Bob Viramontes - Drummer

I grew up a poor black child in Oakland. Wait! that's not right!!!!  How about this:  Started playing at the age of 9 after finding a pair of Dad's sticks in the kitchen drawer. First paying, union gig at 18 in the pit band at the T&D Follies in Oakland; yup a burlesque house. After that, I basically became a drum gypsy, shows in Lake Tahoe, one nighters in the Bay Area, house drummer for different clubs in the South Bay, freelance with the Walt Tolleson Agency, and drummer for the S.F. Forty-niners in 1985. Formal education was with Dave Black, formerly with Duke Ellington, Bobby Troup, Lena Horne. Also words of advice from Sonny Payne of the Count Basie Orchestra, and any other drummer's brain I could pick and chops I could bag. I'm very thankful to have had these experiences, because they have laid a musical foundation that enables me to be a part of this wonderful Big Band and help to continue this musical tradition.