Oxnard, CA) Drumming legend Vinnie Colaiuta has signed on as an official endorser of Gretsch Drums. One of the world’s most respected drummers, Colaiuta is best known for his seminal recordings and performances with Frank Zappa and Sting. However, his prolific four-decade career has also included a multitude of studio recordings, movie soundtracks, and work with an incredibly diverse range of artists including Joni Mitchell, Jeff Beck, LeAnn Rimes, Faith Hill, Joe Satriani, John McLaughlin, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock among many others. Colaiuta will be taking his newly redesigned Gretsch USA Custom Kit on the road with Sting on his upcoming, 19-city “Rock Paper Scissors” tour with Peter Gabriel which kicks off June 21st in Columbus, Ohio.
“I was in free fall and I made a soft landing. My sound is Gretsch. Home is where the heart is. I came back home,” said Colaiuta.
Colaiuta’s redesigned Gretsch USA Custom Kit was handcrafted in Ridgeland, South Carolina at the Gretsch USA Factory. Finished in a one-of-a-kind, Cobalt Blue Lacquer created expressly for the “Rock Paper Scissors” tour – the kit also features Vinnie Colaiuta custom signature badges. The set up includes: 18×22, 7×8, 7×10, 8×12, 14×14, 16×16, 18×18 and 4.5×12 & 5×14 USA Custom Snares and 5×14 Solid Steel snare as well as a full DW rack, hardware and pedal set up including 9002 Double Pedal, 9500 Hi Hat stand, 9300 Snare Stand, 9120M Throne.
A Grammy Award-winner, Colaiuta was named #49 in Rolling Stone magazine’s “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time” and has won a total of 18 “Drummer of the Year” awards from Modern Drummer magazine’s annual reader polls and was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1996.
“Welcoming Vinnie as a part of the Gretsch Drums Family is incredibly exciting. His amazing talent and passion for playing drums has inspired generations of artists. Gretsch is honored to make him drums he is inspired to play,” said Drum Workshop founder and chairman of the board, Don Lombardi.
