Drummer / Percussionist John Thomakos was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He began playing drums at age six, and played his first performances by age 10. His continued passion for music led him to study at the Baltimore School for the Arts, as a Percussion/Music major, where he graduated with a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music, in Boston Massachusetts. He holds a Certificate with Honors and an award for Best Funk Drummer from the Musician’s Institute, Percussion Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, California.

 

John has since continued a successful professional career as a freelance drummer, percussionist, author, and teacher. He has written two drumset method books:

Drum Back-Beats Encyclopedia, published by Alfred Publications

Encyclopedia of Drumset Styles, published by Mel Bay Publications.

He has also written instructional material for Vic Firth and Modern Drummer Magazine.

  

His extensive recording discography reflects his versatility with an eclectic range of artists. Some of his playing credits also include music for The Discovery Channel, and the television shows: Brooklyn South, That’s Life, Homicide, and The Young and the Restless. John has also performed with a variety of extraordinary artists ranging from New Orleans guitar legend, John Mooney, to three time Grammy Nominee, Vanessa Carlton. Currently, John can be seen performing with Cirque du Soleil in the show, Kooza.