Chad Rager

Chad Rager heard Benny Goodman's greatest drummer, Gene Krupa when Chad was 12 years old. He knew this was how drums should be played. His goal was to reach that level of drumming. After hearing Gene Krupa the next drummer who had impact on him was Buddy Rich. Gene's drumming on the song "Sing, Sing, Sing” changed the way audiences viewed the drummer and made the drummer a star. Buddy Rich took this concept to a level not seen before or since. His overwhelming technique and musicality became a dominant influence in Chad's playing. Buddy's perspective can be heard in the power of a Rager performance.


Irv Cottler (Frank Sinatra's great drummer) showed Chad how to swing with a singer. Ron Tutt (Elvis, Neil Diamond) showed him how to play with energy and intensity. Billy Cobham showed the way of fusion drumming and Chad embraced this style and added it to his playing concepts. The legendary Louie Bellson encouraged him to start his own modern big band as did Roy Burns who continues to be a mentor to Chad. David Garibaldi and Bernard Purdie gave him his funk concept. And John Bonham changed rock drumming and Chad added this concept to his own drumming as well.


Chad sites tap dancer Steve Condos as his musical father. Steve showed him how to combine all of these influences into a cohesive package and helped him become a complete drummer. Steve's idea of combining rhythms between hands and feet and placing them anywhere on the drums and cymbals changed Chad's drumming to a dancer's point of view. He was able to use all his influences with Steve's guidance to become the drummer you hear now.