Ralf Gustke |
At the age of 12 he joined the local music corp and there learned how to read music, the rudiments of theory and stick control.
He got his first drumset when he was 13, and began taking drum lessons. In 1980 – 85 he played in many Garage bands and began gigging in the various American clubs in the Mannheim & Heidelberg area. He then took part in the newcomer contest of the DRUMMER MEETING KOBLENZ 1986 and won the upper circle. Around the same time he joined the LYDIE AUVRAY group (musette,jazz ) and toured in Germany, France and Switzerland. This lead him to gig with one of the greatest female Singers of all time CHAKA KHAN with Ralf´s own band ZEBRA playing support. Performing at jazz-festivals in Denmark, Sweden , France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland, while also touring in Japan introduced him to an international Audience. Simultaneously he was working in studios for many artists like WOLF MAAHN, SIX WAS NINE, FRANK NIMSGERN, the Austrian Singer GEORG DANZER and Ralf´s own project CULTURE CROSS (signed with EMI ELECTROLA) and ZEBRA. In 1993 – 96 he joined the Italian Singer GIANNA NANNINI to tour and record in Italy. On his return from Italy he started working with 3P, considered the most exciting Hip-Hop Label in Germany/Frankfurt at that time. Within that constellation he worked in the studio and on tour for SABRINA SETLUR, MOSES PELHAM and GLASHAUS. This period also included Studio recordings for: NENA, EDO ZANKI, LOTHAR KOSSE, GOSPELFIRE, KEVIN COYNE, CULTURE BEAT, GIL, NORM STRAUSS, TOM LANE and many more. In 1999 he met XAVIER NAIDOO and till today Ralf works for him as a drummer and as Musical Director on tour and studio. Ralf is also a member of the multicultured Band SÖHNE MANNHEIMS since 2000. Ralf has also built himself a reputation as a solo performer/clinican. He has appeared at Drum Festivals like RHYTHM MARKTOBERDORF (1992, 2002), WORLD DRUM FEST HAMBURG (1998),YAMAHA DRUM NIGHT COLOGNE (1999), DRUMMER-MEETING KOBLENZ (2000) , MUSIK MESSE FRANKFURT (1996,1997,2001) and many more. He also took part in the PPC DRUM NIGHT HANNOVER (2006). Over the past few years , Ralf has been working in the Club and DJ Scene in the delta of Frankfurt, Mannheim, Heidelberg and Karlsruhe. This platform for Nu-Skool Beatz like Drum´n´bass Breakbeats, 2step, Chill out grooves and Nu /Acid Jazz and the latest styles in the electronic music culture has also provided the back drop for his first drum DVD “WORLD OF GROOVE”. Ralf is currently a member of the band ELECTRIC OUTLET (crossover Jazz and Rock). He has played on over 400 Recordings and combines this with his permanent position with XAVIER NAIDOO and the SÖHNE MANNHEIMS. In 2006 the toured with the band SCHILLER. 2012 till now: Workshops, Tour with Schiller and Soehne Mannheims, Festival tour with Xavier Naidoo. |
|