Question of the Week: Who’s your favorite Michigan drummer?

Local Spins’ Question of the Week (Jan. 30, 2025)

Who’s your favorite Michigan drummer?

Last week’s winner from email subscribers who responded to the Question of the Week was reader Rick Seese. To be placed in a drawing for concert tickets or a Local Spins gift pack, sign up for email updates and the weekly newsletter here: https://localspins.com/subscribe-local-spins-mailing-list/

THE READER RESPONSES:

Brent Godfrey – My favorite Michigan drummer by far is Carolyn Koebel

Rick Seese – Donny Brown – Stone Street Revival

Don Clapham – Don Brewer, drummer and vocalist with the rock band Grand Funk Railroad. He also toured with Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band.

James R. Murphy Jr. – Played with a lot of drummers, but I am still friends with most of them and would prefer to keep it that way.

Dustin Miller – Billy Vits Forever! R.i.p!

Owen J. Smith – Nolan Smith (Byron Center Jazz Orchestra) or Zach Dubay

Marc Alderman – I just read of his passing so I am honoring John Alfieri today.

Mark Svekric – Of those I’ve actually played with, Tim Maletic and Mark Jilbert. And of course Randy Marsh and Paul B. Smith (RIP). And Layla Hall formerly of Ugly Radio Rebellion (FZ tribute band).

Taylor Watson -So many great players, as a bass player I am spoiled by some of the drummers I’ve had the pleasure of playing with! John Nowak of course. Mike Schertenlieb, Da’Veonce Washington, David Ward, Patrick Blommel, Zach Dubay, Scott Pellegrom, Anthony Tyler, Caleb Robinson, too many!

Daniel McCoy – Rupert Kettle, Billy Vits, Bill Van Ess, May they all RIP

Mark Weymouth – So many, I’m afraid of leaving anyone out. Randy Scott Marsh, Zach Dubay, Scott Pellegrom, Terrance ‘Tj’ Jones, Eddie Eicher, Eugene McBride, Steve Harris, Scott Veenstra, Scott Stefanski, Fred Knapp, Keith Hall, Tom Taylor, Michael Kanoza, John Large, Da’Veonce Da’Veonce Washington, Kevin Dalton Jones. Also can’t forget others who cane from Michigan Derico Watson, Madison George and Evan Hyde. Still so many more. My respect to all of you who do what you do. Thank you for leading, inspiring. pioneering, making intoxicating rhythms… Love you all. Time to go practice 🥂

Luke Lenhart – I’m glad to see Zach mentioned so much here. Also Tommy Davis!

Thomas Fouts – Michael Shimmin and Randy Scott Marsh. They are the only ones I know personally. But then Dan Rickabus is always smiling!

Mike Dodge – So many of my favorites have already been mentioned, so instead of a long list and most likely missing some of my favorites…I’ll just add one more I haven’t seen listed. He’s been a favorite, and a huge inspiration to me musically, since seeing him the first time when I was 10yo and having had the amazing opportunity to be able to work with him through my 40s and 50s: Ric Troll.

Robert Hughes – So many like my friends, Scott Pellegrom, Mike Schertenlieb, Garrett Senters, Tom Taylor, Mark Jilbert, Mark Weymouth not to mention dudes killing it out here like Zach Dubay, John Nowak, Loren Kranz, Fred Knapp, Scotty King and the list seriously goes on. West Michigan has no shortage of talented and hard working musicians. We are a blessed community

Randy Scott Marsh – Keith Hall , Scott Veenstra , Zach Dubay , Scott Pellegrom , Tim Froncek , Fred Knapp , Scott Stefanski , John Large , Mark Weymouth , Larry Ochletree, Sean Perlmutter, Will Harris, Fred Knapp, Jeff Moehle, Jeff Shoup , and of course the legend, Randy Gelispie.

Lee Chase – John Large

Kalli Dempsey – impossible to answer. Can I choose all of them? Some notable options Scott Pellegrom Loren Kirker Kranz Michael Shimmin Michael Dause @Daine Hammerle David Ward Dan Rickabus John Nowak Carolyn Koebel …

Mike Schertenlieb – Sooooooo many good ones, and impossible to pick a favorite. but here’s some love for Anthony Tyler, Scott Stefanski, Fritz von Valtier, Hayaman Mana TZach, Follmar Evan, Daine Hammerle, David Ward, Loren Kirker Kranz, Scotty King, Patrick Blommel, John Nowak, Steve Harris, Da’Veonce Washington, Matthew Hayes, Andy Wade, Will Harris, and the list goes on and on and on!

Heather Cox – Hailey Petty. The best!

