#430 Clayton Craddock- Drummer, Podcaster, Educator and More!
This week’s guest is Clayton Craddock! Clayton is the founder of Broadway Drumming 101, a comprehensive online platform dedicated to providing specialized mentorship and a meticulously curated collection of resources.
Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include: tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill, and Ain’t Too Proud – The Life And Times Of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. He has subbed for shows like Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, Spongebob Squarepants – The Musical, Hadestown (tour), and many more.
Clayton has appeared on The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, the TONY Awards, and performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Boyle, Norm Lewis, Denise Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.
Clayton is a proud endorser of Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Ahead Drum Cases, Aquarian Drumheads, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Bruno Esrubilsky! Bruno is an Argentine born-Brazilian raised drummer and percussionist based in Brooklyn, NYC.
Graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Bruno moved to New York in 2011. Since then, Bruno has toured every continent of the world, played drums on the hit Broadway show Hedwig and The Angry Inch (4x Tony Awards winner), appeared on many TV shows (credit list below), has performed at festivals such as Coachella, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Java Jazz Festival (Indonesia), Fuji Rock Festival (Japan) and legendary concert venues such as Radio City Music Hall (NYC), Red Rocks Amphitheater, Ryman Auditorium (Nashville), Kennedy Center (DC), Central Park SummerStage (NYC) and The Filmore (San Francisco). Recording credits include records in the USA, Japan, Argentina and Brazil (more in MUSIC section).
Bruno has played on countless headlining and supporting tours (including Lorde, Adam Lambert, Amos Lee, Grouplove, Neon Trees and more). During the Fall 2018, Bruno wrapped MITSKI’s sold out Be The Cowboy 2018 Europe/North America Tour, including a 4 night sold out stint at Brooklyn Steel.
Throughout 2019, Bruno toured the world twice over with indie-rocker Mitski, performing at some of the world’s biggest stages and festivals, while also touring on the side with Jake Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’s band and performing with British artist YUNGBLUD. Bruno also taped Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater in Austin, Texas, with Mitski, which aired on January 18th 2020; and was featured on the September issue of Modern Drummer Magazine.
Happy Birthday to Steve Fidyk! Known for his versatility and musical approach, jazz drummer Steve Fidyk has earned national and international acclaim as an artist, author, composer and columnist. His third recording as a leader features an all-star band of New York’s finest — the impressive front-line of trumpet legend Joe Magnarelli and tenor titan Xavier Perez, alongside the rhythm team of pianist Peter Zak, and bassist Michael Karn. Each member is an active, contributing participant that pushes Fidyk’s hard hitting rhythmic and melodic message direct to the theatre of operations.
Steve’s father John Fidyk, who played tenor saxophone with groups throughout North Eastern Pennsylvania, began taking him on gigs as a substitute drummer at the age of eight. Encouraged by his parents, Fidyk pursued music throughout high school, and majored in music education at Wilkes University. He played drums in the big band under the direction of Bob Wilbur and eventually Tom Heinze. It was at this time that he began to immerse himself in jazz, listening to the great big bands of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and Buddy Rich. Rich was the first jazz drummer Fidyk saw perform live when he was eight years old, and that experience left a lasting impression.
In 1987, after hearing Fidyk play with the Mansfield State College big band, legendary jazz drummer Joe Morello accepted him as a student. Morello was instrumental in helping Steve with his technique, sound production, coordination, and overall approach to playing the instrument. Morello was also helpful with developing his articulate teaching skills, and Fidyk has been dedicated and committed to education ever since.
For over 21 years, Steve Fidyk was the drummer and featured soloist with the Army Blues Big Band, a premier 17- piece jazz ensemble stationed in Washington DC. During his tenure, he performed for seven US Presidents, numerous dignitaries and in 2008, traveled throughout the Middle East supporting the troops during a USO Holiday Tour. Fidyk currently leads a quartet featuring his original compositions and arrangements. He also performs throughout the US with small groups led by tenor saxophonist Walt Weiskopf and guitarist Jack Wilkins. He is a member of the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia, a big band led by trumpeter Terell Stafford.
