Bill Mead
Drums / Percussion
From New Hampshire, Bill Mead takes his place; seated at the very heart of Cal's live show. The versatile Mr. Mead has been playing drums since the age of three. With a Bachelors degree in Musical Performance from Plymouth State University and his studies at the famed NYC's Drummer's Collective under Leroy Clouden, Peter Retzlaff and Frank Gravis, Bill is known on both the East and West coasts as one of today's most sought after drum teachers and freelance musicians.
Having earned "best act" from the Cascade Blues Association in both 2004 and 2005 for his work with Robbie Laws and Rick Welter, Bill went on to pushing the "edge" of modern jazz with his band "Ouroborus," who released their debut CD on Black Lodge White Lodge Records in September of 2006.
You can read more about Bill by visiting his web site at
"When we began auditions for my new drummer I was given a roster of musicians that had applied for the position. I looked at the names and the schedule and saw that the auditions would probably stretch out over three weeks or so. I was anxious to get back in the studio and back to work in rehearsals after spending months working on the television special. I just glanced quickly at our first few names on the list and noticed Bill Mead in the first group.
That very weekend, my daughters were performing with their band "A Few 2 Many" at the Bitter End in NYC. Chris Price our stage manager and I were both at the show and we were really enjoying one of the drummers performing with one of the bands also playing that night. They finished their set and as the singer was introducing the band, he said "on drums, Mr. Bill Mead" Chris and I both immediately looked at each other and shook our heads in disbelief. I approached Bill after the show and asked if he was the same Bill Mead that was set to audition for Cal. he was, and needless to say, auditions were over, destiny at work."
Cal
