#65 Nate Morton- Drummer for NBC's "The Voice" and More!
Our featured guest this week is Nate Morton, and aside from holding down a "day job" of playing on NBC's "The Voice", he has some pretty cool credits too.
We talked about the March For Our Lives, and to help lift some spirits, we chose, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as our iconic recording (the Deniece Williams & Al Green version).
Our product review for this week are the Rupert Neve D.I boxes (direct input).
Music News for this week.....
First up are top tax deductions for musicians. Physical music has outsold digital downloads for the first time since 2011. A music executive says iTunes music downloads are about to be shut down.
Nate had two major influences. One being Animal from the Muppet show and the toy drumset (with paper heads)
The other influence being the Tennessee State University Aristocrat Marching Band which is part of the HBCU (Historically Black College and Universities) Marching Band circuit.
This is the Last Drumline battle from the movie "Drumline". You can click through this to see some (Easter eggs) from the movie, including the real drumlines and marching bands used in casting.
Grant Menafee was one of the primary teachers Nate had in his formative years in the Baltimore, MD area. Dave Sitek is one of Nate's oldest friends in the music business.
The album that was "life changing" or inspiring for Nate was: Kiss "Dynasty". And the song "I Was Made for Loving You" was the song Nate mentioned for the fill.
Here are some more details on the Columbia House Record and Tape Club.
Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Lisa Stansfield were a few of the records Nate played along to in his college years. Some of the 45s that used to make their way through Nate's rotation were: George Clinton, The (Mighty) O'Jays, The Temptations, Chuck Berry, The Beatles, Gladys Knight. Booker T. and the MGs, specifically the tune "Soul Limbo".
In college at Berklee College of Music, Nate enjoyed numerous GRP artists (as well as others) like Chick Corea, Eric Marienthal, John Patitucci, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Peter Erskine, Dennis Chambers, John Scofield, Mike Stern, & Omar Hakim.
Nate refers to The Voice band as his family.
Nate uses: Pearl Drums & Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals & Sticks, Remo Drumheads, Roland Electronics, E-Pad! Practice Pads, Big Fat Snare Drum, Cympad, Kelly SHU, WingKey, Kick Pro Pillows & Sennheiser Headphones exclusively.
You can pick up the album Nate did with Kenwood Anderson called "Funky Jazzy Stuff" HERE. Pick it up and help his kids take tennis lessons!!!!!
(The Najee song "Tokyo Blue" Nate refers to having Omar Hakim playing drums.)
You can follow Nate on his Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & YouTube or you can email Nate here: contact@natemorton.com
