Tracy is a professional drummer and instructor based in Chicago. He has over 20 years of stage and studio experience covering all styles and eras. From swing to rock, blues to Latin and country to dance/pop/R&B, Tracy brings a great feel, plenty of chops, and an entertaining stage presence to every performance. His playing career includes concert halls, clubs, casinos, festivals, and corporate/social events. Along with state-of-the-art equipment (acoustic or electric) for any situation, Tracy can provide background vocals and has worked extensively with loops and backing tracks.
Biography
A Chicago native, Tracy was raised in a musical family. With a father and older brother both drummers, his passion for drums and music have been literally life-long.
Tracy majored in music in college and, starting at age 9, has studied under several great teachers including renowned NBC staff drummer Max Mariash, the late, great Chicago drummer, teacher and band leader Tony Caselli, and classical percussion studies with Mike McLead. Additional private lessons followed with masters such as Rusty Jones and Johnny Rabb.
Tracy’s earliest professional experience started at 13 playing for local area church and school musical productions. Since then his music career has taken him to venues large and small, from the east coast to Las Vegas and throughout the mid-west including the Surf Ballroom, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, Metro, Vic Theatre, Arcada Theatre, Shubas, House of Blues and many others.
Tracy’s playing/recording credits include work with many great Chicago bands and artists. He has also shared the stage with such notables as The Samples, The Radiators, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Edwin McCain, The Grassroots, Jazz is Dead, Buddy Holly’s Crickets, Edan Don Everly, Remembering Ricky Nelson featuring Gunnar and Matthew Nelson, Johnny Rivers, and others.
In addition to a busy live performance schedule, Tracy is very active in drum education and maintains a thriving teaching practice out of his home studio (see the Lessons page for more info). He also studies piano in his spare time.
