Ralph Salmins

Gretsch Artist Since: 2004

Country: GB

Band or Affiliations: The Waterboys, Sessions

Current Kit Setup:
Tour:
USA Custom in Satin Cherry Red
18x22 BD, 8x12 RT, 14x16 FT, 6.5x14 SD
6.5x14 Hammered Brass SD

Studio:
USA Custom in Vintage Marine Pearl
16x22 BD, 8x12 RT, 16x16 FT
Brooklyn 6.5x14 Black Brass SD

Influences:
Steve Gadd, David Garibaldi, Mike Clark, Jeff Porcaro, Levon Helm, Roger Hawkins, Mitch Mitchell, Bernard Purdie, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Mel Lewis, Sonny Payne, Tony Williams... and many more!

We asked...Why Gretsch?:
"Sound. No other drums sound or play like Gretsch."

Advice to aspiring musicians?:
"Work on playing a great groove, this is your signature. Listen to lots of great music and get inspired."

Bio:
Straight out of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London, where he studied classical percussion, Ralph toured with Gloria Gaynor, Lulu and The BBC Big Band, Everything But The Girl and soul tenorist Kirk Whalum, opening for Whitney Houston. Gigs and albums followed with The Dankworth Generation Band, Laurie Johnson’s London Big Band conducted by Muppets MD Jack Parnell, The Count Basie Orchestra, trumpeter Guy Barker’s International Quintet and Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames. Fame subsequently called Ralph to play with Van Morrison, with whom he spent four years touring and made four albums.

Ralph is drummer of choice for producers and composers worldwide and he has performed or recorded with Paul McCartney, George Martin, Elton John, Madonna, James Brown, Tom Jones, Mike Oldfield, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick, Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Burt Bacharach, Alison Krauss, Sheryl Crow, Tori Amos, Alanis Morissette, Paloma Faith, The Bee Gees, Elvis Costello, Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Michel Legrand, Michael Buble, Josh Groban, Wynton Marsalis, Jon Hendricks, James Moody, Annie Ross, Tom Scott, Jimmy Witherspoon and Joe Williams amongst many others. Ralph’s favourite chart hits include Bjork’s ‘It’s Oh So Quiet’ and Robbie Williams’ multi-platinum ‘Swing When You’re Winning’ album and DVD.

Movie composers with whom he has worked include Alexandre Desplat, Hans Zimmer, A.R. Rahman, John Williams, Danny Elfman, Howard Shore and Carter Burwell and he has played on the soundtracks to over 150 movies, including Bridget Jones’s Diary, Evita, Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Askhaban, Burn After Reading, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Prometheus and BAFTA Award and Oscar-winning movies Gosford Park, Moulin Rouge and Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King.

In 2011, Ralph joined The Waterboys playing on their albums An Appointment With Mr. Yates and Modern Blues albums. He continues to perform internationally with the band.

In 2012 Ralph was asked to act as consultant for the drummers in the London Olympic Opening Ceremony. In this role he worked closely with Underworld and director Danny Boyle to coordinate the auditions and training of 1,000 drummers with whom he performed in the ceremony alongside Dame Evelyn Glennie to an audience of over 1 billion.

A committed educator, Ralph teaches Drum Set at The Royal College of Music and The Guildhall School of Music & Drama and has toured clinics for Sabian, Gretsch, Vic Firth and Remo.