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Tris Imboden

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Tris Imboden
Tris Imboden in 2013
Tris Imboden in 2013
Background information
Birth nameGregory Tristan Imboden
Born (1951-07-27) July 27, 1951 (age 73)
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Drums
  • percussion
Years active1970 (1970)–present
Formerly of

Gregory Tristan "Tris" Imboden (born July 27, 1951) is an American rock and jazz drummer. As a performer, he has been in studio sessions and on tour with some of the most notable and highest-selling musicians of all time.[1] He was the drummer for the multi-platinum band Chicago from 1990 to 2018.[2] He is a multi-platinum selling artist.[3] As an educator, he has been a drum clinician and author of tutorial materials.[v 1]

Some of Imboden's most notable work include recordings with Neil Diamond, Kenny Loggins, Firefall, Richard Marx, Steve Vai, Roger Daltrey, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Chicago, Anita Baker, Julio Iglesias and Stevie Wonder.

In addition he has toured the world with rock and jazz acts such as Kenny Loggins, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Firefall, Cock Robin, Michael McDonald, Chicago, and other notable groups.[citation needed]

As a full-time band member, Imboden's career has included Honk, the Kenny Loggins Band (including "Who's Right, Who's Wrong" featuring Michael Jackson,[d 1] the six-time platinum[d 2] Number One hit "Footloose", and "I'm Alright" from Caddyshack), and Chicago. His career with Chicago has seen the release of thirteen albums, several of them certified as platinum.[1]

Biography

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Aside from a brief, early, move to Germany, Tris Imboden was raised in various beachside communities of Orange County in Southern California.[4] As a primarily self-taught, lifetime career musician, his musical interests were stirred by seeing a parade when he was five years old.[citation needed]

I still remember the day my dad took me to a Fourth of July parade in Huntington Beach. This marching band from Compton came down the street and the cadence that they were playing almost made me hysterical. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.[5]

... the drum section was just smoking ... I was so deeply moved. But I knew at that moment that was what I was going to have to do.[6]

So from that point on I was always drawn toward drums.[5]

— Tris Imboden

His formal training began from grade school; and until there was an available position in the percussion section of the school band, he drummed at home on a practice pad and studied basic music theory on the trumpet at school. He ultimately reached the position of second chair trumpeter before switching to the then-available percussion section in junior high school.[7][8] He currently resides in Malibu, California, and on the island of Kauai, Hawai'i, where he is an avid surfer.[7]

Career

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Imboden began his adolescent career in various surf bands, and then achieved professional status in a high school band called The Other Half. The band performed at venues ranging from sock hops to Hollywood's venerable Teenage Fair, where Imboden said their popularity "clogged the whole entrance".[5]: 21  Out of Newport Harbor High School, Imboden cofounded Honk in 1970.[d 3] After recording some demo songs, the band's first album was the soundtrack for the surf movie Five Summer Stories,[v 2] crediting Imboden as composer, producer, drummer, harmonica player, and vocalist. Imboden established a career trend, ultimately lasting through to Chicago, of occasionally being featured on harmonica. The song "Pipeline Sequence" reached No. 1 on Hawai'i radio.[4][d 4] Being a member of Honk provided Imboden with formative future career experience as the band built their studio recording skills, their touring skills, and innumerable industry contacts. They worked with bands which would eventually serve as Imboden's future professional base, by touring with Loggins and Messina, Jackson Browne, and The Beach Boys—and by opening Chicago's concerts.[7] Honk went on hiatus from 1976 to 1986, when they established a tradition of periodic reunion concerts in their original home area of Southern California, as band members' schedules permit.

