BIOGRAPHY
Chip Ritter, born October 7, is an American drummer, author, educator, clinician, songwriter, and entertainer.
Ritter brings a vaudevillian approach to his live performance and believes that drumming is both a musical and visual experience. In 2002, Chip self-published his first book The Ritter Method, a critically acclaimed, self-improvement method for drummers. In 2004, on The Late Show with David Letterman, Chip became the first drummer in history to juggle three drumsticks while playing the drums.
With the instant success of his book and the positive response from his brief, but well received appearance on the Late Show, Chip pursued a longstanding goal to create his own instructional videos. In 2006 Chip went to work on his step by step instructional DVD, Stick Tricks. The DVD includes 'tricks of the trade' that Chip draws upon to enhance his live performance and showmanship. Mel Bay Publications signed Chip as an author and in 2007 the Stick Tricks DVD was released world wide. In late 2009 his second Mel Bay release The Pedal of Boom was a featured product at the 2010 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.
Chip has performed at various drumming events including the 2007 Tiger Bill Drumbeat Festival in New Jersey, the 2008 Chicago Drum Show, and the 2009 Hollywood Drum Show. In March of 2010 Chip Ritter was called to replace Alex Acuna at the 2010 Drummers for Jesus Festival in Dallas, Texas, where he received a standing ovation after his impromptu, unrehearsed stage performance with Ritchie Gajeta Garcia.
When it comes to having fun with drumming Chip has a unique flair and boldness for ‘traveling the road not taken’. His 2006 creation and release of The Chip Ritter Drummer Snowglobe is a great example of his fun, positive spirit.
Masters of drumming like Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton and Poppa Joe Jones have played a major role in shaping Chips approach to the instrument and his drumming style. Ritter also credits Fred Hayes, Buddy Miles, Dick Cully, Johnny Rabb, Derek Roddy, Chris Adler, Aaron Spears, Zoro, Stanton Moore and Thomas Lang for inspiration and instruction.
In addition to being a songwriter and producer, Chip has recorded and toured with his own bands and other artists such as Long John Hunter and Lisa Otey. In 1998 Chip left the show bands of Carnival Cruise lines to tour the U.S., Europe, Mexico and Canada. He cites performances in Moscow, Paris, and Amsterdam among the most memorable.
Chip has always felt the need and the responsibility to give back to the community. One of his most memorable experiences was in 2009 when he helped organize, market, promote and perform in the Chip Ritter Big Band concert event with a 20 piece orchestra. The concert sold out within two days and over $7000 was raised in one night to support fine arts programs in low income schools. Chip continues to donate his time to various civic causes, non-profit organizations and schools.
In June of 2010, Stick Tricks listed as one of Mel Bays Best Selling Drum Instruction DVDs. Signed for 3 more consecutive DVDs over the next two years in an unprecedented deal, Ritter is currently working with Mel Bay Publications on Snare Force 1 - Making the Grade — presented in Chip Ritter’s own barn storming "FUNstructional" style.
Chip continues to perform and record with various regional acts including his own group Chip Ritter’s "little" Big Band.
Chip Ritter endorses Trick Drums (trickdrums.com), Paiste Cymbals (paiste.com), Pro-Mark Drumsticks (promark.com), Aquarian Drumheads (aquariandrumheads.com), Prentice Pads, Phatfoot, and DFAM.
