Rick Latham

Rick Latham is among the rare breed of drummers who easily fit and move within many musical styles and performing situations. Considered by many as a “guru of contemporary linear drumming,” Rick literally “wrote the book” when he penned his classic Advanced Funk Studies, which Modern Drummer magazine names among “The Top 25 Drum Books Ever Published.” This book, along with his Contemporary Drumset Techniques, has shaped modern drumming as we now know it.

Rick earned his bachelor’s degree in percussion from East Carolina University, where he studied with Harold Jones. He was then granted a full scholarship-teaching assistantship to the University of North Texas, teaching marimba and snare drum. Rick studied with Jim Hall, Ron Fink, Robert Schietroma, and Henry Okstel while pursuing his master’s in percussion. At UNT, he also performed in the jazz lab bands, symphony orchestra, percussion ensembles, and wind ensemble while instructing the drum line. The Southern-born “Stickman” has spent the past four decades as a member of the vibrant Los Angeles music scene, performing, touring, and recording with a diverse collective of artists from all genres, such as THE EDGAR WINTER BAND, JUICE NEWTON, CHUCK RAINEY, B. B. KING, BILL WATROUS, DAVID FRIEDMAN, and RICK DERRINGER. His versatility has also been highlighted on the theme for television’s 9 TO 5 series, FAME, a QUINCY JONES–produced soundtrack, FAST FORWARD, and, more recently, GONE IN 60 SECONDS, DAREDEVIL, and SPIDERMAN.

While splitting his time between homes in California and South Carolina, he continues his career at a whirlwind pace. Rick is currently touring and recording with blues legend MAC ARNOLD while performing at masterclasses, drum clinics, and workshops around the world. He also stays busy in his home studio, writing and recording tracks for various artists as well as teaching privately.

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