From 1977 to 1986, Imboden became a full-time recording and touring member of the Kenny Loggins Band, and then would do part-time work with them until 1989, for a total of 12 years of collaboration. During his full-time tenure there, he composed and performed the drum set arrangements for popular 1980s motion picture soundtracks: Caddyshack and Footloose.[7]

From the end of his full-time duration with Kenny Loggins in 1986, until 1989, Imboden's career became a full-time composite of various part-time session recordings and live performances with various groups. His consistent work throughout that entire duration included the following: part-time work with Kenny Loggins; stage support for Grammy Award-winning jazz singer, Al Jarreau; and "Queen of Funk-Soul", Chaka Khan.[4][7] In 1986, he performed drum set overdub sessions for Neil Diamond's Headed for the Future album. This album provided a venue for Imboden's studio session collaboration with a then-member of Chicago, Bill Champlin.[d 5] In 1988, he was a studio session player with former member of Chicago, bassist/lead vocalist, Peter Cetera, on Cetera's solo album titled One More Story.[d 6]

In 1990, his career reshaped by joining the multi-platinum Chicago. With the departure of founding drummer Danny Seraphine, Imboden joined the band as the full-time drummer[7] in time for the band's 1991 release titled Twenty 1.[d 7] As an integral part of Chicago for the latter half of the band's 57-year total career, Imboden would contribute to twelve Chicago records, and to tours alongside The Beach Boys, Earth, Wind, & Fire, and The Doobie Brothers. Since 2012, his drum set was accompanied by Chicago's newest full-time member, veteran auxiliary percussionist Walfredo Reyes, Jr.[9] On January 17, 2018, Imboden announced his resignation from the band to focus on family time with his new wife and due to the band's schedule of touring intensely for the most of each year.[citation needed]

Discography

[edit]
Select discography
Year Artist Album Credit Achievement
1972 Honk The Original Sound Track
from Five Summer Stories		 Composer, producer,
Harmonica, Percussion,
Drums, Vocals[d 8][d 9][d 4]
1979 Kenny Loggins Keep the Fire Harmonica, Drums[d 1][10]
1984 [Original Soundtrack] Footloose Drums Billboard #1
6× platinum[d 2]
1986 Neil Diamond Headed for the Future Drums, Background Vocals[d 5] Billboard 200 #20
1986 Howard Hewett I Commit to Love Drums (Tracks 2, 3, 5, and 9)
1987 Richard Marx Richard Marx Drums Billboard #1 single[d 10][d 11]
Billboard 200 #8 album
3× platinum[d 12]
1987 [Original Soundtrack] St. Elmo's Fire Drums[d 13] Billboard Hot 100 #1
Grammy nomination
1990 Steve Vai Passion and Warfare Drums (Tracks 7, 9)
1991 Chicago Twenty 1 Drums[d 7]
1994 Crosby, Stills & Nash After the Storm Drums
1995 Chicago Night & Day: Big Band Harmonica, Drums
1997 Chicago The Heart of Chicago 1967–1997 Drums[d 14] (Tracks 7, 10) "Here in My Heart": AC #1
"The Only One": AC Top 20
Billboard 200 #55[d 15]
1998 Chicago The Heart of Chicago 1967–1998 Volume II [d 16]
1998 Chicago Chicago's First Christmas Drums
1998 Chicago Chicago 25: The Christmas Album Drums
1999 Chicago Chicago XXVI – The Live Album Drums
2000 Steve Vai 7th Song:
Enchanting Guitar Melodies – Archive		 Drums
2002 Chicago Very Best of Chicago:
Only the Beginning		 Harmonica, Drums
2003 Chicago Chicago Story:
The Complete Greatest Hits
1967–2002		 Harmonica, Drums
2003 Chicago Chicago: The Box [Bonus DVD] Harmonica, Drums
2003 Chicago Christmas: What's It Gonna Be Santa Arranger, Drums
2008 Chicago Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus Harmonica, Drums
2011 Chicago O Christmas Three Arranger, Drums
2013 Chicago The Nashville Sessions Drums
2014 Chicago Chicago XXXVI: Now Drums

Videography

[edit]
Year Artist Title Credit
1972 Honk Five Summer Stories
(film soundtrack)		 Composer, producer,
Harmonica, Percussion,
Drums, Vocals[d 8][d 9][d 4]
1980 Kenny Loggins Kenny Loggins Alive Drums[v 3]
1989 Tris Imboden Latin Rock for Gringos Drums, instruction[v 1]
2012 Kenny Loggins Keep the Fire
(film soundtrack)		 Drums[v 4]
2002 Chicago A&E Live by Request: Chicago Drums[v 5]
2004 Chicago Soundstage Presents Chicago Live Drums[v 6]
2005 Chicago Chicago & Earth, Wind & Fire –
Live at the Greek Theatre		 Drums[v 7]

