Todd Sucherman (born May 2, 1969) is an American drummer, who is best known for being a member of Styx since March 1995.

Todd Sucherman
Todd Sucherman performing with Styx on June 13, 2008 in Hinckley, MN
Todd Sucherman performing with Styx on June 13, 2008 in Hinckley, MN
Background information
Birth nameTodd Sucherman
Born (1969-05-02) May 2, 1969 (age 55)
Chicago, Illinois
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Drums
  • percussion
Years active1987–present
Member of
Websitewww.toddsucherman.com

Early life

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Sucherman grew up in a musical family and followed in his father's footsteps by playing the drums. His father, Arnold J. Sucherman, was a doctor by day and a drummer by night, playing in the house band at the famed Chez Paree in Chicago. His mother, Jo (Seiwert) Sucherman, was an actress in the 1950s and 1960s.

Sucherman started playing drums when he was two years old. When he was six, he had his first paying gig with his brothers under the name "The Sucherman Brothers". The band consisted of Paul on keyboards, Joel on bass, and Todd on drums.

Sucherman attended Niles West High School,[1] and then the Berklee College of Music from September 1987 to May 1988.

Career

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In 1988, Sucherman returned to Chicago and quickly established himself as a noted session musician. As an in-demand player for live and session work, Sucherman recorded with Styx in March 1995 when they decided to re-record "Lady", now titled "Lady '95", for their 1995 Greatest Hits album, though he was uncredited. In February 1996 when it came time for the Return to Paradise tour and drummer John Panozzo was unable to perform, Styx asked Sucherman to join them for the tour. After John Panozzo's death on July 16, 1996, Sucherman became a full-time member, appearing on the 1997 live album, Return to Paradise.

In 1998, he helped Tommy Shaw of Styx make his solo album 7 Deadly Zens.[2]

In addition to Styx, he has played with such artists as Brian Wilson, Peter Cetera, Brian Culbertson, The Falling Wallendas, Steve Cole, and Spinal Tap, among others. Sucherman also plays with the band of fellow Styx member Lawrence Gowan.[3]

In September 2008, Sucherman was a featured artist in the prestigious Modern Drummer Festival. He also appeared on the cover of the October 2008 issue of Modern Drummer magazine, and in 2009 Modern Drummer Magazine voted him number one Rock Drummer in the World. In 2020, Modern Drummer readers voted him number one Live drummer.[4] In 2021, Music Radar nominated Sucherman for Best Rock drummer.[5] On September 12, 2020, he contributed a solo drum composition and performance entitled "13 for NP” to the twentieth annual edition of the Modern Drummer festival, which paid tribute to Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart, who had died earlier in the year.[6][7]

On May 2, 2020, Sucherman released his 1st solo album Last Flight Home.[8] The album includes a cover of the song "Kindling" by Elbow. There are official music videos for the songs "Last Flight Home", "Ad Lib Everything", "The Damage", and "Kindling". All videos are available on Sucherman's YouTube channel, as well as the video of "Sacred Book Of Favorite Days" from the Last Flight Home Drumless Play Along Package.

Gear

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The gear he currently endorses are Pearl drums, percussion and hardware, Remo Drumheads, Sabian cymbals, Pro-Mark drumsticks, and Audix microphones.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Sucherman married singer Taylor Mills on March 30, 2003. On November 30, 2013, Sucherman announced via Instagram that he currently resides in Austin, Texas.[citation needed]

Discography

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Styx

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Studio albums

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Extended plays

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Live albums

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Singles and Other Songs

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Spinal Tap

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Tommy Shaw

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Finally George

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Solo

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References

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  1. ^ Niles West High School (1985). Spectrum 1985 - Niles West High School Yearbook. Morton Grove Public Library. Niles West High School.
  2. ^ "Tommy Shaw - 7 Deadly Zens". Heavy Harmonies. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Lawrence Gowan Talks Styx, Solo Success, Sucherman and the Future - Music Life Magazine". Music Life Magazine. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  4. ^ "2020 Readers Poll Results". Modern Drummer.
  5. ^ "Best in drums 2021". Music Radar. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  6. ^ "20th Annual Modern Drummer Festival featuring A Tribute To Iconic Drummer Neil Peart". Modern Drummer.
  7. ^ "Todd Sucherman- "13 for NP" Modern Drummer Festival Neil Peart Tribute 2020". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19.
  8. ^ "Store « Todd Sucherman". Retrieved 2020-05-02.
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