Andy Newmark meets Sly Stone

Andy at Stebal Drums - http://www.stebaldrums.com (video by Robert L. Marcum)

Great story told by Andy Newmark of how he met (and auditioned for) Sly Stone.
Andy explains (at 8:38) that he had "30 seconds to alter the course of my life".

Andy did 3 hour intimate sessions at Stebal Drums (Willowick, OH, USA)) January 3rd, 4th & 5th, 2014. This story was video taped on 1/5/14 by Robert L. Marcum.


Sly Stone's band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music, and was one of the hottest groups at this time.

Andy Newmark is best known as a popular session drummer, and for playing with the funk band Sly and the Family Stone from 1972 to 1973. Hired to replace Gerry Gibson, who in turn had replaced founding Family Stone member Gregg Errico, Newmark was invited to audition for Sly Stone by Family Stone saxophonist Pat Rizzo. Newmark went on to record one album as the Family Stone's drummer, Fresh (1973) and also performed with the band for two years in live concert.
After leaving the band in 1974, Newmark has performed and recorded with John Lennon, Cat Stevens, Joe Walsh, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, David Bowie, Roy Buchanan, Bryan Ferry, George Harrison, Rickie Lee Jones, Patrick Moraz, Randy Newman, Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Murray Head, Keith Richards, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Roxy Music, ABC, Hue and Cry, Laura Nyro,Nicolette Larson, Elkie Brooks, Sting, Steve Winwood, Nils Lofgren, George Benson and Michael Franks. He is featured on Carly Simon's 1971 album Anticipation and Gary Wright's 1975 album Dream Weaver.
In 1980, he was the sole drummer on John Lennon's last album, Double Fantasy, as well as Milk and Honey released in 1984. He was also the featured drummer on Yoko Ono's Season of Glass in 1981. His connection with the Double Fantasy album was reprised in 2012 with his contributions to the Lennon Bermuda tribute album on several tracks including those by Paul Carrack, Bryan Ferry, Nils Lofgren and Rocky and the Natives.
According to a 2006 Sound on Sound magazine interview with engineer Andy Jackson, Andy Newmark played drums on David Gilmour's On an island album. He also plays the drums on the last track of Pink Floyd's 1983 album The Final Cut.
Since 2011 Andy has been a member of Kent (United Kingdom) based band Rocky and the Natives.
Newmark is a Patron and visiting artist at drum and percussion school, Drumtech in London.