As an educator, Fidyk is a member of the jazz studies faculty at Temple University, The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and serves an educational consultant for Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Program. He has authored several drum methods for Mel Bay and Alfred Publications, and contributes columns on a regular basis to Modern Drummer Magazine.
Fidyk has appeared on over 100 recordings and his discography as a co-leader includes Big Kids with John DeSalme (U.S. Roots), and two recordings with The Taylor/Fidyk Big Band: A Perfect Match (Write Groove, 2003) and Live at Blues Alley (OA2, 2006). His debut as a bandleader was Heads Up! (Posi-Tone, 2014) featuring Terell Stafford and Tim Warfield. His follow-up recording, Allied Forces (Posi-Tone, 2016) featured Brian Charette, Doug Webb and Joseph Henson. Both solo recordings feature Steve's original compositions and arrangements.
Steve Fidyk attended the University of North Texas, and holds degrees from Wilkes University and The University of Maryland, College Park. He was a student of Joe Morello, Ed Soph, John Riley, Ralph Peterson, Robert Nowak and Angelo Stella.
Happy Birthday to Ray Yslas! Ray is one of modern music’s most accomplished percussionists, appearing frequently on major concerts, recording sessions, music festivals, and on television. He has performed on international tours with platinum artists including Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Willie Nelson, Idina Menzel, Colbie Caillat, Patti Labelle and the Backstreet Boys, and his network TV appearances include The Grammy Awards, Saturday Night Live, Oprah, American Idol, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, and VH-1 Storytellers. Ray is distinguished in the industry by his intuitive musicality and consummate professionalism, and through working with an astonishing spectrum of signature vocalists, he has developed a truly orchestral approach to building his percussive arrangements, by treating each song as a story. Ray developed his musical instincts in the burgeoning Latin music community of Los Angeles, and he has worked with superstars like Juan Gabriel, Luz Casal, Pepe Aguilar, Joan Sebastian and Alejandro Fernandez.
Happy Birthday to Scott Pellegrom! Scott is known throughout the drumming community as the “mad scientist.” His playing as a soloist and band leader exudes creativity, from surprising ideas to blinding hand speed, using found objects to pulling unconventional sounds from conventional instruments. Videos of his hyper-creative playing can be seen on Drumeo, the Dream Cymbals and PDP/DW Drums social media channels, Scott’s Instagram (@scottpellegrom), and numerous other places around the web. Incorporating elements of drum and bass, jungle, and fearless improvisation into his playing, this “drummer’s drummer” defies expectation and genre, whether it’s playing jazz standards or today’s most experimental music.
Performing since the age of 5, Scott currently leads his own band, SP3, works as a chameleon-like head of percussionist and session drummer at Third Coast Recording Studios, and is an in-demand sideman for renowned artists spanning genres and styles. His reputation as an exciting, dynamic player has helped him cultivate a globetrotting career as a clinician and educator, teaching private students, masterclasses, and performing at drum festivals around the world.
With a recent Drumeo video passing 5 Million views, 32 thousand Instagram followers, a final four finish in the Guitar Center Drum-Off, and a nomination for Modern Drummer’s “Best Up-and-Coming Player,” Scott’s ability on the kit speaks for itself. As a proud endorser of Dream Cymbals (maker of the signature Scott Pellegrom RE-FX Crop Circle), Remo Drum Heads, PDP Percussion, and Prologix pads, he also travels as a brand ambassador, demonstrating products at Musikmesse, PASIC, and NAMM every year, and working closely with these companies to develop and market unique products for today’s drummers and percussionists.
A self-described “rhythmist,” Scott’s passion for honing his craft seems to spill from his personality, whether performing at a festival for thousands of spectators, leading a school assembly of young non-musicians, or delivering a presentation at a TedX event. As a professional educator, Pellegrom offers both in-person and Skype/Facetime lessons, has twice been featured as a Drumeo presenter, leads workshops, and provides vital technical and philosophical information to drummers of all ages and skill levels.
