#185 Ed Toth- Drummer for The Doobie Brothers, Button, Cooper, Vertical Horizon & More!
Photo of Ed taken by Mike Coeyman.
Ed Toth is an American musician who currently plays drums for The Doobie Brothers. Toth joined the Doobies in 2005 following his departure from Vertical Horizon.
Always interested in music, Toth says that he has been drumming most of his life. He made good use of his father's record collection and was active in all music programs in East Lyme, Connecticut, playing in his high school band at East Lyme High School. He went on to the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in 1994. While still at school, Toth became a member of the funk/rock band Jennifer Culture.
Toth has played in numerous other rock and funk bands over the last decade. Most notably, he was a member of Vertical Horizon from 1996–2005. Toth's association with the group began when he was working at a Boston Borders Books; The mother of Vertical Horizon's lead singer and guitarist Matt Scannell, was shopping in the bookstore and asked Ed for a Vertical Horizon CD, which he had listened to and quite enjoyed. His enthusiasm for the recording impressed Scannell's mother so much that, in gratitude for the assistance she received at the store, she offered to put the bookstore manager and a friend on the guest list for a Vertical Horizon show at Mama Kin, an Aerosmith-owned nightclub, also in Boston. Toth went to the show as the manager's friend; and when the band had an opening for a drummer, Toth auditioned for the spot.
When the Doobie Brothers' drummer, Keith Knudsen, died of cancer in 2005; Toth was selected to fill his spot with the band. He has remained as drummer for the band, first in addition to Michael Hossack. After Hossack's untimely passing, Tony Pia was added, and after Pia's departure, Ed became the sole drummer in the band, and later percussionist Marc Quiñones joined the band after the passing of Gregg Allman. Ed has been influenced by Stewart Copeland, Neil Peart, Bill Bruford and a host of other virtuoso drummers. Toth has also produced some critically acclaimed albums and started a band called Cooper with his friend, Tim Bradshaw.
Gig Alerts
FANS is thrilled to bring you Mavis 80, A Newport Folk Revival presented by Anti Records on Friday, July 31! Mavis 80 will feature Mavis Staples, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, Ben Harper, Trombone Shorty, Grace Potter, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucius, M. Ward, Joe Henry and many more. Mavis Staples needs no introduction. The legendary gospel and soul singer was an integral part of the Staple Singers and is a successful solo artist and civil rights activist. Mavis will be celebrated by a bevy of incredible artists whom she has worked with across her career including Ben Harper who produced and wrote her latest album, We Get By. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, July 14 at 10AM ET. Proceeds go to support the Newport Festival Foundation’s educational initiatives that celebrate innovation while preserving the deep traditions inherent in Jazz and Folk music.
Beginning on July 11th, outdoor theater performances and outdoor concerts can recommence with socially distanced crowds in England. (The other United Kingdom nations are following their own reopening guidelines; Northern Ireland will host Europe’s first socially distanced music festival next month.) To be sure, British government officials are encouraging citizens to “Enjoy Summer Safely” by patronizing their favorite establishments once again.
In May, shortly after drive-in concerts began to pick up steam in Europe, YouTuber Marc Rebillet unveiled America’s first drive-in tour. Country music mainstay Garth Brooks then rallied behind the idea of a socially distanced audience, offering a one-night-only concert at 300 drive-ins across North America. Additionally, Live Nation’s “Live from the Drive-In” series is set to kick off tomorrow, while Walmart plans to convert 160 of its parking lots into drive-in theaters (in partnership with Tribeca Enterprises) later this summer.
Now, country stars Trace Adkins and Blake Shelton, as well as Shelton’s Grammy-winning partner, Gwen Stefani, are preparing to release a drive-in concert of their own. Under the “Drive-In Encore Nights” banner, the specially recorded performance will stream at drive-ins across the U.S. and Canada – not unlike Garth Brooks’s once-off drive-in special, which Encore Live also promoted.
Educational Spotlight
Purpose:
To encourage and reward composers who write music for percussion instruments and to increase the number of quality compositions written for percussion.
2020 Competition:
Duet for two performers with at least one percussion part. Any combination of instruments may be used (as long as at least one part is for percussion), including a duet for two percussionists. Electronic audio accompaniment (fixed audio or live electronics) does not count as the second performer.
Product Review
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Iconic Recording
Credits…..
Vocals: Celia Cruz , Coro: Santos Colón, Coro: Willie Torres, Coro: Chivirico Davila, Piano: Charlie Palmieri, Conga: Frankie Malabe, Bongos: Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez, Timbales: Kako, Bass Guitar: Bobby Rodriguez, Trumpet: Victor Paz, Trumpet: Pedro “Puchi” Boulong, Saxophone: Mario Rivera, Composer/Lyricist: Rudy Calzado, Arranger, Work Arranger: Louie Ramirez, Arranger, Work Arranger: Bobby Valentin, Arranger/Work Arranger: Tito Puente, Arranger/Work Arranger: Charlie Palmieri, Producer/Recording Producer: Al Santiago, Producer/Recording Producer: Tito Puente, Studio Personnel/Engineer: Frank Kulaga, Studio Personnel/Engineer: Fred Weinberg.
