberly Akimbo.
On this podcast, Shannon shares his many years of experience working with a variety of artists and discusses:
The healthy competition with musicians who play Broadway musicals.
Why playing relaxed helps with hand technique.
How he was fired three times subbing on shows and what he learned from it.
His experiences working with directors, actors, and choreographers and how these relationships helped land certain gigs.
Why preparation is key and why always paying attention to the conductor is important.
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Clayton Craddock hosts the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast and Newsletter. He has held the drum chair in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill and Ain’t Too Proud.
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