Answering Your Q's Q: What were your earliest memories of drum influences? I started right after high school when I got my first drum-set and met some other musicians. I have been a big fan of Phil Collins & Genesis , Joey Kramer of Aerosmith and Neil Peart from Rush . But, really, I just had this drive to get on stage. I played drum-set for about nine years and a lot of different music such as rock, country, blues, reggae, R. & B.; even in a waltz band, ( Yawn ). When I saw Lenny Castro perform with Toto - that really turned me on to percussion. It made me think that, whoa, there are other things out there than just drums-et; you know, shakers & cowbells, timbales and congas. It wasn't long before I got my first set of congas, and not long after that I met David Thiaw, a Senegalese Drum Master, who became my mentor. I have always respected his playing; what he can do with a djembe is just magical. He is a master with his hands. Soon I was into tal...