The article that Damon refers about Celia Cruz's album 'Son Con Guaguancó' and her bridge to fame in exile can be found HERE.
Music News
Pearl Jam, the Eagles, Guns N’ Roses, and Green Day are among the bands who have received loans from the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program, Rolling Stone reports. - Article
Owing to health concerns stemming from the novel coronavirus, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has canceled its 2020 live induction ceremony and opted instead to release a special about this year’s nominees. - Article
Anita White has spent decades singing the blues as Lady A. Weeks after Grammy-winning country trio Lady Antebellum changed their name to Lady A to acknowledge the former name’s racial connotation, she worries she’s being erased. - Article
The history behind the Antebellum south can be found HERE.
The White House and members of U.S. Congress are likely to make a decision on a second stimulus check by July 31st, according to Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin. - Article
Candido Camero’s GoFundMe campaign was established in hopes of helping him raise funds that will allow him to continue to pay his home attendants as well as the additional Medicare costs. -GoFundMe
The song leading into the interview is “Black Veil” by Button.
Ed Toth Interview
Damon and Ed met on The Mayercraft, a rock cruise hosted by Sixthman. Damon had heard of Ed by doing the show Blast! in London with Ed’s brother. Damon marched the Boston Crusaders when Andy (Ed’s brother) was in the Cadets, and when Damon got to the Cadets, Andy had moved onto the Cavaliers.
Damon and Ed are both from CT. They both participated in their respective marching band programs of Norwalk High School, and East Lyme High School. Shout-out to percussionist and Umass and East Lyme alumni, Brian Tinkel.
Damon and Ed briefly talk about New Haven style Pizza, or Apizza as it is referred to. Ed worked at Record World in New Haven at the Chapel Square Mall.
Ed’s first memory around the house growing up was of his father, Brian who is a guitar player. Brian was also an audiofile, so there was an assortment of music that the Toth children were exposed to.
Ed’s first lessons were at Caruso Music and then moved onto Brian at Betterini Music in Southington, CT. Ed and Damon both used Haskell Harr’s book one at some point in their tutelage. Ed talks about rudiments and their use in pop songs, like flams in “Ticket to Ride” by the Beatles.
Ed talks about the importance of taking lessons from a professional in addition to learning online. Also, being critical of what gets posted online. Damon brings up some drummers that have a limited (or no) social media presence vs drummers that put out a lot of content. Ed talks about quality vs quantity. Damon talks about how to use social media as a tool.
Aaron Sterling has a great sound library called The Bucket if you’re interested in that.
Shout-out to The Lawnboys. One of the first bands Ed played in. Absolute R&B was another band that Ed had playing top 40 music with a horn section.
Ed attended the University of Miami at the Frost School of Music. He also was a member of the Bayonne Bridgemen drum corps in 1985. Shout-out to Rich DiCapio.
Damon talks about the gig triangle. The three M’s are Music, Mates and Money. You should have at least two of the three to accept a gig. The fourth wild card that could sway your decision is the Milieu. That means a person's social environment (or gig location).
Knowing if you are the right person for the gig is an important realization. Passing on something and recommending someone more qualified for the genre could save you some embarrassment.
The coronavirus is real. The Covid party that Ed is referring to happened in Tuscaloosa, AL and also San Antonio, TX.
Ed talks about being fortunate to have been in Vertical Horizon in addition to having a gig with the Doobie Brothers, a band he has loved since he was a kid.
Damon brings up two other bands Ed has been in. Cooper (with Tim Bradshaw) and Button. He mentions his relationship with the artist manager Michael McDonald (not the vocalist).
Ed talks about crowdfunding and some of the advantages.
Ed and Damon talk about some of the Yankees that were also musicians. The pitcher Damon couldn’t think of is David Wells.
Damon bought a tape machine that will convert cassettes into MP3s that Ed was inquiring about. You can get one from AMAZON.
Damon asks Ed what it is like to play with Marc Quiñones.
Ed uses Drum Workshop drums (Damon talks about the ultralight hardware), Evans drumheads, Zildjian cymbals (shout-out to Paul Francis), Vic Firth sticks and mallets (specifically the X5B Puregrit).
Ed and Damon talk about what it means to have an endorsement.
You can follow Ed on Facebook and Instagram or on tour with the Doobie Brothers (after the coronavirus quarantine).
The song leading out of the interview is called Digit by the band “Button”.
