Rod Youngs is
a musician, composer and educator of immense talent
and refinement. His interest in music began in
his youth and has spawned into a career that has
spanned over two decades and taken him to over
thirty countries. His musical background encompasses
many genres from classical, jazz, and R&B
to pop, rock, and hip-hop. He holds a Bachelor
of Music Degree in Applied percussion from Howard
University. He also studied with former principle
timpanist of the National Symphony Orchestra,
Fred Begun and in 1985 he was chosen to study
jazz performance at the Eastman School of Music
in Rochester, N.Y. under the tutelage of Keith
Copland.
A native of Washington D.C. Rod’s
consummate musicianship has garnered him a wide
variety work from concerts and recordings to sessions
for radio, TV and film. Over the years Rod has
also performed/recorded with a formidable array
of artists including, Ronnie Laws, Hugh Masekala,
Jon Hendricks, Gil Scott-Heron, Natalie Cole,
Me Shell Ndegeocello, Soweto Kinch, Matthew Herbert,
Steve Williamson, Julian Joseph, Jhelisa Anderson,
Courtney Pine, Ernest Ranglin, Vanessa Rubin,
Don Braden , Horace Andy, Sia, Juliet Roberts,
Denys Baptiste, Gary Crosby's Nu Troop and the
Jazz Jamaica All Stars amongst others.
In addition to performing, Rod
is actively involved in music education. He has
served as an instructor on the Glamorgan University
jazz course and currently provides private instruction
for students of all levels and ages. He also conducts
performance workshops throughout the UK for the
Tomorrows Warriors organization, Serious International
Music Producers and The Round House.
Bookings: please contact Planet
Drum on 020 7428 9012
