JOHN THOMAKOS
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, John Thomakos began playing drums at age six. He graduated from the Baltimore School for the Arts as a Percussion/Music Major with a scholarship award to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He holds a Certificate with Honors and an award for Best Funk Drummer from the Musicians Institute, Percussion Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, California. John has since continued a successful professional career as a freelance drummer, author, and teacher. He has written two drum set method books: Drum Back-Beats Encyclopedia, published by Alfred Publications, and The Drum Set Styles Encyclopedia, published by Mel Bay Publications. He has also written instructional material for Vic Firth and Modern Drummer Magazine. John's musicianship and versatility is reflected in his demanding performance schedule. He has played for a wide variety of extraordinary artists ranging from New Orleans guitar superman John Mooney to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. His recording discography also shows his versatility in a wide range of styles with a variety of exceptional artists including Carl Filipiak and Billy Kemp. He has recorded music for a variety of radio and television commercials as well as music for television shows including Brooklyn South, That's Life, Homicide, and The Young and the Restless. He has also played on soundtracks for the Discovery Channel and for various movies including The Smokers, About Sarah, and The Girl Next Door.