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Shawn Pelton (born June 1, 1963, in Kansas City, Missouri) ^[1] is a New York City-based studio and session drummer. The resume of artists who've chosen to collaborate with Pelton includes Backstreet Boys, Sheryl Crow ^[2], Shawn Colvin, Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion and Billy Joel. ^[3] He also is the longtime drummer in the house band for the NBC TV network's sketch comedy and music program Saturday Night Live. ^[4]

"I grew up always banging on things," Pelton told DW Edge Magazine, describing his childhood in small town Missouri. His first real musical instrument was a cello in 5th grade. But he quickly "bailed as soon as possible to the drums," Pelton said. "I was running around doing gigs at 14, which was a great situation, actually be in a band that young. The sooner you start making music with other people the better." ^[5]

His serious pop music credentials belie the fact that Pelton earned a jazz certificate (and a Bachelor's degree) during his studies at Indiana University's prestigious Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana.^[3] Classical violinists Joshua Bell and Jacques Israelievitch, composer Hoagy Carmichael and Memphis R&B legend Booker T. Jones are among Pelton's fellow I.U. music school grads.

Attending I.U. from 1981 to 1985, Pelton studied with Kenny Aronoff, who at the time was drummer for John Mellencamp. Mellencamp lives just a short distance away from Bloomington.^[3] During summer break, Pelton sought out experts elsewhere. "I also had the privilege of hanging with Alan Dawson for a couple of summers," he told Edge. ^[5] The Massachusetts-based Dawson, legendary in the jazz world, may best be known as an early teacher of Tony Williams -- drummer for Miles Davis.

During his time as an I.U. music student, Pelton also tried his hand at teaching, according to a Bloomington newspaper report. Pelton conducted private drum lessons for a local high school student and aspiring rock percussionist named Pete Wilhoit, who years later would go on to circle the world as drummer for Fiction Plane, the opening act for The Police on their 2007 reunion global tour. ^[6]

He joined the SNL band in 1992 and is the group's longest serving member. ^[3] "It’s a pretty mellow gig," Pelton told Paul G. Hichak, according to Drummerworld. "It’s really only 20 days out of the year."^[7]

[edit] Discography

This section requires expansion.

• Look into the Eyeball by David Byrne (2001)
• "Like Humans Do" single
• "Live! The Real Deal" by Buddy Guy (1996)
• "Little Ship" by Loudon Wainwright III (1997)
• "[[Whole New You]]" by Shawn Colvin (2001)
• "How Sweet It Is by Joan Osborne (2002)
• The Journey Within by Bernie Williams (2003)
• "A few small repairs" by Shawn Colvin (1996)
• "These Four Walls" by Shawn Colvin (2006)
• "Sleepless_(Peter_Wolf_album)" by Peter Wolf (2007)
• "My December" by Kelly Clarkson (2008)
• "Never Gone" by Backstreet Boys (2005)

[edit] Notes and references

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