Tommy Ruggero profile picture

Tommy Ruggero

Let Each Man Exercise The Art He Knows

About Me

I was born in 1982, and I started playing drums at the age of 11. I've always been fascinated by rhythm, in every shape it could assume. I first traveled to Africa in 2000 and since then I fell in love with it, I really believe that we all come from there, at least musically speaking. I started playing in different bands, taking private lessons and letting my music grow up little by little. I managed to play in several venues, including dance courses, and theatres, with west african percussions. I lived for a year in NYC, studying at the Drummers Collective, and playing some West African percussion as well. I absolutely dig the concept that every object on the planet has a proper pulse, and everything could be transformed into music.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/26/2006
Influences: STOMP, The Beatles, Soungalo Coulibaly, Stevie Wonder, Dave Matthews Band, Primus, Ridillo, AC/DC, Ali Farka Toure, Aerosmith, Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway, The New York Dolls, The Ramones, Alpha Blondy, Spin Doctors, Earth Wind and Fire, Rage Against the Machine, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Jamiroquai, Daniele Silvestri, Doudou N'Diaye Rose, Gomez, Jimi Hendrix, Youssou N'Dour, Led Zeppelin, Maceo Paker, Miles Davis, Mr. Big, Oumou Sangare, Ray Charles, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sly and the Family Stone, Sonny Rollins, Tower of Power, Zap Mama, Famoudou Konatè, Bo Diddley, John Scofield, Nerve, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, The Who, Mamady Keita, The Rolling Stones, D'Angelo, Incubus, Bob Marley, 311, The Police, Salif Keita, The Allmand Brothers, Wayne Krantz, Ben Harper, Bobby McFerrin, Thelonius Monk, Weather Report, TOTO, Herbie Hancock, Brand X, Caribbean Jazz Project, Chick Corea, Jovanotti, Michel Camilo, The Cinematic Orchestra, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, The Doors, Ligabue, Elisa, Erykah Badu, Fela Kuti, Foo Fighters, Phunk Junkeez, Fabrizio De Andrè, Francesco Guccini, U2, Zucchero, Tracy Chapman, Steely Dan, Rino Gaetano, The Queen, Propellerheads, Norah Jones, Massive Attack, Samuele Bersani, McCoy Tyler, Michel Petrucciani, Count Basie, Jeff Buckley, Rancid, Offspring, Green Day, Guns and Roses, Nirvana, Gorillaz, Giorgio Gaber, Meshell Ndegeocello, Kaissa, Kayah, Mia Martini...
Sounds Like: Basically two big influences in my playing: west african percussion, djembe and doun doun drums from the Mali - Guinea - Senegal - Burkina Faso - Ivory Coast area, and the more "western" concept of modern drumset.Always trying to mix together those two different musicalities.
Type of Label: Indie