Guest Lecture: Rick Gratton

Rick Gratton, one of Canada’s leading drummers, conducted a guest drum clinic for Metalworks Institute’s Audio Production & Engineering students in mid January in Metalworks Studios .

Throughout his lengthy career, Rick has played with a number of top Canadian bands, most notably Rough Trade and The Boomers. His resumé also includes work with a host of respected musicians, including Marc Jordan, Long John Baldry, Carol Pope, Patti Labelle, Michelle Wright, Terry Clark, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, and Ian Thomas, among many others.

On top of his considerable performance credits, Rick is also one of the foremost drumming teachers and educators in North America. His book, Rick’s Licks, was rated one of the top 25 Greatest Drum Books by the industry bible, Modern Drummer. His drumming students include Anton Fig (David Letterman Show) and Jeremy Taggart (Our Lady Peace), among others. As a studio musician, Rick has also performed on numerous jingles for companies such as Coke, McDonalds and Ford. Rick recently received a platinum award for his work on the Hairspray Soundtrack.