Kenny Aronoff

Kenny Aronoff (born March 7, 1953 in Albany, New York) is an American drummer who has been the sideman for many bands both live and in the studio. He is most associated with the John Mellencamp band, also known as "John Cougar Mellencamp", whom he worked with from 1980 to 1996. He is also known for his recorded drums and percussion with many recording artists.

Biography

Early career

Aronoff went to music school for one year at the University of Massachusetts and spent four more years at The Indiana University School of Music (presently known as Jacobs School of Music) as a performance major in classical music as well as spending a summer at the Aspen School of Music run by Juilliard School of Music. He also spent one summer at Tanglewood in the Fellowship program (now Tanglewood Music Center), which at that time was managed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra where he worked with conductors Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and Arthur Feidler. While studying at Indiana University from 1972 to 1976 Aronoff studied under tympanist George Gaber. He also studied under private tutor with Vic Firth and Arthur Press, both formerly with The Boston Symphony Orchestra. After graduating in 1976 he was offered jobs with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and Quito Ecuador Symphony Orchestra but decided instead to move to the East Coast to study Drum Set in Boston with Alan Dawson, a teacher from Berklee College of Music and also with Gary Chester in New York where he began to concentrate on jazz and fusion music.