Kenny Aronoff

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Kenny Aronoff
Aronoff in 2005
Aronoff in 2005
Background information
Born
Kenneth D. Aronoff

(1953-03-07) March 7, 1953[1]
Albany, New York, U.S.[2]
OccupationDrummer
Years active1979–present
Websitekennyaronoff.com

Kenneth D. Aronoff (born March 7, 1953) is an American drummer. He has toured and recorded with a wide range of artists throughout his career, and is perhaps best known for his longtime associations with John Mellencamp and John Fogerty.[3][4][5]

Aronoff has also taught drumming at college level and owns the recording studio Uncommon Studios L.A.[6][7] He is widely recognized as one of the best drummers in history, with his drumming skills having been touted by magazines such as Rolling Stone and Modern Drummer.[8][9][10]

Early life

Aronoff was born to a Jewish family and grew up in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.[11][12] He developed an interest in music at an early age and gravitated to the drums as "drumming was one hundred percent energy."[13][14][15] He studied classical music in college both at the University of Massachusetts and Indiana University, from which he graduated in 1976.[1] Several classical orchestras offered him a timpani percussion position which he declined in order to study jazz and fusion drum set work, before joining some bands in Indiana.[1]

Aronoff worked a summer at the Tanglewood Music Festival where he worked with conductors Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and Arthur Fiedler.  After which he was offered a seat in Israel’s Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, which he turned down to pursue his passion for rock and roll music.[16]

Career

In 1980, Aronoff joined the backing band of John Mellencamp, who was using the stage name Johnny Cougar at the time. Aronoff remained with Mellencamp's band for 17 years.[17] He played drums for John Fogerty live and in the studio from 1996 until 2018.[18] Aronoff was Associate Professor of Percussion at Indiana University from 1993 to 1997. Each year, The Aronoff Percussion Scholarship is awarded to an Indiana University percussion student.[4][19][20]

Aronoff was an inaugural member of the Independent Music Awards' 2001 first Annual IMA judging panel to support independent artists.[21] He performed at the Kennedy Center Honors from 2008 to 2014. On January 26, 2014, Aronoff performed at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards with Ringo Starr.[22] Aronoff joined Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr in the CBS special The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles that aired on February 9, 2014.[23]

In 2011 and 2012, Aronoff substituted for Chad Smith in the supergroup Chickenfoot, which featured Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, and Joe Satriani.[24] From 2024 until 2026, Aronoff played with this same group of musicians under the Best of All Worlds tour moniker, a tribute to the Hagar era of Van Halen.[25]

Aronoff played with rock and roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis from 2017 until Lewis's death in 2022.[26][27]

Legacy

On March 31, 2016, Rolling Stone ranked Kenny Aronoff number 66 of the 100 greatest drummers of all time. The magazine wrote, "With a sixth sense for what makes music pop and the patience to take direction, he's ended up as a go-to studio beatsmith for the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton, John Fogerty, Sting, the Smashing Pumpkins, Lady Gaga and tons more."[8] Modern Drummer named Kenny Aronoff the "#1 Pop/Rock Drummer and #1 Studio Drummer" for five consecutive years.[9][10]

References

  1. Castiglioni, Bernhard. "Kenny Aronoff profile". Drummerworld. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  2. "Kenny Aronoff: Part I – Interviews – The Black Page". Theblackpage.net. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  3. "Kenny Aronoff interview". LEWITT. March 14, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  4. "Kenny Aronoff". Drummerworld.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  5. Herzog, Kenny (December 9, 2015). "Kenny Aronoff Is the Most Famous Drummer You've Never Heard Of". esquire.com. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  6. "Uncommon Studios". Uncommonstudiosla.com. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  7. "Kenny Aronoff keeps time with Al Pacino in upcoming film". Indystar.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  8. "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time". Rollingstone.com. March 31, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  9. "Kenny Aronoff". Moderndrummer.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  10. "Cool Show: Keep time with rock drummer Kenny Aronoff". Desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  11. Lefsetz, Bob (January 14, 2017). "The Kenny Aronoff Book". The Big Picture. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  12. Provenz, Jessica (October 2015). "Rock Stars From Stockbridge". Berkshire Townvibe. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  13. "Kenny Aronoff – Drummer For Everyone". Glide Magazine. January 10, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  14. Burr, Bill (March 1, 2018). "Bill Burr's Thursday Afternoon Monday Morning Podcast 3-1-18". billburr.com. Event occurs at 08:58. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  15. Rogovoy, Seth (November 18, 2002). "For Kenny Aronoff, music and sports are all about teamwork". The Rogovoy Report. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  16. Paltrowitz, Darren (July 6, 2020). "Drummer and Best-Selling Author Kenny Aronoff on His Multi-Faceted Career". Jewish Journal. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  17. Wardlaw, Matt (February 13, 2014). "Kenny Aronoff Interview". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  18. "Kenny Aronoff on drumming with John Fogerty, John Mellencamp". June 28, 2010.
  19. "The Stone Age Institute Musicians: Kenny Aronoff". Stoneageinstitute.org. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  20. "Aronoff Percussion Scholarship". music.indiana.edu. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  21. "Past Judges". Independent Music Awards. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  22. "Musician Kenny Aronoff Born To Beat The Drums". holycitysinner.com. March 7, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  23. "Pop and Rock Drummer Kenny Aronoff". indianapublicmedia.org. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  24. Wardlaw, Matt (May 13, 2012). "Chickenfoot Drummer Kenny Aronoff Talks About Playing with Some of Rock's Biggest Names". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  25. bravewords.com
  26. "Musician Kenny Aronoff Born To Beat The Drums". Holy City Sinner. March 7, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
  27. Burger, Jeff (January 16, 2024). "Rock Drummer Kenny Aronoff: "Adapt or you'll be left behind"". Business Jet Traveler. Retrieved October 24, 2026.