Music

Music Recordings, Performances and Videos

Project Tru

• I joined Project Tru as their drummer in early 2004 to help this 12-piece funk/rock/rap band (including a 5-piece horn section) create their second album, “In Case They Still Believe,” released worldwide November 2006. You can hear the band’s musical influences, including Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire, in a sound that blends rock-meets-horns instrumentation with funky basslines and Latin percussion.

• Project Tru’s two years in the recording studio was peppered with a dozen live gigs at venues including the House of Blues in Hollywood.

• Conceived by singer, bassist and songwriter Robert Trujillo, Project Tru also includes Tim “TJR” Ramirez and Robert Scott on guitars, Tony Vizcarra on percussion, Kelly B on rap vocals and Robin Nivans on backing vocals. The powerful horn section includes saxophone player Marcelo Duran, trumpet players Bernie Nelson and Jason Foltz, French horn player Steve Mahpar and trombone virtuoso Brent Anderson.

• The new 15-song CD “In Case They Still Believe” includes funk-based “Dirty Habits” and “I Don’t Mean It’s Over”, rock-infused “Livin’ In Make Believe,” “Standing Alone,” and “Damn,” and rap-styled ”Don’t Let Me Down.” While the majority of tracks were written by Trujillo, the disc also features original songs penned by me (“You Belong To Me”), Kelly B (“Things I Did”), TJR (“No Offense Juliet”) and Nivans (“Natural Born Lover”).

• Click here for Project Tru info, photos and downloadable tracks from their new CD "In Case They Still Believe."

BGB

• I have recorded and performed as a drummer/singer with Bill Grisolia since 1991. Despite several breaks to focus on solo albums and other projects, Bill and I have remained close friends.

• At first called Bill Grisolia and The Attachments, the band is now known as BGB, for Bill Grisolia Band. Bill, I and other members have collaborated on the recording of a half-dozen albums over the years. My principle backing vocals can be heard on many of Bill's songs. The group has performed countless gigs in top Los Angeles venues including The Roxy, Club Lingerie, The Palomino, The Vault, The Coach House, Bogart's, BeachFest and UCLA's Drake Stadium. National touring acts who have shared the stage with the band include Starship, Eddie Money, Three Dog Night, Leon Russell, Macy Gray, Rick Derringer, Jack Mack and the Heart Attack, and The Beat Farmers.

• Click here for BGB info, photos and downloadable tracks from albums and live performances.

Solo EP and Music Videos: "Hey Little Girl" and "Goodbye Jennifer"

• In 1994 I embarked on a solo recording project that ended up as a 2-song EP (extended play) cassette that was sold at local record stores in Los Angeles. In 2006 I (with new TV production license in hand) set up my drums in the television studio and recorded music videos to these songs.

• Both  "Hey Little Girl" and "Goodbye Jennifer" were lyrically and musically written by me, with help on music writing on "GJ" by Lynn Grieves, and both songs feature me on drums/lead vocals, with Scott Duncan on bass, David Goldman on guitars, and Bill Grisolia on keys/backing vocals on "HLG" and Lynn Grieves on bass guitar and lead/rhythm guitars on "GJ."

• Click here to listen to Hey Little Girl and Goodbye Jennifer, and to watch the two music videos.

The Mean Rights

• The Mean Rights were a purely studio (no live performances) collective of three former Attachments (photo, from left): guitarist Lynn Grieves, bassist/songwriter Jeff Klein, and me on drums. Recording sessions ran from 1992-1995.

• Click here to listen to tracks from The Mean Rights' album.

Strange Music from the Home Studio

• These rough "idea songs" were performed on a 4-track Tascam cassette using single- and multi-tracked vocals, keyboard/synthesizer, live drums, Yamaha RX-21 drum machine, Yamaha QX-21 digital sequencer and an Alesis Microverb.

• Click here to listen to tracks from my home music studio.

Drums and Drum Solos

• Unless the drummer is Rush's Neil Peart, few people enjoy listening to extended drum solos during concerts or other live music shows. When it fits the song and the venue, I'll find tasteful locations to insert a brief drum solo into a set. An example is Project Tru's live performances of "To Each Their Own," during the middle of which Latin percussionist Tony Vizcarra and I play shared call-and-response solos.

• I play and endorse Yahama Recording Custom drums, including 8",10", 12", 14", and 16" Yamaha toms plus 16x22" and 16x24" Yamaha bass drums. Bass pedals are Drum Workshop DW9000 (single) and DW5000 (dual). I play one of three types of 14" Pearl Free Floater snare drums: 8" maple, 8" brass or 4" brass. There are usually about 12 cymbals in my kit, including all three major brands: Zildjian, Sabian and Paiste. Hardware is mainly Yamaha and heavy duty Pearl gear, with Tama Iron Cobra hi-hat stands.

• Click here to listen to two of my drum solos, and to read more about my drums.

Music Background

• Upon arriving in America from my native England at age 9, I began playing trumpet in school bands. Throughout high school I did well in marching and concert bands. I joined the U.S. Navy where I switched from brass instruments to percussion. After the navy I moved to Southern California to become a full-time, professional rock 'n roll drummer.

• In 1991 I met keyboardist/frontman Bill Grisolia and formed The Attachments, a band that recorded four albums an headlined at top Hollywood venues. In 1994 I branched out on my own and recorded a solo EP (Hey Little Girl), then helped form power rock trio The Mean Rights.

• In 2004 I rejoined Bill Grisolia to create BGB, which regularly opened for national touring acts including Three Dog Night, Eddie Money, Leon Russell and Macy Gray. I'm currently drumming with the 12-piece funk/rock/rap band Project Tru.

• Click here for more info and photos from my music background.

1.866.936-9473   Lee@LeeGodden.com