C.V.
If you would rather see my most recent C.V. than the full biog, please open or download the file below.
adam_riley_cv_latest.rtf | |
File Size: | 2 kb |
File Type: | rtf |
BIOG
I was born in Leeds 6th June 1971. I was fascinated by drums from the age of about 3. My first kit was destroyed in about a week as it was a kiddies kit with cardboard heads. It didn't stand a chance really as I was trying to emulate Keith Moon! I finally got a 'real' kit when I was 13 and started having lessons with Geoff Myers. I studied with Geoff for about 7 years before I moved to London in 1995.
Once in London I began making connections and eventually landed a gig with Robin Jones' King Salsa and his Latin Jazz Sextet. This is where I got my latin education. I toured and recorded, composed for and co-produced 3 albums with Robin over a period of 11 years. During this period I recorded sessions with Robin and Bosco De Oliviera for Tanita Tikeram and Kudos Records.
In 2000 I performed with my friend and Leeds buddy, Gary Husband at the Rhythmsticks Festival. I played percussion with his trio and performed a self composed drumkit and timbale duet.
It was around that time that I started my own band Deep Fill. Deep Fill was a group of musicians I loved playing with (Graeme Flowers, Mornington Lockett, Chris Kibble, Bosco De Oliviera, Satin Singh) that performed original material as well as Salsa and Funk/Fusion covers. I really enjoyed playing latin grooves over funk tunes and visa versa; great for drummers. We performed our final gig in Jurmala, Latvia, where we headlined to celebrate 70 years of the concert hall there.
In 2004 I performed with Katie Melua and Jamie Cullum at The Brits in Earls Court. What an amazing gig that was. In the audience and presenting one of the awards was my friend Leigh Francis, who at the time was recording the hit T.V. comedy series Bo Selecta. The drumming connection here is that I played the drums and acted as 'Colin', Craig David's long suffering drummer on his UK Tour in series 2.
Also by this time I had started getting work in musicals both in the West End and on tour. My first venture was a salsa based musical called Murderous Instincts. The music was great to play. Really big Salsa tunes that had me utilising the kit and timbales along with left foot clave and bells. Since Murderous Instincts I've played on many shows, both drumkit and percussion, including Zorro (also cast album), Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Dirty Dancing, Simply Heavenly, Hairspray, Chicago, Million Dollar Quartet (also cast album) Shrek, Viva Forever and most recently Book of Mormon.
Around 2001 I began taking a serious interest in recording and producing. I started off with a Carillon AC1 with 256MB of RAM! I still managed to record a few things though, more notably the drums to Down To The Bone's CD 'Supercharged'. I also recorded one track on the previous CD 'Spread Love Like Wildfire'.
In 2006 I began Fullrange Productions with Simon McKechnie and built a studio in Catford SE London. There I recorded material for BBC World amongst other CD projects such as Zimbe! (Alexander Le'Estrange) and arranged 'Gotcha' (Theme from Starsky and Hutch) for The Swingle Singers from their album 'Beauty and the Beatbox' and recorded the Cubana Bop CD 'Now Hear This'.
I've been a member of Cubana Bop since 2005 and had always admired the musicianship of the band and Terry Seabrook's arrangements long before I joined, so it was a treat and a challenge to finally be part of it. 2012/13 will see the recording and subsequent tour of Cubana Bop plays West Side Story featuring Paul Roberts and Jo Marshall.
24 June 2013 sees the world premiere in Porstmouth of Ahoy! by Alexander L'Estrange. Ahoy! Sing for the Mary Rose celebrates the tragic and inspiring story of the Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s flagship, which sank 500 years ago and then was raised in 1982, a time capsule giving us a unique insight into Tudor times. I played drums on this one and recorded the drums, accordion, fiddle and bass at my studio.
Once in London I began making connections and eventually landed a gig with Robin Jones' King Salsa and his Latin Jazz Sextet. This is where I got my latin education. I toured and recorded, composed for and co-produced 3 albums with Robin over a period of 11 years. During this period I recorded sessions with Robin and Bosco De Oliviera for Tanita Tikeram and Kudos Records.
In 2000 I performed with my friend and Leeds buddy, Gary Husband at the Rhythmsticks Festival. I played percussion with his trio and performed a self composed drumkit and timbale duet.
It was around that time that I started my own band Deep Fill. Deep Fill was a group of musicians I loved playing with (Graeme Flowers, Mornington Lockett, Chris Kibble, Bosco De Oliviera, Satin Singh) that performed original material as well as Salsa and Funk/Fusion covers. I really enjoyed playing latin grooves over funk tunes and visa versa; great for drummers. We performed our final gig in Jurmala, Latvia, where we headlined to celebrate 70 years of the concert hall there.
In 2004 I performed with Katie Melua and Jamie Cullum at The Brits in Earls Court. What an amazing gig that was. In the audience and presenting one of the awards was my friend Leigh Francis, who at the time was recording the hit T.V. comedy series Bo Selecta. The drumming connection here is that I played the drums and acted as 'Colin', Craig David's long suffering drummer on his UK Tour in series 2.
Also by this time I had started getting work in musicals both in the West End and on tour. My first venture was a salsa based musical called Murderous Instincts. The music was great to play. Really big Salsa tunes that had me utilising the kit and timbales along with left foot clave and bells. Since Murderous Instincts I've played on many shows, both drumkit and percussion, including Zorro (also cast album), Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Dirty Dancing, Simply Heavenly, Hairspray, Chicago, Million Dollar Quartet (also cast album) Shrek, Viva Forever and most recently Book of Mormon.
Around 2001 I began taking a serious interest in recording and producing. I started off with a Carillon AC1 with 256MB of RAM! I still managed to record a few things though, more notably the drums to Down To The Bone's CD 'Supercharged'. I also recorded one track on the previous CD 'Spread Love Like Wildfire'.
In 2006 I began Fullrange Productions with Simon McKechnie and built a studio in Catford SE London. There I recorded material for BBC World amongst other CD projects such as Zimbe! (Alexander Le'Estrange) and arranged 'Gotcha' (Theme from Starsky and Hutch) for The Swingle Singers from their album 'Beauty and the Beatbox' and recorded the Cubana Bop CD 'Now Hear This'.
I've been a member of Cubana Bop since 2005 and had always admired the musicianship of the band and Terry Seabrook's arrangements long before I joined, so it was a treat and a challenge to finally be part of it. 2012/13 will see the recording and subsequent tour of Cubana Bop plays West Side Story featuring Paul Roberts and Jo Marshall.
24 June 2013 sees the world premiere in Porstmouth of Ahoy! by Alexander L'Estrange. Ahoy! Sing for the Mary Rose celebrates the tragic and inspiring story of the Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s flagship, which sank 500 years ago and then was raised in 1982, a time capsule giving us a unique insight into Tudor times. I played drums on this one and recorded the drums, accordion, fiddle and bass at my studio.