Jazz Stylist and Educator Steve Houghton Signs with Yamaha Drums

BUENA PARK, Calif.—Steve Houghton, one of the premier drum educators in the world, who has also performed with some of the biggest names in jazz, recently signed with Yamaha Drums.

"Although I am a performer, I am also a teacher who is wholeheartedly committed to education," said Houghton. "A lot of my teaching is centered on band rooms, not necessarily drum shops. Yamaha is a company that has the mallet and percussion focus and also understands that there’s a big need for drum kit education, so I look forward to working shoulder to shoulder with the company’s other great artists and educators, whom I respect a great deal."

In addition to performing with Woody Herman, Freddie Hubbard, Gary Burton, Lyle Mays, Billy Childs, Maureen McGovern, Rosemary Clooney, Bobby Hutcherson, John Williams, and Joe Henderson, Houghton has served as a bandleader with numerous recordings to his credit. A versatile artist, Houghton has also earned renown as a classical percussionist, performing with the Boston Pops, the Philadelphia Pops, the U.S. Army Concert Band and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He frequently appears as a soloist with numerous orchestras and wind ensembles throughout the world.

Houghton is Professor of Percussion and Jazz at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. In addition to his academic duties, he presents yearly clinics and master classes to students around the world, most recently in China, Taiwan and New Zealand, and is Immediate Past President of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS).

Houghton’s publications total more than thirty books, videos and DVDs including Kid's Drumset Course, Essential Styles, The Ultimate Drumset Chart Reading Anthology, Play and Teach Percussion (GIA), Studio and Big Band Drumming, Drumset 101, and The Drumset Soloist. His most recent project, Rhythm Section Workshop for Jazz Directors, is a DVD-book series that addresses the entire rhythm section.

"Yamaha has a strong commitment to education and Steve fits right in," said John Wittmann, Manager of Artist Relations, Yamaha Corporation of America. "He can take advantage of everything we offer as a musical instrument company devoted to furthering the quality of drum and percussion instruction."    

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Yamaha Drums, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; visit www.yamahadrums.com.