American session drummer (born 1949)
Musical artist
Eddie Bayers (born January 28, 1949)
[1] is an American
session drummer who has played on 300
gold and platinum albums . He received the
Academy of Country Music 'Drummer of the Year Award' for fourteen years, has three times won the Nashville Music Awards 'Drummer of the Year,' and was inducted into the
Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019. He was also a member of two bands: The Players, and
The Notorious Cherry Bombs . In 2022, Bayers was one of four inductees into the
Country Music Hall of Fame along with
Ray Charles ,
The Judds , and
Pete Drake .
Early life
The son of a career military man, Bayers moved around as a child, originally from Maryland
[2] then spending time in Nashville, North Africa, Oakland, and Philadelphia.
[3]
[4] His early musical training was as a classical pianist studying
Bach ,
Beethoven , and
Mozart .
[3]
[4] During his college years in
Oakland, California he was a member of the
Edwin Hawkins Singers and he also jammed with future stars
Jerry Garcia , and
Tom and
John Fogerty and developed an appreciation for the creative aspects of music.
[5] After a short stint in a New Jersey show band he decided to move to
Nashville .
[6]
Session work
Arriving in Nashville in 1973, Bayers became the house keyboard player at the Carousel Club
[3] where he met drummer
Larrie Londin who inspired him to take up drumming.
[7]
[8] His drumming was influenced by
soul drummers such as
Al Jackson, Jr. and
Clyde Stubblefield .
[2] He became the staff drummer at Audio Media Studios along with guitarist
Paul Worley , keyboardist Dennis Burnside, and bassist
Jack Jackson . Some of the artists Bayers has worked with include
Tanya Tucker ,
Mindy Smith ,
John Denver ,
Ricky Skaggs and
George Strait .
[6]
He has since worked with the likes of
The Beach Boys ,
[9]
Garth Brooks ,
[5]
Glen Campbell ,
[10]
Kenny Chesney ,
[5]
Peter Frampton ,
[5]
Vince Gill ,
[4]
Rebecca Lynn Howard ,
[7]
Lane Brody ,
[11]
Julio Iglesias ,
[12]
Alan Jackson ,
[5]
Elton John ,
[8]
Mark Knopfler ,
[5]
Uncle Kracker ,
[7]
Bob Seger ,
[4]
[13]
Sting ,
[5]
Steve Winwood ,
[5] and
Trisha Yearwood .
[5]
[14] He also co-
produced
Rosanne Cash 's album
Interiors ,
[6]
A Glen Campbell Christmas ,
[10]
[15] and the soundtrack for A Thing Called Love .
[6]
Bands
The Players
In 2002, Bayers formed a band, The Players, with fellow studio musicians
Brent Mason ,
Paul Franklin , John Hobbs,
Michael Rhodes . The group released a live DVD, Live in Nashville ,
[16] featuring their own performances along with guest appearances by
Peter Frampton ,
Shawn Colvin ,
Travis Tritt , Vince Gill, and
Jim Horn .
[8]
The Notorious Cherry Bombs
Bayers replaced his former mentor, drummer Larrie Londin,
[17] in a reunited
Notorious Cherry Bombs for a 2003
ASCAP Country Awards dinner.
[8] The band decided to stay together and has released
The Notorious Cherry Bombs which was nominated for
Grammies in both the 'Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal' and 'Best Country Song' categories.
[18] Along with Bayers the band consists of Vince Gill,
Rodney Crowell , Hank DeVito,
Richard Bennett , and Michael Rhodes.
[8]
The Medallion Band
An all-star lineup was assembled to be the backing band at the 2010
Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony dubbed the Medallion Band. Bayers served as drummer and was accompanied by keyboardist and music director John Hobbs, pedal steel player Paul Franklin, electric guitarist Steve Gibson, bassist Michael Rhodes, fiddler Deanie Richardson, tuba player Larry Paxton, background vocalists
Dawn Sears and Jeff White, and acoustic guitarist
Biff Watson .
[19]
[20] Later that year Bayers and a slightly revamped Medallion Band accompanied
Shawn Camp in honoring Hall of Fame inductee
Jimmy Dean .
[21] Bayers played the same role for the 2011 Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony with the band now dubbed the Medallion All-Stars.
[22]
Accolades
Eddie Bayers was inducted into the
Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019. Bayers received the 'Academy of Country Music Drummer of the Year Award' 14 times,
[3] 'Nashville Music Awards Drummer of the Year' three times,
[4] and one of the 10 greatest session drummers of all time by Drum! magazine.
[23] He has been nominated for the 'CMA Musician of the Year' ten times but has yet to bring home the prize.
[24]
[25]
[26]
[27]
[28]
On May 1, 2022,
[29] he was inducted into the
Country Music Hall of Fame .
[30]
[31]
Music industry
In addition to his work as a musician, Bayers has contributed to the recording industry as a 12-year member of the Board of Governors for
NARAS .
[7] He is also the part-owner of the Money Pit recording studio. The No. 1 singles "
What I Really Meant to Say " by
Cyndi Thomson and "
Blessed " by
Martina McBride were both recorded at his studio.
[32]
Selected discography
References
^
"Eddie Bayers - Artist Bio" .
Country Music Hall of Fame .
Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022 .
^
a
b Hurt, Edd (February 13, 2010).
"Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Musicians Featuring Eddie Bayers" .
Nashville Scene . Archived from
the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2010 .
^
a
b
c
d Kurutz, Steve.
"Biography—Eddie Bayers" .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on April 3, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2009 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
"Eddie Bayers" .