Jakey Thomas – Dubay & Pellegrom. And you know what- Jake Allen is rock f’ing solid. Not enough love for Al Riesenbeck- guy can go all night.

Denny Richards – I have had the pleasure over the years of gigging with many of the best drummers Michigan has to offer, and there’s no way I’m answering that question because I don’t want the rest of them jumping me in an alley after a gig and jamming little pieces of drumsticks under my fingernails. Ask me about my favorite thing about any of them and I’ll be happy to share.

Space Bar GR – Why the indubitable Mark Jilbert, of course!

Chuk Light – Zach Dubay, Scott Pellegrom, Matthew Hayes, Sean Reisig. Hard to narrow it down to just one.

Jeff Neill – Zach or Scott

Mike Clark – John Vrieling and Michael Shimmin

Jen Sygit – I know my favorite… Geoff Ian Lewis

Chris Cranick – Cameron Hill, obviously! Biases aside, Zach Dubay and Scott Pellegrom are at the top of their game. It’s extremely hard to narrow down in all honesty.

Randy Tasker – Mike Kanoza, Deerfield Run

Sabryna Noordhoff – Oh, Loveless without a doubt!

Radel Rosin – Zie is a fantastic female drummer! Zach Dubay Is an alien or a robot.

Andy Travis – Benny Benjamin, Narada Michael Walden, Stevie Wonder, Bill Vits, but overall? Elvin Jones.

Rene Nicholas – Danny Wagner in Greta Van Fleet. They are all from Frankenmuth MI.

Scott Pellegrom -There are so many amazingly talented monster drummers in Michigan. Everyone listed is phenomenal and are on my list, too. Have we mentioned the incredible talents of Travis Aukerman? Guy is insanely good. I gotta shout out to Marcus Hunter and Will Harris.

Dean Roelofs – There is a single, clear-cut answer to this one in my mind. Unfortunately I don’t know the name of the person. ’23 Earthwork Harvest Gathering had Slow Spell perform on the Hill Stage late Saturday. Lead singer was Laural Premo. The drummer embodied the spirit of a Muppet. Not just any Muppet. You guessed it: Animal. Truly something to see and never forget. All four performers were amazing but the drummer was truly wonderful.

Ted Bounty – Scott Pellegrom and Will Harris are two of my favorites to play with. Soooo many top-tier drummers in Michigan I love making music with it’s hard to list them all or choose just one tbh. They all have their own unique things going on. Everyone listed on here already (and not listed) all have my deepest love and respect.
Carol Watkins – Zach Dubay and Scotty King

James Gerard Collins – I’m going to say Mike Michael Shimmin. We definitely have multiple choices here.

Kate Hinote – I may be biased, but Jim Faulkner.

Peter Jonathan Murphy – There are many of great talent. No doubt. But for me, it’s Da’Veonce Washington.

Brittany Ellsworth – John Ellsworth currently with The Smokin’ Dobroleles

Matthew Noordhoff – The ever talented Matthew Loveless.

James Mauric – Pete Bass and I would have to say Jeremy Hyde.

Nathan Walton – Scotty King

Kari Castleberry – Tim Castleberry

Davin Risk – I feel like I will be in trouble if I don’t say our drummer for The Greenbridge Band, Christopher Best IS the best.

Chris Bota – Too many to list!

James Mauric -Chris Rajt is a metal beast.

Mary Lynn Veen – Tommy Davis of course.

Angie Chase – Erik Mika is the best local drummer I know.

Suzanne M Beveridge -Scott Stefanski, Jeffrey Knol, Zach Dubay, Scott Hickok, Daine Hammerle, Ira Briggs, Daniel Francis ARE ALL INCREDIBLE AND TITE AF. My number 1 drummer: my son, Tex Beveridge.

Joziph Phillion – This is so easy: Dave Bruzza

Kevin J Herbert – My drums – Local Spins.

Jair Driesenga – Hard to beat Loveless on the kit.

Scott Stefanski – My boys Jeff Moehle, Scott Veenstra, Zach Dubay, and especially Tim Fronczek and Randy Scott Marsh.

Thomas Leonard Saxe – It’s Randy Scott Marsh, John Large and Tom Taylor for me. However, as a drummer known as “The Russian Dragon” maybe I shouldn’t get a vote. We all have opinions, right?

Sabryna Noordhoff – Haleigh Potter-Massey is best in the Midwest.

Derek Ketchum – Thats a really tough question. John Nowak, Zach Dubay, Michael Shimmin, Nate Cohn just to name a few.

Tommy Erickson – Dustin Miller = legend

Karmel Berens – Jeff Leitch of Roosevelt Diggs, by a mile.

Dougan Church – My boy, Mike Schertenlieb.

