Working Drummer

Jon Radford has been adding soul and rhythmic vibe to the Nashville music scene since 2005, when he first began visiting the city to pick up drum gigs. He would soon move to Nashville from his hometown of Clarksville, TN with his wife, acclaimed painter Kim Radford.  

After transitioning to Nashville full-time, Radford began touring across the US and Europe with Charles Walker & The Dynamites and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors. When not touring, Radford could be found fulfilling a vital tradition for Nashville’s most talented, playing the lower Broadway honky-tonk bars on Sunday nights with The Don Kelly Band.

In 2012, Radford helped found the critically acclaimed Luella and the Sun, a blues and gospel-tinged rock quartet. The band released a 10” single, Fly So Free, and toured for two years, performing at festivals such as Austin City Limits and Hangout Fest before disbanding. Also in 2012, Radford joined Justin Townes Earle’s touring band, performing on The Late Show with David Letterman.   

Radford’s uniquely soulful, powerful drumming style is influenced by the iconic session players of 1960s and 1970s, including Kenny Buttrey, Hal Blaine, Jim Gordon, Steve Gadd, and Al Jackson Jr. Radford’s extensive and ever-growing record collection is also a constant and evolving influence.  

In recent years, Radford has been an active session musician around Nashville, recording with producers such as Jacquire King, Brendan Benson, Paul Ebersold, and Jim Abbiss. Radford is also a regular member of the Nashville-based instrumental group Steelism.

In this episode, Jon talks about

How his vinyl obsession and his drum obsession feed each other

Being willing to be a novice at something in middle age

Being married to a fellow creative, painter and visual artist Kim Crawford, whose work can be seen around Nashville  

Recent renewed global interest in Sixpence None The Richer

His early days in Nashville and gigging on the “old” lower Broadway 

Changes in the Nashville scene 

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Matthew Atkins is a celebrated veteran of the music industry. An honours graduate of the renowned Musician’s Institute in Hollywood CA, Matthew has worked in a wide array of genres and situations. Matthew is equally at home on a stage playing pop-country to a festival audience, jazz to an intimate venue, or top 40 dance music at a high-end corporate event, as he is playing as part of a drum line at a world class sporting event.With a large catalogue of recording sessions to his credit, Matthew is known to be a diverse, creative professional. Matthew has been recognized with honours and awards from groups such as the Alberta Recording Industries Association and the Canadian Country Music Association.Having lived and worked in Asia, Mexico, and most recently Vancouver, Matthew now makes his home in St Albert, Alberta.

In this episode, Matthew talks about:

    The thought process while performing

    His early touring experiences with Canadian artists

    Favorite drummer verses biggest influence

    His take on the supposed threat of AI

    Experiencing of loss his wife to cancer

    Nurturing life long careers in music

    Unique dynamics in the Canadian music industry

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Ryan Connors is a multi-instrumentalist, MD, songwriter, and producer based in Nashville. He is currently keyboardist, MD, and backup drummer for Hozier, and has also worked with many other artists and bands including Yola, Melinda Doolittle, and Dynamo. He also writes and produces his own original music.

In this episode, Ryan talks about:

How smaller college programs give you more opportunities to play

The virtues of multiple disciplines vs. specialization

Being able to “speak drum” as an MD and producer

The benefit of closing some doors

Getting to play with Gadd

“Finding where it feels good and not leaving there”

Loving the discovery and connection that happens in rehearsal 

Leading by example as an MD in any given situation 

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Matthew Atkins is a celebrated veteran of the music industry. An honours graduate of the renowned Musician’s Institute in Hollywood CA, Matthew has worked in a wide array of genres and situations. Matthew is equally at home on a stage playing pop-country to a festival audience, jazz to an intimate venue, or top 40 dance music at a high-end corporate event, as he is playing as part of a drum line at a world class sporting event.With a large catalogue of recording sessions to his credit, Matthew is known to be a diverse, creative professional. Matthew has been recognized with honours and awards from groups such as the Alberta Recording Industries Association and the Canadian Country Music Association.Having lived and worked in Asia, Mexico, and most recently Vancouver, Matthew now makes his home in St Albert, Alberta.

In this episode, Matthew talks about:

Understanding the importance of motion when playing

His gig as a house drummer at The Mayfield Theatre

Using drum charts on a pro level

The power of being prepared

Chart writing techniques

Tapping into the most musical performances in the studio

Taking direction with grace

Growing up in Rochester, New York, Chaun Horton was birthed into a love of music. Under the tutelage of his father, a church organist, Chaun first learned his craft by playing for local choirs, then events throughout the state. Chaun’s desire to expand on his work led him to LA, where he attended a camp held by the LA Music Academy College of Music. Chaun soon found himself enrolling in the school on a full scholarship, where he earned a Certificate of Completion.

Chaun has had the privilege of sharing the stage with artist such as Macy Gray, Natasha Bedingfield, Israel Houghton, , Toni Braxton, Thundercat, Jessica Simpson, and many more.

In this episode, Chaun talks about:

Moving home base from LA to Sweden and establishing a “camp base” in Nashville 

How the Lauren Daigle gig came his way

Learning not to “take advantage of music” - “you’ve gotta be interested in it”

What it means to “play in the crossroads”

Setting professional goals based on how you want to feel at work 

Learning how to have some stoic detachment when necessary 

Getting to have a “garage band experience” with Lauren Daigle 

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