Tommy Snyder is a singer/songwriter, drummer, producer, recording artist, clinician and Roland demonstrator.



He plays drums in Japanese band Godiego and with his daughter and singer Shanti.



Tommy Snyder started lessons with Chet Nicora, a local teacher in Springfield, Mass when he was seven years old. In the beginning, there was only a practice pad. Then a snare drum with a Billy Gladstone pad on it. Snayder recalls:

"Rudiments, rudiments and more rudiments. About a year later my Dad bought a used Slingerland drum set (Gold Sparkle with a 24" bass drum). My older brother was also taking lessons so we shared the kit, playing/practicing to records; Count Basie, Eddie Condon, Bags Groove, Ella etc. and with my piano playing Father, Sid."

Tommy Snyder began performing in nightclubs as a drummer with his father at the age of nine.



Later he took some lessons with Joe Sefjic, one teacher of Joe Morello. He also studied with Joe Porcaro, on Vibes as well. Tommy also studied vibraphone with Al Lepak, one of Joe's teachers, back then the head of the Percussion department at the Hartt School Of Music, University of Hartford and a renowned tympanist and educator. Alexander Lepak has been the principle tympanist for the Hartford Symphony Orchestra for 56 years.



More recently Tommy Snyder did clinics for Tama, playing double drums with Billy Cobham and Elvin Jones.



He also started helping out Roland with their development of electronic percussion. He is still very involved today on the R&D side as well as doing presentations, demonstrations at trade fairs, clinics, workshops etc.



Tommy Snyder has released at least six albums as a solo artist, did productions for tv and film, and jingles as well.