Ramon Sampson is the winner of Guitar Center\'s Drum-Off, the search for America\'s top undiscovered drummer. This past Friday, January 8th at The Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, the 19-year-old drummer beat out four other Drum-Off finalists from all across the US, winning a prize package worth more than $40,000 and earning the title of Guitar Center\'s Drum-Off Champion 2009.The evening\'s competition was the culmination of months of local and regional competitions held at each of Guitar Center\'s 214 stores across the country - competitions that resulted in selecting the top five undiscovered drummers in the nation from nearly 5,000 competitors.
Prize package
As Guitar Center\'s Drum-Off champion, Ramon takes home a grand prize package worth more than $40,000 including $25,000 cash, a Roland TD-25 electronic drum kit, a custom designed drum kit by Tama, a set of custom signature cymbals from Zildjian, drum, stick, cymbal, and drum head endorsement deals as well as a feature in Modern Drummer magazine, along with a VIP appearance @ NAMM 2010 and a Monster Energy Drink endorsement deal.
Guitar Center\'s Drum-Off finals, hosted by Stephen Perkins (Jane\'s Addiction), also paid homage to the drum greats of past, present, and future and featured exclusive performances by many of today\'s drumming elite. The evening began with a collaboration by metal heavyweights Danny Carey (Tool) and Brann Dailor (Mastodon), followed by the Drum-Off finals where the top five undiscovered drummers in the nation competed for the drum world\'s ultimate prize.
Following the Drum-Off finals was an emotional performance by Jason Bonham and special guests Glenn Hughes and Joe Bonamassa as they paid tribute to his father, the legendary John Bonham of Led Zeppelin.
Next came a surprise performance from drum legend Billy Cobham, whose work with Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis, and Carlos Santana, as well as his own acclaimed solo work earned him the second induction in Guitar Center\'s Drum Legends of the night.
The event culminated in with Tommy Lee and the Street Drum Corps\' Frank Zummo presentation of Bezerk. The wild production, exclusively commissioned by Guitar Center, featured some of the world\'s most accomplished drummers including a phenomenal duet by Max Weinberg (Bruce Springsteen\'s E-Street Band / NBC\'s The Tonight Show) and his son Jay Weinberg, Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Matt Sorum (Guns n\' Roses, Velvet Revolver), José Pasillas (Incubus), Abe Cunningham (Deftones), DJ Aero, Sully Erna (Godsmack), Bang! and more.
