Lisa Pankratz

Drummer Lisa Pankratz was born in Austin and raised in Dripping Springs, TX. on her grandfather’s paint horse ranch. Her father was a drummer his brother was a guitarist, both were involved in the 1970s Austin music scene. As a young child Lisa was taken along to shows at places such as the Armadillo World Headquarters and Soap Creek Saloon. At home there was a record collection which ranged from rock and r&b 45s to lps by Dolly Parton, Bill Monroe and Bob Marley. While still in high school she began playing with her fathers reggae band I-Tex and a reunited version of her uncles band Greezy Wheels. She also began to meet and jam with other young musicians (future members of The Wagoneers and High Noon) who shared her love for rockabilly, swing and honky tonk country. Lisa left Austin long enough to earn a BA in English literature from Rice University in Houston. After this she moved back to Austin and began playing drums professionally. When she began touring with legendary Dallas rock and roller Ronnie Dawson she found a musical soul mate and established a national reputation as both a solid and exciting drummer and something of an underground sex symbol. She became the drummer of choice for acts who wanted their country to shuffle with soul and their rock to have some swing in the beat. Surf/instrumental rocker Teisco Del Rey, The Derailers, Rosie Flores, Dale Watson, Johnny Bush, Deke Dickerson, Marti Brom, Roger Wallace, Bill Kirchen, Billy Joe Shaver and contemporary song stylists Damon Bramblett , Bruce Robision and Hayes Carll are a few who have called on Lisa’s versatile drumming skills. She has performed on Austin City Limits, the Conan O’Brien show, the Grand Ole Opry, Carnegie Hall and many pubs, clubs and honky tonks across the USA and Europe. Susanna Van Tassel and Marti Brom have both recorded original songs penned by Pankratz. She is married to bassist Brad Fordham and when not on the road remains one of the busiest musicians in Austin.