A Spartanburg, South Carolina native and an honor graduate of the Percussion Institute of Technology at Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, California as well as the University of South Carolina Upstate. Tim is a devoted student of drums with more than 25 years playing and recording experience. He has had the opportunity to study with some of today's top studio players and educators including: Joe Porcaro, Ralph Humphry, Steve Houghton, Casey Scheurell, Chuck Silverman, Efrain Toro, and Chuck Flores to name a few.
Tim’s passion for playing was inspired by many of his drum heroes on his favorite records. Originally self-taught, he played in pop and rock bands for a number of years before he began studying with a local teacher. It was during this time Tim realized that he needed to take the study of percussion more seriously. This led to his decision to move to Los Angeles and enroll in Musician’s Institute. He continued his music studies at Santa Monica College and continued to study privately. He then began performing in the Los Angeles music scene in a variety of genres ranging from funk and rock to jazz/fusion bands.
Seven years later, Tim found his way back to his home town to be closer to his family. He reunited with a number of friends and formed what would become a regional favorite band, Tobacco Road. The group spent a number of years playing major festivals, fairs, and prominent night clubs around the Southeast, and opened for national acts including Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town, Sawyer Brown, Delbert McClinton and others. Tobacco Road released its self-titled CD on an independent label and continues to write, record and play select shows.
While continuing to work as a freelance drummer, Tim met straight-ahead sax player Patrick Langham, which allowed him to further develop the jazz language he had studied in LA. Langham became his mentor for playing in the idiom. Tim continued his studies at USC Upstate, taking private lessons from Keith Brown of the University of Tennessee and had the opportunity to take a lesson with jazz master Lewis Nash. Tim also stayed connected with the University of Louisville’s Jazz Week and subsequently received the Distinguished Performer Award granting him a scholarship to Jamie Aebersold’s summer jazz camp.
Over the years of studying and teaching privately, Tim has performed with jazz artists such as pianist Ellis Marsalis, trombonist Steve Turre, guitarist Scott Henderson, and bassist Jeff Berlin among others. After earning his bachelors, Tim taught at USC Upstate for three and a half years as Adjunct Music Instructor. He taught Applied Drum Lessons and was the Assistant Director of the Jazz Ensemble. He currently teaches at Hames Music in Gaffney, SC and conducts private lessons in his Spartanburg, SC, studio.
While Tim’s drumming is centered in jazz, his passion for all genres and styles of music gives him an edge. He is best known for his versatility in a wide variety of musical settings. Whether he is playing jazz standards, kicking a big band, or laying down a tight funky groove for a pop or rock tune, his greatest satisfaction comes from creating a vibe in the music and in helping to make the tune groove.
Tim’s influences over the years have come from many directions: the funky grooves of Zigaboo Modeliste and David Garibaldi, the brilliant feel of Jeff Porcaro, the unbelievable versatility of Steve Smith, the undeniable perfect parts of Steve Gadd, the endless boundaries of Vinnie Colaiuta, the swinging hard rock grooves of John Bonham, the progressive thinking of Neal Peart, and jazz masters of the past and present such as Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, Peter Erskine, Jeff Hamilton, John Riley. The list could go on forever. These artists, and many others, continue to help form Tim’s voice and style in his life-long quest to continue to gain greater skill and ability.
Tim is now the leader of a straight-ahead jazz trio, quartet, and quintet which always features the finest jazz players in the region. He is a member of the Spartanburg Jazz Ensemble, the Spartanburg Community Church Praise and Worship Music Team, and works as a freelance drummer in many styles both live and studio sessions. He is the chapter leader for the first Drummers for Jesus chapter in South Carolina. In addition, Tim has recorded numerous CDs for Upward Ministries, an international sports ministry for children. In support of this ministry, the Upward band plays training and awards programs nationally. This band consists mainly of players from Spartanburg Community Church and has also backed-up Christian recording artist Russ Lee, former lead singer of the band New Song. Tim also continues to play numerous youth camps and many other major events in the southeast along with continuing his private teaching studio.
Tim’s passion for playing was inspired by many of his drum heroes on his favorite records. Originally self-taught, he played in pop and rock bands for a number of years before he began studying with a local teacher. It was during this time Tim realized that he needed to take the study of percussion more seriously. This led to his decision to move to Los Angeles and enroll in Musician’s Institute. He continued his music studies at Santa Monica College and continued to study privately. He then began performing in the Los Angeles music scene in a variety of genres ranging from funk and rock to jazz/fusion bands.
Seven years later, Tim found his way back to his home town to be closer to his family. He reunited with a number of friends and formed what would become a regional favorite band, Tobacco Road. The group spent a number of years playing major festivals, fairs, and prominent night clubs around the Southeast, and opened for national acts including Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town, Sawyer Brown, Delbert McClinton and others. Tobacco Road released its self-titled CD on an independent label and continues to write, record and play select shows.
While continuing to work as a freelance drummer, Tim met straight-ahead sax player Patrick Langham, which allowed him to further develop the jazz language he had studied in LA. Langham became his mentor for playing in the idiom. Tim continued his studies at USC Upstate, taking private lessons from Keith Brown of the University of Tennessee and had the opportunity to take a lesson with jazz master Lewis Nash. Tim also stayed connected with the University of Louisville’s Jazz Week and subsequently received the Distinguished Performer Award granting him a scholarship to Jamie Aebersold’s summer jazz camp.
Over the years of studying and teaching privately, Tim has performed with jazz artists such as pianist Ellis Marsalis, trombonist Steve Turre, guitarist Scott Henderson, and bassist Jeff Berlin among others. After earning his bachelors, Tim taught at USC Upstate for three and a half years as Adjunct Music Instructor. He taught Applied Drum Lessons and was the Assistant Director of the Jazz Ensemble. He currently teaches at Hames Music in Gaffney, SC and conducts private lessons in his Spartanburg, SC, studio.
While Tim’s drumming is centered in jazz, his passion for all genres and styles of music gives him an edge. He is best known for his versatility in a wide variety of musical settings. Whether he is playing jazz standards, kicking a big band, or laying down a tight funky groove for a pop or rock tune, his greatest satisfaction comes from creating a vibe in the music and in helping to make the tune groove.
Tim’s influences over the years have come from many directions: the funky grooves of Zigaboo Modeliste and David Garibaldi, the brilliant feel of Jeff Porcaro, the unbelievable versatility of Steve Smith, the undeniable perfect parts of Steve Gadd, the endless boundaries of Vinnie Colaiuta, the swinging hard rock grooves of John Bonham, the progressive thinking of Neal Peart, and jazz masters of the past and present such as Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Roy Haynes, Peter Erskine, Jeff Hamilton, John Riley. The list could go on forever. These artists, and many others, continue to help form Tim’s voice and style in his life-long quest to continue to gain greater skill and ability.
Tim is now the leader of a straight-ahead jazz trio, quartet, and quintet which always features the finest jazz players in the region. He is a member of the Spartanburg Jazz Ensemble, the Spartanburg Community Church Praise and Worship Music Team, and works as a freelance drummer in many styles both live and studio sessions. He is the chapter leader for the first Drummers for Jesus chapter in South Carolina. In addition, Tim has recorded numerous CDs for Upward Ministries, an international sports ministry for children. In support of this ministry, the Upward band plays training and awards programs nationally. This band consists mainly of players from Spartanburg Community Church and has also backed-up Christian recording artist Russ Lee, former lead singer of the band New Song. Tim also continues to play numerous youth camps and many other major events in the southeast along with continuing his private teaching studio.