While he’s well known for 17-years of recording and touring with John Cougar Mellencamp, that impressive body of work is just one facet of Kenny Aronoff’s long and outstanding career that has seen him play on 30 Grammy nominated recordings.

 

A child of the 60s, Aronoff like many, was drawn to drums after watching Ringo on the Ed Sullivan Show. He joined his first band at age 10 and played with local groups as a young teenager.  However, unlike most of the self-taught drummers of the era, he decided to study classical music at age 16 with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, along with the legendary Vic Firth. He continued his music education at the University of Massachusetts and graduated from Indiana University with their prestigious Performer’s Certificate.

 

Today, Kenny Aronoff is one of music’s most sought-after drummers. In addition to Mellencamp, he has worked with a host of greats including Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, The Smashing Pumpkins, Ringo Starr, Sting, Bruno Mars, Lady Ga Ga, Lenny Kravitz, Pharell Williams, Kid Rock, Bob Dylan, Bob Seger, John Fogerty, Jon Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Dave Grohl, Steven Tyler, Crosby Stills and Nash, Slash, Eric Clapton, Melissa Etheridge, Ricky Martin, Jack White, Don Henley, Santana, Glenn Frey, James Taylor, Alanis Morissette, Billy Gibbons, Willie Nelson, Gregg Allman, Keith Urban, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Patti LaBelle, Kris Kristofferson, Sheryl Crow, Joe Cocker, Gladys Knight, Gladys Knight, B. B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Beyonce, Mick Jagger, Ray Charles, Alice Cooper, Tony Iommi, Meat Loaf, Celine Dion, Vince Gill, Aaron Neville, Trisha Yearwood, George Jones, Brad Paisley, The Buddy Rich Big Band and many others.