Todd Sucherman
Encyclopedia
Todd Sucherman is a drummer
who is best known for playing with Styx
since 1996.
Sucherman grew up in a musical family and followed in his father's footsteps by playing the drums. His father, Arnold J. Sucherman, was a doctor by day and a drummer by night, playing in the house band at the famed Chez Parre' in Chicago
. His mother, Jo (Seiwert) Sucherman, was an actress in the 1950s
and 60s
.
Sucherman started playing at two years old. His first paying gig was with his brothers at the age of six under the name "The Sucherman Brothers". The band consisted of Paul on keyboards
, Joel on bass, and Todd on drums.
Sucherman attended Niles West High School
, and then the Berklee College of Music
from September 1987 to May 1988. There he studied with Skip Hadden, Ian Froman and Gary Chaffee, a world renowned educator.
In 1988, Sucherman returned to Chicago and quickly established himself as a noted session musician. As an in demand player for live and session work, Sucherman connected with the band Styx when their drummer John Panozzo
was unable to tour. After John Panozzo's death on July 16, 1996, Sucherman became a full time member.
In addition to Styx duties, he has played with such artists as Brian Wilson
, Tommy Shaw
, Peter Cetera
, Brian Culbertson
, The Falling Wallendas, Steve Cole
, Spinal Tap
.
In September 2008, Sucherman was a featured artist in the prestigious Modern Drummer Festival. He also appeared on the cover of the October 2008 issue of Modern Drummer magazine.
In 2009 the Modern Drummer Magazine voted him number one Rock Drummer in the World.
The gear he currently endorses are Pearl
drums, percussion and hardware, Remo
drumheads, Sabian cymbals and Pro-Mark
drumsticks.
Biological Cousins: Sylvia Seiwert, Luke Seiwert
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
who is best known for playing with Styx
Styx (band)
Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater....
since 1996.
Sucherman grew up in a musical family and followed in his father's footsteps by playing the drums. His father, Arnold J. Sucherman, was a doctor by day and a drummer by night, playing in the house band at the famed Chez Parre' in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. His mother, Jo (Seiwert) Sucherman, was an actress in the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
and 60s
60s
-Significant people:* Boudicca, rebellious British queen* Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, Roman general* Julius Civilis, leader of the Batavian rebellion against the Romans...
.
Sucherman started playing at two years old. His first paying gig was with his brothers at the age of six under the name "The Sucherman Brothers". The band consisted of Paul on keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, Joel on bass, and Todd on drums.
Sucherman attended Niles West High School
Niles West High School
Niles West High School, or NWHS, is a public four-year high school located in Skokie, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in the United States. It is part of Niles Township Community High School District 219, which also includes Niles North High School. Its school teams were originally the Indians, but...
, and then the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
from September 1987 to May 1988. There he studied with Skip Hadden, Ian Froman and Gary Chaffee, a world renowned educator.
In 1988, Sucherman returned to Chicago and quickly established himself as a noted session musician. As an in demand player for live and session work, Sucherman connected with the band Styx when their drummer John Panozzo
John Panozzo
John Anthony Panozzo was an American drummer best known for his work with rock band Styx.Panozzo grew up in the Roseland neighborhood, the south side of Chicago, Illinois, with his fraternal twin brother, Chuck . At age 7, the twins took musical lessons from their uncle in which John took an...
was unable to tour. After John Panozzo's death on July 16, 1996, Sucherman became a full time member.
In addition to Styx duties, he has played with such artists as Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
, Tommy Shaw
Tommy Shaw
Tommy Roland Shaw is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the rock band Styx. In between his stints with Styx, he has played with the supergroup Damn Yankees and Shaw Blades, and has released several solo albums....
, Peter Cetera
Peter Cetera
Peter Paul Cetera is an American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer best known for being an original member of the rock band Chicago, before launching a successful solo career...
, Brian Culbertson
Brian Culbertson
Brian Culbertson is a musician and instrumentalist from Decatur, Illinois, United States. Son of jazz band director and trumpeter Jim Culbertson, Brian's instruments include the keyboard and trombone....
, The Falling Wallendas, Steve Cole
Steve Cole
Steve Cole is an American tenor saxophonist who has released five albums starting in the late 1990s throughout the 2000s. Most of his albums have been well-received, earning him several awards...
, Spinal Tap
Spinal Tap (band)
Spinal Tap is a parody heavy metal band that first appeared on a failed 1979 ABC TV sketch comedy pilot called "The T.V. Show", starring Rob Reiner...
.
In September 2008, Sucherman was a featured artist in the prestigious Modern Drummer Festival. He also appeared on the cover of the October 2008 issue of Modern Drummer magazine.
In 2009 the Modern Drummer Magazine voted him number one Rock Drummer in the World.
The gear he currently endorses are Pearl
Pearl Drums
Founded in 1952, the is a multinational corporation based in Japan with a wide range of products, predominately percussion instruments.-History:Pearl was founded by Katsumi Yanagisawa, who began manufacturing music stands in Sumida, Tokyo on April 2, 1946...
drums, percussion and hardware, Remo
Remo
Remo is a male given name of Latin origin - see Romulus and Remus.Remo may also refer to:* Remo, an American drum skin company* Remo , another name for the German wine grape Riesling* Remo language, a Panoan language of Brazil and Peru...
drumheads, Sabian cymbals and Pro-Mark
Pro-Mark
Pro-Mark is a Houston, Texas-based American drumstick company owned by founder Herb Brochstein. It is a widely known stick company generally played in drum set, drum and bugle corps and concert bands.-History:...
drumsticks.
Biological Cousins: Sylvia Seiwert, Luke Seiwert
External links
- Official website
- [ Todd Sucherman discography at Allmusic.com]
- Todd Sucherman Drummerworld page
- Todd Sucherman interview in English and German