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Part 1 of 2What a great talk with the great Lee Kelley!\xa0 Drummer for Hank Williams Jr.https://leekelleyondrums.com/Lee:\xa0 I was born and raised in Concord, NC. \xa0Just Northeast of Charlottle, it was a town of 25,000 back then. \xa0As long as I can remember, music was around.\xa0 Whether it be the turntables or 8 tracks; where my older brothers played rock and roll of the\xa060s &\xa070s, Dad listened to older country artists\xa0or Mom\u2019s Pontiac Bonneville, which seemed to always have the hits\xa0playing through it\u2019s car stereo from either 61AM Big Ways, 95FM WROQ\xa0or 1100 WBT-AM\u2026Music was always a comforting companion.\xa0 \xa0 \xa0 Not coming from a particularly musical family other than them playing the radio, the\xa0drum bug came from the next door neighbor playing and then taking it from there. \xa0I was playing with records by 8-9 years old; began school band in 7th grade with the natural progression through high school playing in marching, jazz and symphonic bands throughout.\xa0 \xa0 \xa0 Since music was not viewed in my family as something you pursued as a career, I studied English Literature & Writing at Pfeiffer University\xa0until my senior year in 1990-91\xa0when long time friend and a musical mentor, Rick Lee, called and said, "I'm forming a new band and you're the drummer." \xa0This was the beginnings of my music career\xa0and the 2019 Carolina Beach Music Hall Of Fame band, Too Much Sylvia.\xa0 \xa0 \xa0 After leaving TMS in 1994, I\xa0played with a few different bands\xa0out of Charlotte and all around the East Coast through 1996. \xa0In September 1996,\xa0a weeklong\xa0trip to Nashville, TN put the hook in and I moved to Music City on January 11,\xa01997. \xa0Fortunately, I got club and road work pretty quickly while learning constantly along the way. \xa0The idea\xa0was to make a living while seeing the world and that plan came to fruition over the years\xa0backing artists like Gary Allan, Mark Chesnutt, Heidi Newfield, Kelly Pickler, Loverboy, Kendell Marvel and, now, Hank Williams Jr. \xa0Also, to be able to play and share time\xa0with some of the finest musicians & people along the way has just been magic. It's a ride I can't get off of...Nor do I want to.\xa0 \xa0 \xa0Along with time on the road with Hank Jr., I offer drum/percussion tracks to any clients out of the "Boom Boom Drum Room", do club/showcase/session work around town and\xa0spend\xa0time caring for my family. \xa0It's never boring and music is STILL a comforting companion.\xa0 \xa0 Hope to see y'all\xa0at a show sometime!!September 1989-Present: Freelance Studio/Touring Musician--Drums & Percussion\xa0National/International Acts*Click on Name for Artist Site or Apple Music\xa0link for their Music*May 2019-Present:\xa0Hank Williams Jr.\xa0(Apple Music)November 2017-Present:\xa0Kendell Marvel\xa0(Apple Music)September 2016-September 2018:\xa0Jeff BatesJanuary 2017-March 2017:\xa0Subbing Drummer-Loverboy\xa0(Apple Music)January 2016-September 2016:\xa0Time Off for Shoulder Surgery & Recovery-Elite Sports MedicineMarch 2015-May 2015:\xa0Subbing Drummer-Aaron Tippin\xa0(Apple Music)March 2010-July 2014:\xa0Heidi Newfield\xa0(Apple Music)March 2013-May 2013:\xa0Subbing Drummer-Kellie Pickler\xa0(Apple Music)February 2012-October 2012:\xa0Chris Knight\xa0(Apple Music)August 2008-Mid. 2012:\xa0Jeremy McComb\xa0(Apple Music)March 2003-October 2008:\xa0Mark Chesnutt\xa0(Apple Music)February 2007-April 2007:\xa0Subbing Drummer-Trent Tomlinson\xa0(Apple Music)February 2002-August 2005:\xa0Shannon Lawson\xa0(Apple Music)November 2001-February 2002:\xa0Ricky Van Shelton\xa0(Apple Music)March 1998-February 2002:\xa0Gary Allan\xa0(Apple Music)