BIO
Based in Los Angeles, freelance drummer,
bandleader and educator, Kevin Stevens has
performed with a wide range of artists
including Steve Jones, Duane Eddy, Marc
Broussard, Minnie Driver, Beto Cuevas, Natasha
Bedingfield, Gruff Rhys and many others while
touring the globe and appearing on national TV
(Jimmy Kimmel Live, Ellen Show, Late Late
Show with James Corden, America’s Got Talent).
He keeps busy in Los Angles freelancing,
running his live entertainment company – Grits
N Gravy Music, and teaching at Musicians
Institute (PIT) in Hollywood and at his own
studio.
THE STORY
Kevin grew up in Denver, Colorado where he
began private study on the drums at 8 years
old. During high school, he spent two years
touring with The Caspar Troopers Drum and
Bugle Corps from Caspar, Wyoming
(1986/tenors & 1990/snare). As a senior, Kevin
was chosen for Colorado’s All-State Jazz Band
and All-State Concert Band.
After studying Civil Engineering for a year at
CU-Boulder, Kevin decided to follow his dreams
in music and he applied to the highly acclaimed
University of Miami, Jazz Department. While
earning his performance degree, Kevin played
in many of the school’s wide variety of
ensembles including one of the top big bands
in the country and the National Award-winning
Bebop Ensemble.
After graduating, Kevin moved out West to
become part of San Francisco’s fertile music
scene. In his 6 years in S.F., Kevin established
himself as one of the city’s top all-around
drummers while recording and touring with
S.F’s different jazz, swing, funk and rock artists.
In ’98 and ’99 Kevin spent time as a member of
The New Morty Show, one of the nation’s top
swing acts. Multiple US tours and international
TV appearances helped him to develop
relationships with Paiste Cymbals and Attack
Drumheads. Kevin’s “powerhouse drumming”
was singled out in an Alternative Press article
about the band.
Other S.F. projects of Kevin’s include the ECM,
Euro-jazz inspired Dam East and the original
rock band, Them There, whose debut CD, The
Gift of Reason, made it to #7 on the CMJ charts
in 1999.
In August of 2003, Kevin moved to Los Angeles
and quickly found himself busy playing and
recording with some of the world’s best
musicians.