Anthony Tyler- Scott Pellegrom, Mike Schertenlieb, Zach Dubay, Brian Allen, Shaq Anthony, Christopher Spencer, Scotty Pearson, Mario Copeland, Aaron Cook, Deon Gladney II, Eugene McBride, Terrence Smith, Richard Williams, Quavo Anderson, Dwayne Hendricks, Josiah DeNooyer, Keith Hall, Steve Jordan, and many more. Darwin Parker, Dominique Idom, Calvin Allen, Da’Veonce Washington, Caleb Robinson, David Ward, Madison George, Brian K Williams, John Nowak.

Paul Kissel – There can be only one Mike Schertenlieb

Marty Fine – The hardest working drummer in Kalamazoo….Tom Ufkes.

Sherry Ward – Adrian Pulley is amazing.

Sav Accalia – Katelynn Corll

Frank Tuka V – Dan Vivas

Jacob Betts – Hailey Petty

Zach Paavola – Hailey Petty
Tim Huffman – Michael Sheneman from The Bitters

Bruce Madden – Scott Brightup

Matt Vail – Garrett Senters

Jill Wylie Wenger – Zach Dubay

Staci Chase – Erik Mika

Steve Boersma – Robert Hughes

Ron Miller – Alan Butrick & David Hackett

Steve Taylor – Carey Weaver

Kevin J Herbert – Jeff Shoup, Geoff Ian Lewis, Derico Watson, Steve Harris, Michael Daniels, Ryan Fedewa

Jeff Middleton – Erik Middleton, Garrett Senters, Darrin Matthews, Chris Charnes

Sandra Cooper – Hailey Petty

Stephanie Payne – Mike Sagers

Lisa Jacob – Katelynn Corll, Loren Kirker Kranz
Shari Gillette – Mike Sagers

Bryan L Jeske – Hailey Petty

Bill Arnold – Jon Gianakos

Bob Brewer – John Nowak

Paul Tiseo – Larry Nagel

Tim Brouhard – Thomas Ufkes

Deon Gladney II – Deon Gladney II

Daniel Staggs – Thomas Ufkes

Roy Robert Kirby – Justin Pine from Jenn’s Apartment is the correct answer. My man doesn’t have any sample replacements on his recorded tracks; can keep time with a metronome like a machine; can sing and play at the same time; and live he can be louder than a 50 watt all tube amp running through a 4×12. The man is a beast plus four wild animals.

Heidi Driesenga – Matthew Loveless

Nikki Wells Hughes – Dash The Drummer

Martin E. Hannah – Peter Muszkiewicz

Morgan Haner – Haven’t seen Jeff Moehle mentioned yet, so I need to give him a shoutout.

Pat Cummings – I’ll take Loren Kirker Kranz for $200 Alex.

Isaac Berkowitz – John Nowak

Jason Bowler – Mike Schertenlieb and Loren Kirker Kranz

Eddie Long – Derico Watson, Patrick Blommel and Zach Dubay

Adam Bogues – Tough choices. Cameron Hill, Josh Stacey, Joziph Phillion, Nate Cohn, and Scott Pellegrom all came to mind.

David Kuzma – Lee Chase

Cyndi Stebbins – Zach Dubay

Deborah Garrow – Randy Scott Marsh

Michael Kreple – Brian Arnold

Jeff Shoup – Randy Gelispie

Jake Allen – Zach Dubay

Halli Platt – John Nowak
Steven Meltzer – Patrick Kargl by a landslide

Chad Phillips – Dan Rickabus

Ernie Clark – Billy Hirt, Loveless

Jeff Hiatt – Ryan Fedewa

Dan Kesterke – Joseph William from Icarus Fell. Great guy, great band.

Stephen Aldrich – You can pick a favorite, but there’s only one GOAT Michigan drummer, and his name was Elvin Jones.

Bill Seppla – Quade Finnigan

Ted R. Reidsma – Pete Bass, Scott Stefanski, Jeremy Peterson

Jeremy Peterson – Ted R. Reidsma

Charlie Guerrero – Greg Westbrook, Ted R. Reidsma, Bob Saladino

Zach Dubay – Brian Allen

Hope Pearse – Thomas Leonard Saxe

Cole Rupple – Loren Kirker Kranz – Erin Zindle & The Ragbirds, Loren Kranz, The Rupple Brothers, various, Zach Dubay – Candid Antics, various, Scott Pellegrom – various, Patrick Blommel – Chirp, various

Jon Arens -Currently? Barak Haring from Heartsick

Ryan K Wilson – Theodore Janga and Scott Pellegrom.

Doug Watkins – Scotty King and Zach Dubay are my favorite to jam with, they make my job easy.

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