Ray DeMarco Set Drummer / Percussionist / Drum Circle Facilitator

Raymond L. DeMarco

                   Welcome to RLDPercussion

I would like to introduce myself. I am a Set Drummer / Theatre / Studio Musician with over 51 years of playing experience, more then 45 years professionally, and a master of brushwork artistry in Ballad and Operatic Performances. My professional experience spans many styles of music, from the Big Bands of the Swing Era, through the 50's, 60's, 70's and great hits of today including Scored Theatre, Symphony, Latin, Swing, Jazz, Country, Folk, Rock, R&B, Christian and Contemporary. I have performed at many professional venues, corporate parties and community festivals throughout the Midwestern states with stage bands, show lounge and cover bands and symphony orchestras. I have performed in many of the great classic musicals by Lerner and Lowe and Rodgers and Hammerstein.

My gear is of Professional Quality from the legendary drum manufacturers Gretsch, Slingerland and Ludwig, along with professional quality cymbals, hardware and percussion from Zildjian, Latin Percussion, Tama, Mapex and Gibraltar. I have developed very highly polished improvising techniques, which I skillfully use to enhance the entertaining quality of every musical piece that I accompany, from Swing to Jazz to Contemporary to Classical. Many of the bands that I performed with and created were "Special Purpose" groups, created for Theatre Productions, Corporate Events, Private Parties, Holiday Shows and Festivals. I have a very good network of musicians who prefer this type of specialty work. I have performed in studios and theatres using scored music, published drum charts and click tracks.

My outstanding abilities lie in creating that "Special Mood" of a song, whether moving and emotional or bold and driving. My greatest forte lies in my creative artistry and smoothness in Brushwork, through the use of a self-created brushwork methodology, entitled Ballad Percussion, to bring out the stirring moods and feelings which embody the lyrics and harmonies of many Ballads and Inspirational songs. In this technique, I use cymbals and brushes to emulate the dramatic flow of rhythm in a song, from the rising crescendos to the emotional interludes, which creates a very smooth harmonic ambience to the feeling of the melody. I have won much acclaim for using this method in my performances, from conductors, audiences and fellow musicians.

My most treasured romantic ballad is the one I composed and professionally recorded, for my wife, entitled, "KARIN". The musicians performing this song included myself, on drums, three guitarists, one keyboard, one male lead singer and four female harmony singers. The Starlight Orchestra, a Canadian symphony orchestra, recorded this song, re-arranged as a Fox Trot, on their "Ballroom Dancing in Strict Tempo" cassette series, through the arrangement of my publisher.

Myself and "CELEBRATION", a Christian Folk group that I was with for many years, cut a song on "ADORATION" records ( a Christian music publisher based in Smyma, TN. ) entitled: "THE BREAD OF LIFE". Of the 24 different songs from church groups and choirs throughout the Midwestern states that were invited to take part in this session, our recording was awarded the Second title on the tape, which I considered as a Great Honor.

I have, also, Produced and Directed Public Access programs at cable studios in Illinois. I have created and produced a music and dance series of original songs from local bands in the Chicago land area entitled, "MUSIC!", along with a Documentary / Narrative of the Musical Theatre, entitled, "A JOURNEY THROUGH MUSIC".

Thank you for taking the time to visit my Web Site, which I hope that you will find interesting. Please feel free to contact me regarding any performance opportunities with you or your organization, any booking dates or any other information that I can send to you, including my Press Kit with a Demo CD.