Equipment

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Tris Imboden currently endorses and uses the following products:

References

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  1. ^ a b "Tris Imboden: Gigs". Tris Imboden. Archived from the original on December 10, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  2. ^ "Chicago Lineup". Chicago. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Vic Firth Artist: Tris Imboden". Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Almond, Cliff (January 10, 2013). Interview W/Tris Imboden (A/V stream). Cliff Almond. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Imboden, Tris (June 1984). "Tris Imboden: Positive Drumming". Modern Drummer (Interview). Interviewed by Robyn Flans. Clifton, New Jersey: Modern Drummer Publications. ISSN 0194-4533. OCLC 4660723. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  6. ^ "Chicago official history: Chapter XII". Chicago, Inc. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Tris Imboden: About". Tris Imboden. Archived from the original on December 10, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  8. ^ Imboden, Tris (December 1995). "Chicago's Tris Imboden". Modern Drummer (Interview). Interviewed by Robyn Flans. Clifton, New Jersey: Modern Drummer Publications. ISSN 0194-4533. OCLC 4660723. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  9. ^ "Walfredo Reyes, Jr". Chicago. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  10. ^ Holden, Stephen (February 7, 1980). "Album reviews: Keep the Fire". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  11. ^ "Groove Juice: Endorsers". Groove Juice. Archived from the original on July 10, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2013. I am proud to endorse Groove Juice... It is a great product!!
  12. ^ "Edge Magazine" (PDF). Drum Workshop. 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  13. ^ "Gibraltar Hardware: Artists: Tris Imboden". Gibraltar Hardware. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  14. ^ Barnett, Brent (September 4, 2009). Tris Imboden: New custom drum rack set up (A/V stream). Gibraltar Hardware. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  15. ^ "Paiste: Tris Imboden". Paiste. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  16. ^ "Artist Roster". Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2020.

Discography

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  1. ^ a b c Keep the Fire, credits at AllMusic. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "RIAA Gold & Platinum: Footloose soundtrack". RIAA. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  3. ^ Honk, summary at AllMusic. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e Five Summer Stories soundtrack, credits at AllMusic. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Headed for the Future, credits at AllMusic. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  6. ^ One More Story, credits at AllMusic. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c Twenty 1 personnel credits at AllMusic. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d Honk (1972). The Original Sound Track from Five Summer Stories (Music LP). Granite. OCLC 32445211. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d Honk (1992). The Original Sound Track from Five Summer Stories (Music CD). Hollywood: GNP Crescendo Records. OCLC 26590578.
  10. ^ "Music Albums, Albums & Music Charts: Billboard.com". billboard.com.
  11. ^ Warwick, Neil; Jon Kutner; Tony Brown (2004). The Complete Book of the British Charts: Singles and Albums. Omnibus Press. p. 705. ISBN 1-84449-058-0. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  12. ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum: Richard Marx". RIAA. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  13. ^ a b St. Elmo's Fire soundtrack, credits at AllMusic. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  14. ^ a b The Heart of Chicago 1967–1997, credits at AllMusic. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  15. ^ Tris Imboden at AllMusic. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  16. ^ a b The Heart of Chicago Vol 2, credits at AllMusic. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  17. ^ "You Don't Know What You're in For, credits at Discogs". Discogs. 1976. Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  18. ^ Kenny Loggins Alive, audio track list at AllMusic. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  19. ^ "The Secret of My Success: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack credits". October 17, 1990 [1987]. Retrieved July 1, 2013.

Videography

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Tris Imboden, Cecilia Noël. Latin Rock for Gringos (DVD). OCLC 310746149. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  2. ^ Five Summer Stories (DVD video). Laguna Beach, California: MacGillivray Freeman Films. 1994 [1972]. OCLC 82292272.
  3. ^ Kenny Loggins Alive, audio tracklist at AllMusic. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  4. ^ Rice, Jake. Keep the Fire (A/V stream). Archived from the original on November 22, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  5. ^ Live by Request: Chicago, overview at AllMusic. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  6. ^ Soundstage Presents Chicago Live, overview at AllMusic. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  7. ^ Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at the Greek Theatre at AllMusic. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
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