Preston Ritter - Has been playing professionally for 47 years and made his big break starting out with Dobie Gray. Preston was the drummer on all The Electric Prunes' hit recordings from 1966 to 1967.
Preston playing with Electric Prunes on Smothers Brothers TV show '67
Preston playing with the Electric Prunes on the Mike Douglas Show in 1967
Preston Ritter in the Dantes (1963)
Preston Ritter - Louie Bellson
Buddy Rich and Preston Ritter around 1972
Preston has played with other great artists such as Neil Diamond, James Brown, Linda Ronstadt, Bo Diddley, the Beach Boys, Dobie Gray, Fats Domino, Barbara Striesand, The Graham Bond Organization (England), and Sassy Class. He has also appeared on TV's shows like The Ed Sullivan show, Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Dick Clark's American Bandstand, Dick Clark's Where The Action Is, The Mike Douglas Show, Cyd Charisse Special, and The Hy Litt TV show. He is on the orginal sound track of the movie "Easy Rider" and is a contributing writer for "Classic Drummer Magazine".
Teaching all styles:
Rock, Jazz, Swing, Big Band, Soul, Funk, R&B, Marching/Drum Corps, Orchestra, Latin, etc. Learn music reading & notation. How to learn drum parts by ear from recordings. How to play with a "click track" for steady time. Drum Rudiments Matched Grip or Traditional Grip. Also, Polynesian / Tahitian drumming (Toere & Pahu ). My Equipment 1970s Rogers Dble-Bass Drum set (Gift from Louie Bellson- 1972). Roland Pro-V Drums electronic drum set. w/ Roland keyboard amp. Location Learn at my residence or at your own home (if in Los Angeles area). Cost is $35 per hour. Learn at your own pace, no pressure. Beginners to Advanced professionals.
Books, Etc.
I have published several drum books, the most famous being, 67 Backbeats published in 1966. I am included in the book, The Great Rock Drummers of the Sixties, by Bob Cianci. I'm also listed in The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, as well as many others on music history. I am currently working on a series of drum instruction videos with 60s drumming legend, Sandy Nelson ("Teen Beat" & "Let There Be Drums").
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