He is a drummer and percussionist born in Hammersmith, London, England who studied the piano for two years while at school but turned his sights on the drums and had a few lessons with the percussionist James Blades, but taught himself for the most part.
During the 1970s he became a professional musician from 1973 when he toured with a band in Germany visiting US bases. After a couple of years he became a session musician in 1975 and toured the world with Tom Robinson in 1979. By the 1980s had become one of the most sought after session and touring musicians to perform in the recording studio in the UK.
In the mid 1980 she was the drummer on the video “Out in the Fields” by Phil Lynott and Gary Moore and after being spotted by Elton John when he was drumming for Nik Kershaw he was invited to record with him and play as one of his band musicians at Live Aid. From that point he remained as Elton John’s drummer for the next 13 years.
As composer he collaborated with the bass player Andy Pask and wrote the theme tune for the successful tv series The Bill.
Some of the countless artists and groups he has worked with during the course of his career to date are Duane Allman, Tasmin Archer, David Arnold, Big Dish, Breathe, Chris de Burgh, Delaney & Bonnie, Duane Eddy, Everything but the Girl, Chris Farlowe, Gloria Gaynor, Roy Harper, Maurice Jarre, Frankie Miller, Oasis, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Pete Townshend, Tina Turner, Tracey Ullman, Roger Whittaker, Jim Wilson, Trisha Yearwood and Hans Zimmer among many others.
The albums he has performed are far too numerous to mention but a small selection of them include The Adventures by The Adventures, I Can Hear Talk by Bucks Fizz, Lionheart and Hounds of Love by Kate Bush, Magical Ring by Clannad, Moving Mountains by Justin Hayward, Postcards from Home by Nick Heyward, My Life by Billy Joel, Ice on Fire and Leather Jackets by Elton John, The Very Best of… by Kiri te Kanawa, The Bad and Lowdown World of the Kane Gang by The Kane Gang, Human Racing by Nik Kershaw, Whose Side Are You On? by Matt Bianco, The Greatest Songs of the Eighties by Barry Manilow, Flowers in the Dirt and Flaming Pie by Paul McCartney, Run for Cover by Gary Moore, The Duets by Luciano Pavarotti, Cabaret ’79 by Tom Robinson, The Mist of Avalon by Alan Stivell, Soldier of Fortune by Thin Lizzy, Sportscar by Judie Tzuke, Music from the Edge of Heaven by Wham! and many film soundtracks and compilations.
In the field of musical education he was a faculty member of the Royal Academy of Music where he was a teacher of Rock Drums and Studio Techniques in the early 1990s. He also released a series of CDs of drum loops in the between 1992 and 1994.
He moved to the United States in the 2000s where he became a freelance session musician and worked in Los Angeles and Nashville and then returned to England to tour with John Jorgenson who he had worked with while in Elton John’s band. Back in the US again he put together his own studio called Manicdrums Productions and recorded with several artists. In 2001 he was a touring musician with the Voices of Classic Rock band. He has toured with Orleans and went on to tour with Rock & Pop Masters (RPM).
Matt Bianco Recordings
Half a Minute (Mark Reilly/Danny White/Kito Poncioni)
(Warner Brothers, WEA YZ26, 249232-7)( UK 45 PS)
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