The Nashville Drummers Facebook Group was started in 2011 by drummer Chris Franz. There are now over 1300 working drummers in the group who have organized many fund raising events to benefit different charities and for members who have encountered catastrophic events. There are plans to incorporate the group as a non-profit for charity fund raising purposes. It's a closed group and members have to be working Nashville Drummers. The Drummers Lunch was started in the 1980s and was held off and on since then. After a lapse in the 2000s, I jump started it again at a cheap Chinese lunch buffet in Nashville where attendance has been as high as 60. Pearl recently held a special drummers lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Nashville where 100+ drummers showed up. With that growth the decision was made to move the drummers lunch to a better restaurant closer to downtown where many working drummers work from morning until late in the night playing for tourists downtown on Broadway Street. The drummers lunch is open to all drummers, their spouses and kids, and is held the first Wednesday of every month at 11:30 at Soul Shine Pizza in midtown. I am very proud to be associated with the lunch and the Nashville Drummers Group, and especially pleased that Pearl recognized us with this event. Here is the press release from Pearl about their lunch.
"Nashville, TN – Giving 100+ drummers a chance to test high-end drums, mingle with marquis artists, and enjoy great food in the heart of America’s most active live music scene, Pearl Corporation recently hosted members of the Nashville Drummer’s Facebook group at the Hard Rock Café’s Reverb Room in Nashville, TN. This unique event showcased six distinct Pearl kits, including their Nashville-assembled Music City Custom drums, as well as a variety of premium snares and hardware to players in attendance.
“The Nashville Drummers Lunch has been part of this Community since the 80’s,” stated group administrator George Lawrence, who helped organize the event. “Everyone is welcome, regardless of the size of your gig. We meet the first Wednesday of every month just to talk shop, eat, and network. We are grateful that Pearl has not only become a regular part of our crew, but went to the trouble and expense of recognizing us with this event.”
“Pearl has been an active part of the Nashville scene since we opened our corporate offices here over 40 years ago,” stated Pearl Corporation CEO Terry West, addressing the crowd. “With our new Music City Custom shop, we have the ability to hand-tailor drums to the players in this town, and do it according to the demanding tour timelines current headliners expect.”
“Yeah, the drums are amazing, but it’s the family vibe at Pearl that’s kept me there for over 15 years,” said Emcee and Pearl Artist Tracy Broussard (who actually worked at the Hard Rock before landing the drumming chair with Blake Shelton.)
The crowd was further treated to an informative drum duet between artist Ray Luzier (drummer for Korn,) and Pearl R&D Director Raymond Massey. “Drum solos make the best dining music,” quipped Luzier following the explosive exchange with Massey. Product testing continued well into the afternoon, with Pearl staff and management on-hand to answer questions from each drummer.
“The honesty and diversity you find in the Nashville Drummers Group is pretty rare,” says Pearl Combo Marketing Manager Kevin Packard, summarizing the event. “With all we have coming up in our 71st year, we love the feedback and are already planning our next event with them!”