TODD THE ROCKET

DRUMMER, PERCUSSIONIST, LIVE SESSIONS, LIVE AND REMOTE STUDIO, PROGRAMMING, BEATS, PRODUCTION

Todd The Rocket is an active and accomplished drummer and percussionist, beginning his professional work nearly 3 decades ago in his hometown of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.

Based out of New England, Todd the Rocket frequently travels the region and beyond. He regularly performs live dates for a host of musical acts, as well as studio sessions, both at his home studio and wherever he might be called.

Known as a driver of arrangements, a supporter of vocalists and melodies, and a library of pan-global sounds and ideas, Todd the Rocket is a first-call live & session drummer for singer/songwriters, bandleaders, and producers alike.

LISTEN TO MUSICBOOK TODD THE ROCKET

A Sampling of Recent & Favorite Recorded Work

featuring Todd the Rocket on drums, percussion, and/or programming

HITS FROM THE BLOG

My First Writing on Medium

My First Writing on Medium

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RECENT & PAST WORK

JONATHAN EDWARDS

In spring of 2021, the Rocket’s recording sessions with the inimitable and legendary singer/songwriter Jonathan Edwards were released on his album, “Right Where I Am,” on Jonathan‘s independent Rising Records imprint

DON CAMPBELL BAND

In fall of 2021, Todd The Rocket returns to the road as a special guest with the Don Campbell Band for a string of dates, including Midwest and New England tour stops.

During his tenure as the full-time drummer for Don Campbell and the Don Campbell Band, Todd The Rocket performed over 10 seasons worth of tour dates, and contributed to three original music recordings, as well as a 2-CD set in tribute to the music of Dan Fogelberg.

Highlights with the Don Campbell Band include: opening for Willie Nelson for a capacity crowd, performing at the 1st Annual Country Music Festival at Gillette Stadium, feature sets at the Nashville Country Music Association Fan Fair, and opening credits that include Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith, Big & Rich, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson, Marshall Tucker Band, Three Dog Night, and countless other luminary artists and legendary venues.

BILLY VOSS

In the summer of 2018, Todd The Rocket reunited with his longtime musical partner Billy Voss, with whom he got his start in professional music on Nantucket Island many years ago. In the early 90s, they were performing on Main Street Nantucket during the summer for spare change. Months later, they would be getting noticed by industry personalities at open mics and stages around Boston. They quickly moved from casual street gigs to clubs, concert venues, and record label showcases. They later worked with Ozone Entertainment, home of Company Flow, Mike Ladd, and other emerging independent hip-hop artists at the time. They toured the East Coast, on their own self-powered tours, as well as opening for Dave Matthews Band, Vertical Horizon, and even jamming with Edwin McCain playing his hits for an unsuspecting street audience.

Billy and Todd were honored to serve as the impromptu backing band for The Voice winner Brynn Cartelli during several of her many trips to her summer home of Nantucket.

Billy and Todd have remained working through quarantine, developing creative and recording projects, and now resuming summertime beachside gigs when the sun is shining. They also collaborate as a DJ and drum duo, playing select private events around the Northeast.

MISS FAIRCHILD

Shortly after their founding in the mid-2000s, Todd The Rocket joined the pop funk explosion Miss Fairchild as their live drummer, supporting his younger brother/frontman Travis “Daddy Wrall “Richard. During the ensuing several years, the band toured the US and Canada, as well as headlining shows around the Northeast, and opening for acts such as Chromeo and Nikka Costa. Before the days of Instagram vanity, Miss Fairchild cultivated their own independent style of homegrown and homemade superstar.

KATE SCHROCK &

TODD THE ROCKET

In the late 2000s, Maine-based singer/songwriter Kate Schrock and Todd The Rocket began performing as a duo after meeting at a panel discussion of career defining mistakes in the music business. Their collaboration lasted several seasons, and included live dates with founding saxophonist of Bob Marley’s Wailers, Glen DaCosta, and work with Canadian Punk rock legend Dave Rave, of Teenage Head fame. The duo released a live album, entitled PCMH, and Todd the Rocket also remixed one of Kate Schrock‘s earlier songs, called “Water’s Edge.”

SUMNER MCKANE

GROUP

Todd the Rocket has served as the sometime – drummer for Sumner McKane and the Sumner McKane group, an ambient instrumental guitar-based group based in coastal Maine. Sumner is an electric guitar wunderkind that has released several independent albums,  receiving international acclaim and airplay on NPR‘s “Echoes” program. In addition to several live dates around the region, including one in support of instrumental band Caspian, Sumner McKane Group wrote a live score to the classic silent documentary film “Nanook of the North.” The band performed the score along with a screening of the film at many arthouse theaters and concert halls around New England. The band later recorded a CD version of the score, entitled “Nanook.”

ANDY HAPPEL &

LOS GALACTACOS

tStill pinching his teenage self out of disbelief, Todd the Rocket has been honored and thrilled to serve as drummer, percussionist, collaborator with composer/songwriter/multi instrumentalist/producer Andy Happel, of Thanks to Gravity. Growing up on the island of Nantucket, Thanks to Gravity were a regular stop on the island during the mid 90s heyday of College rock. Their success, despite a sound larger than rock radio, was a constant inspiration and source of envy.

Many years later, after meeting in Maine, Happel would ask Todd the Rocket to play all of the hand percussion parts on his debut solo record “Dreaming by the Sea.“ A band was formed around this recording, and live dates were performed for the next several years.

Happel would later form the pan-global string band Los Galactacos, featuring Todd the Rocket on percussion, and Drew Wyman from Thanks to Gravity on bass, with frequent collaborators Pete Witham and Jon Cooper on guitars. Todd the Rocket would also join Thanks to Gravity on stage playing percussion for a live reunion concert, at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Career pinnacle moment.

PHOTO GALLERY

CONTACT TODD THE ROCKET:

toddtherocket@me.com
207.671.6461

RECORD LABEL:

The Downbeat Renaissance
A Part of the Milled Pavement Label Family
milledpavement.com/