Too chops-intensive for pop; too slick and consistent for funk; too straight ahead for jazz. Nailing the sort of player Ford is cannot be summed up in a catchall phrase. I tend to stick to my 24 [inch]. But every now and then that 20 gives it a little oomph. On the straight-to-board mix DRUM! But as far as a player and how I use double bass, I use it more as an accessory. I can get down to metal every now and then and some days I want to blast Shadows Fall and all kinds of crazy metal, but for the most part I tend to keep it simple.
But when I do [add double bass] it totally adds like a whole new level of excitement. As a brand-new band with its own feel and identity, there was no previous Prince drummer Ford could use as a reference for the 3rd Eye gig, but she could not, at least subconsciously, help but think of the drummers that preceded her, such as Sheila E.
Because 3rd Eye is a whole new trip for Prince, there are really no shoes to fill. I wanted to make sure that I really stayed true to myself [in the audition] rather than trying to add anything that I thought might increase my chances of him wanting me to play. You will hear John Bonham come out on that playing and you might see Shiela come out or you might hear some jazz influence from Art Blakey or Louie Bellson.
People can hear your influence but ultimately they have to hear and see you. Barely in her 20s, Ford is part of the generation where the idea of a hard-rocking pro-level female drummer is no longer shocking.
She grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, before moving to Chicago at age Ironically, the Windy City was not nearly as open-minded as its musically adventurous reputation would suggest. During that dark period, tear-filled phone conversations with her dad helped get if off her chest, but ultimately she had to face down the detractors on her own.
Shortly thereafter, they discovered Donna Grantis and invited her to jam. With every rehearsal and performance we are literally pulling the best out of each other in a crazy and beautiful way.
For more than years, our award-winning company has been providing "That Great Gretsch Sound" to drummers around the globe. Privacy Policy Terms of Use. Skip to main content. Search form Search. Home » Artists » Hannah Ford-Welton. Hannah Ford-Welton. Gretsch Artist Since:. Band or Affiliations:. Her father and manager, David, is a longtime trumpeter, and three other siblings are professional dancers. Welton was initially drawn to dancing, but drums took over at age 7 when she joined the Louisville Leopard Percussionists, a nationally acclaimed program designed to introduce grade-school children to playing music regardless of skill level.
Welton had never played drums before, but that wasn't an issue. Leopard founder Diane Downs remembers putting a tiny 7-year-old behind the drums for the first time, giving her a few tips to get started, and then got out of her way.
From day one, I knew. Some of these kids can play pretty well, but some of them you just know, and I knew that this is what she was going to do. After moving to Chicago at age 12, Welton made her professional debut performing with a blues band that featured her father. She made a name for herself on the Chicago jazz scene, becoming in the only female to win the Louis Bellson Heritage Days Drum Competition.
After college, she embraced rock with the Hannah Ford Band and contemporary Christian rock band Bellevue Suite before Prince came calling.
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