Drummerworld .
Archived from the original on December 20, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2010 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
"Eddie Bayers" .
Zildjian . Archived from
the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
"Eddie Bayers" . Big Bang Distributions. Archived from
the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2009 .
^
a
b
c
d
"Eddie Bayers Biography" .
Yamaha .
Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2010 .
^
a
b
c
d
e "Studio Start Joins Two Bands".
Modern Drummer . July 2005.
^ Doyle, Patrick (September 28, 2011).
"Beach Boys Plan Anniversary Blowout with Likely Reunion Tour" .
Rolling Stone .
Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2011 .
^
a
b Gray, Michael (December 2, 2008).
"A Glen Campbell Christmas" .
CMT News .
Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2009 .
^ content
^
a
b
"Credits Crazy " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2009 .
^
a
b
"Credits It's a Mystery " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2009 .
^
a
b
"Credits Trisha Yearwood " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2009 .
^
a
b Gray, Michael (April 21, 2000).
"Glen Campbell's TNN Christmas CD Wins Dove Award" .
CMT News .
Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2009 .
^
"Overview—Live in Nashville " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2009 .
^
"Reads like Who's Who" .
USA Today . August 5, 2005.
Archived from the original on July 3, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2009 .
^
"The Bio" . EddieBayers.com. Archived from
the original on July 2, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2009 .
^ Morris, Edward (May 24, 2010).
"One Enchanted Evening: Ferlin Husky, Billy Sherrill Enter Country Music Hall of Fame" .
CMT .
Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2010 .
^
"Hall of Fame inducts Husky, Sherrill" .
Country Standard Time . May 24, 2010.
Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2010 .
^ Morris, Edward (October 25, 2010).
"Don Williams, Jimmy Dean Officially Inducted Into Country Music Hall of Fame" .
CMT .
Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2010 .
^ Newcomer, Wendy (May 23, 2011).
"Stars Salute New Hall of Fame Members Reba, Jean Shepard & Bobby Braddock" .
CMT . Archived from
the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011 .
^
"Eddie Bayers Makes Top 10 List of Session Drummers" .
CMT News . February 17, 2005.
Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2009 .
^
"CMA Awards: Predictions and Personal Picks" . Country Universe. November 8, 2009.
Archived from the original on December 14, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2009 .
^ Hurst, Jack (October 2, 1994).
"Married-With Predictions Forecasting CMA Award Winners Stirs a Spousal Debate" .
Chicago Tribune .
Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2009 .
^ Harris, Pat (August 8, 1998).
"Strait to the top awards" .
New Straits Times . p. 20. Retrieved November 22, 2009 .
^ Harris, Pat (August 30, 2007).
"Paisley and Strait top country music nods" .
Reuters .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2009 .
^
"Brad Paisley Leads Finalists With Six Nominations for 'The 43rd Annual CMA Awards,' Country Music's Biggest Night" . American Chronicle. September 9, 2009. Archived from
the original on January 19, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2010 .
^ Kristin M. Hall, AP Entertainment Writer (May 1, 2022).
"The Judds, Ray Charles join the Country Music Hall of Fame" . ABC News.
Archived from the original on May 1, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022 .
^ Hall, Kristin M (August 16, 2021).
"Ray Charles, The Judds to join Country Music Hall of Fame" . The Seattle Times .
Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021 .
^ Cantrell, L.B. (August 16, 2021).
"The Judds, Ray Charles, Eddie Bayers, Pete Drake To Be Inducted Into Country Music Hall of Fame" . MusicRow .
Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021 .
^ Walsh, Christopher (September 28, 2002).
"Top Performing Studios" .
Billboard . p. 48.
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2010 .
^
"Credits Smoke " .
Allmusic . Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Credits My Very Special Guests " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2010 .
^
"Credits 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database: 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs " .
RIAA .
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Credits Some Days Are Diamonds " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database: Some Days Are Diamonds " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Credits Highways & Heartaches " .
Allmusic . Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database: Highways & Heartaches " .
RIAA .
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Credits Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database: Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind " .
RIAA .
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Credits My Kind of Country " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2009 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database: My Kind of Country " .
RIAA .
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2009 .
^ McGee, David (November 1, 2005).
Steve Earle: fearless heart, outlaw poet . Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 105–106.
ISBN
978-0-87930-842-1 . Retrieved June 9, 2010 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database: King's Record Shop " . RIAA.
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2010 .
^
"Credits Love Me Like You Used To " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database: Love Me Like You Used To " .
RIAA .
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Credits Interiors " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Credits Refugees of the Heart " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2009 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database: Refugees of the Heart " .
RIAA .
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2009 .
^
"Credits Christmas Duets " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2012 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database: Trisha Yearwood " .
RIAA .
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2010 .
^
"Credits Duets " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database: Duets " .
RIAA .
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Credits Clay Walker " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2009 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database: Clay Walker " .
RIAA .
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2009 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database: Crazy " .
RIAA .
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2009 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database It's a Mystery " .
RIAA .
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2009 .
^
"Credits Golden Heart " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2009 .
^
"Credits In the Life of Chris Gains " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on May 20, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Gold & Platinum database: In the Life of Chris Gaines " .
RIAA .
Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
a
b
"Credits A Glen Campbell Christmas " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Credits Live in Nashville " .
Allmusic . Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Credits The Notorious Cherry Bombs " .
Allmusic . Retrieved November 21, 2009 .
^
"Credits Christmas Duets " .
Allmusic .
Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2009 .
External links
International National Artists