While his extensive career appearances and performances are too numerous to list, some noteworthy highlights include events like the Victoria Drum Fest, Montreal Drum Festival, PASIC, SXSW, Cape Breton International Drum Festival, Music China, Shanghai Music Mesa, and Australia’s Ultimate Drummers Weekend. He shared the stage with acts such as Karl Denson, Digital Tape Machine, Joel Cummins, Billy Strings, Federico Malaman, Seth Bernard, Theo Katzman, Bernhard Lackner, The Drifters, and many, many others - not to mention appearing at drum festivals alongside many of the greatest players in the world.
Gig Alerts
The Chicago Drum Show is happening at the Prairie Events Center on the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, Illinois on May 17 & 18, 2025 from 10am to 5pm. Friend of the show, Carter McLean will be one of the clinicians.
Lady Gaga is going back out on tour this summer into the fall in North America, Europe and the UK.
Educational Spotlght
Friend of the show, Shawn Mativetsky is having his 15th annual summer tabla workshop at McGill University in Montreal Quebec, Canada.
Northwestern University is having a Summer Percussion Symposium from July 28-Aug 2, hosted by She-e Wu. There are lots of great clinicians and instructors, including friends of the show, Christopher Lamb, Marcelina Suchocka, Annie Stevens, and Keith Aleo.
Iconic Recording
Clayton picked the iconic recording. He chose, “I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby” by Barry White with Ed Greene on drums.
Music News
Friends of the show, “Sandbox Percussion/David Skidmore” had a performance on NPR Music’s, Tiny Desk Concert.
With Kid Rock at his side, Trump signs executive order targeting ticket scalping -Read More
The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is praising a proposed bill in California that would ban the practice of speculative ticketing—selling tickets that aren’t actually in hand. -Read More
Grammys On The Hill, music’s biggest week in Washington, D.C., kicks off this week with country legend Randy Travis leading the celebrity charge. -Read More
Clayton Craddock Interview
The song leading into the interview is, “I Can’t Get Next To You” by the Temptaitions, from the musical ‘Ain’t Too Proud!’
Damon mentions the first time he met Clayton at THIS GIG. Shout-out to Michael Aarons.
Clayton talks about his time playing Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.
Clayton grew up in Manchester, CT.
He was in a rock band as a kid called Evil Twins.
Clayton talks about the Kirby vaccuum and the soul music and classic rock of his youth thanks to his siblings and mom.
He talks about his various musical experiences and multiple genres.
Clayton attended Howard University.
Spinal Tap 2 is coming out this summer.
Damon and Clayton talk about black musicians in rock music. Especially Parliament and Funkadelic.
Damon mentions the book The Big Payback.
Clayton talks about some NYC history.
Clayton talks about some of the birth of hip hop.
Clayton mentions THIS PUBLIC ENEMY ALBUM. Damon mentions THIS MTV UNPLUGGED series.
Clayton is a podcast host.
Clayton talks about the workshop he’s involved in. He also talks about how to approach getting a Broadway gig.
Shout-out to Matt Beck.
Shout-out to Kenny Semour.
Damon and Clayton talk about why you should take a gig or not.
Clayton elaborates on how important his family is to him.
Clayton writes social commentary for his Substack publication Think Things Through and other publications, hosts the Think Things Through Podcast
This is the Jay-Z song with the “business man” line.
Shout-out to Dan Grennes.
Damon explains how to split rhythms on marching bass drums. He also explains Thom Hannum’s system of rhythmic Check Patterns.
Clayton picks the iconic recording for the week. He also chooses “Sailing” by Christopher Cross.
Shout-out to the Yacht Rock Documentary.
Shout-out to (friend of the show) Rich Redmond and his interview with Ed Greene.
Clayton suggests listening to “Hum Along and Dance”
Shout-out to Bobby Caldwell.
Clayton uses Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Ahead drum cases, Paiste cymbals, Air Turn Tap, Aquarian Drumheads, and Empire Ears.
Shout-out to Matt Beck, His mom and dad.
Clayton might investigate Lake Tahoe. Damon mentions skydiving the ranch.
You can follow Clayton on his Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
The song leading out of the interview is “Monsters” by Ari Hest from the album, ‘Someone To Tell’.
