SKF NOTE: This excerpt is from my August 5, 1983 interview with Dave Weckl. Dave talks about learning different styles of drumming, starting when he was a kid, through St. Louis drum teachers, and by playing along with records. His father, a piano player, introduced Dave to Pete Fountain‘s records with Jack Sperling on drums. “Jack was my number one influence when I was first starting,” said Weckl.

Modern Drummer published a much shorter version in April 1984 as an “Up and Coming”profile of Weckl. I’ve posted a print version of Weckl’s full interview here.

Dave Weckl is 23-years old here. He was living in Bridgeport, CT getting ready to go on tour with Simon and Garfunkel — arguably the first major gig that put Weckl on the map.