For more than three decades, Steve Gadd has been one of the most influential drummers in the world—and for 30 years, Gadd has played Yamaha drums. To commemorate this special milestone, Yamaha will introduce the Steve Gadd Signature 30th Anniversary Drum Set, a replica of the custom kit that he has played for almost 20 years.\"It\'s an honor to have such a strong association with an artist of Steve\'s stature. He has personally helped Yamaha Drums improve and maintain quality throughout the line over the years. This new kit pays tribute to what he has done not only for Yamaha, but for the world of drumming.\"
Gadd\'s first Yamaha kit, the Recording Custom set (model RC9000), became the most popular professional kit in the world during the 1980s. Gadd also popularized small 10\" toms, introduced floor tom-tom stands, and was also one of the first drummers to use a combination of woods in one kit. Today, he favors birch toms and a maple bass drum. His choice of hardware color is a distinctive black—similar to the kit\'s lacquered acoustic piano-style finish that he helped Yamaha perfect.
The 30th Anniversary Drum Set consists of a 22\" x 14\" Maple Custom bass drum, a 14\" x 5 1/2\" snare, 10\" x 7 1/2\" and 12\" x 8\" hanging toms, and 14\" x 12\" and 16\" x 14\" suspended Birch Custom Absolute floor toms. All toms have chrome Maple Custom style lugs with black hoops, the snare drum with black chrome aluminum die-cast hoops.
Steve Gadd is one of the most acclaimed and accomplished drummers of his generation. He has recorded with an array of distinguished artists, including Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Joe Cocker, Nancy Wilson, Bob James, Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola, and George Benson.
His historic recordings in the 1970s include virtuoso outings on The Leprechaun with pianist Chick Corea and Steely Dan\'s Aja, as well as several cuts with Paul Simon (including \"Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover\" and \"Late in the Evening\"). Still in demand, Gadd has recently toured the world with Simon, Eric Clapton, and James Taylor.
The Steve Gadd 30th Anniversary Signature Drum Set will ship around July/August 2006.
