Terry Silverlight

Gretsch Artist Since: 2002

Country: US

Band or Affiliations: Terry Silverlight Band, Barry Miles and Silverlight, Billy Ocean, Change, Manhattan Jazz Orchestra, B. B. & Q. Band, Author, Educator, Composer, Songwriter

Current Kit Setup:
USA Custom Maple Series
8x10 TT, 9x12 TT, 11x14 TT, 13x16 TT, 18x22 BD, 16x18 BD, 6x14 Snare
6x13 Free Floating System 2 by 4 Snare
5.5x10 Mighty Mini Steel Snare

Influences:
Max Roach, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Jack DeJohnette, Barry Miles

We asked...Why Gretsch?:
"My earliest exposure to drums includes listening and admiring drummers who played Gretsch. My Gretsch drums have added so much richness, life, and musicality to my own projects as a musician. For me, Gretsch has the magical sound, feel and vibe that makes me want to play drums and create music.”

Advice to aspiring musicians?:
"Pursuing a livelihood in music can be difficult, but very possible. It comes down to the level of commitment, love, desire, talent and willingness to invest on a daily and lifelong basis. If these attributes interest and apply to you, you stand a chance of participating in the exciting/inspirational ever-changing, ever-growing music community."

Bio:
Terry Silverlight has contributed his musical talents as a leader, songwriter, composer, producer, arranger, drummer, author and educator to projects in almost every style and facet of the music business.

Terry Silverlight began his recording career at the age of 14 when he played drums on his brother Barry Miles's album, WHITE HEAT, an innovative harbinger of the fusion movement. Terry's college education was at Princeton University. Since then as a drummer, he has performed all over the world and recorded on gold/platinum albums and hit singles for Billy Ocean, George Benson, Natalie Merchant, Freddie Jackson, Stephanie Mills, Tom Jones, Laura Nyro, Anne Murray, Mel Torme, Jennifer Holladay, Phil Woods, The Fania All -Stars, The CTI All-Stars, Jonathan Butler. Film scores for One Fine Day, You've Got Mail, Object Of My Affection, My Blue Heaven, Titus, Frida, Slaves Of New York, What Planet Are You From, and countless jingles and TV shows. Terry has toured globally with Roberta Flack, the award-winning all-star Manhattan Jazz Orchestra (MJO), and many others.

As a songwriter/producer/composer, Terry has written, produced and arranged hundreds of pieces for network TV shows including One Life To Live, The Sopranos (a song in an Emmy award-winning episode), All My Children, Ed, Beverly Hills 90210, Young And The Restless, Melrose Place, C.S.I., NCIS, Ghost Whisperer, Strong Medicine, Las Vegas, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Seventh Heaven, The District, The Shield, Burn Notice, South Beach. Jingles for Reebok, Nicorette, Pantene, Crisco Canola. Songs in the films INVINCIBLE with Mark Wahlberg (#1 box office movie in the U.S. for two weeks), MARCI X with Lisa Kudrow, SUNSHINE CLEANING with Alan Arkin/Emily Blunt/Amy Adams, MAD ABOUT MAMBO with Keri Russell, HEAD OVER HEELS with Monica Potter and Freddie Prinze Jr., and songs recorded by Nancy Wilson, Carl Anderson, Les McCann, Judy Torres, Louise (top ten single in the UK) and Philip Ingram.

Terry has released seven solo artist jazz albums (in various sub genres of jazz): TERRY SILVERLIGHT, WILD!!, DIAMOND IN THE RIFF, LIVE!, IN CONCERT, DUETS, and SMOOTH which he composed, arranged and produced. They feature performances by Will Lee, Paul Shaffer, Edgar Winter, Hiram Bullock, Lew Soloff, Barry Miles, Chuck Loeb, David Mann, Bill Evans, John Tropea, Clifford Carter, Chris Hunter, Aaron Heick, Tabitha Fair, Bob Malach, and Glenn Alexander among others.

Terry has released eight solo artist jazz albums (in various sub genres of jazz): TERRY SILVERLIGHT, WILD!!, DIAMOND IN THE RIFF, LIVE!, IN CONCERT, DUETS, SMOOTH and IN MY OWN SILVERLIGHT (The Music / Video Album) which he composed, arranged and produced. They feature performances by Will Lee, Paul Shaffer, Edgar Winter, Hiram Bullock, Lew Soloff, Barry Miles, Chuck Loeb, David Mann, Bill Evans, John Tropea, Tabitha Fair, Clifford Carter, Chris Hunter and Aaron Heick among others.

The TERRY SILVERLIGHT BAND has performed in premier Manhattan venues including Birdland, The Cutting Room, The Metropolitan Cafe, The Bitter End, Jazz Forum Arts, Bronxnet TV Studio.

Terry's drum instruction books are THE FEATURED DRUMMER which he began writing in 1974 while still in high school. It's first publication was in 1980, reissued by Hal Leonard in 2005 and includes an audio CD of Terry playing the exercises accompanied by John Patitucci and Barry Miles, A NEW CONCEPTION (co-written with Morris "Arnie" Lang), THE STICK BAG BOOK OF JAZZ, FUNK, FUSION and GIG BAG SERIES FOR DRUMMERS: RHYTHM & PERCUSSION (both co-written with Felipe Orozco).
Terry is featured in the books PRACTICING MUSIC - HOW THE PROFESSIONALS DO IT (with Sonny Rollins), and JAZZ FUSION DRUMMERS (with Tony Williams and Bill Buford).

Articles have been written about Terry in Billboard, The New York Times, Electronic Musician, Mix Magazine, Mix Online, ASCAP's Playback, Princeton Alumni Weekly, Princeton's With One Accord, Modern Drummer, DRUM!, JazzIs, JazzTimes, Downbeat, The Courier News, Drummer, Goldmine, Swing Journal (Japan), JazzReview.com, Rivertown, Tascam, O's Place, I Spy Soul, Drum Tracks, and Percussioner magazines.

Terry's bio is included in The Hollywood Reporter's "Who's Who In Composing", "Who's Who In Entertainment", "Who's Who In Music/Pop", and "Outstanding People of the 20th Century".

Terry endorses Gretsch Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Pro-Mark Drumsticks, Evans Drumheads, LP (Latin Percussion).