Dave Weckl
A technical master of the drums who redefined modern fusion with his blinding speed, immaculate control, and revolutionary use of electronic triggers.
Born 1960 (age 66)·American drummer·Birthday: January 8·Baby Boomers
Biography
Dave Weckl emerged from the St. Louis music scene with a combination of formal jazz training and raw funk power, quickly becoming a first-call session player in New York. His big break came with the Chick Corea Elektric Band, where his explosive, precisely orchestrated solos and seamless integration of acoustic and electronic sounds made him a sensation among drummers worldwide. Weckl didn't just play; he engineered his kit's sound, pioneering techniques for blending triggered samples with live drums to create a massive, polished sonic footprint. After years as a sideman, he formed the Dave Weckl Band, leading a group that served as a vehicle for his compositional ideas and relentless groove. His educational videos and clinics have demystified his complex approach, inspiring a generation to pursue both technical excellence and musicality.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Dave was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dave Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Dave's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in the year 2000.
- Was a pivotal member of the Chick Corea Elektric Band, appearing on multiple Grammy-winning albums.
- Released a highly influential series of instructional videos, including 'Back to Basics' and 'The Next Step,' that are considered essential viewing for drummers.
Did You Know?
He played on Madonna's hit song "Get Into the Groove" early in his career.
He is known for using a unique cable hi-hat system for a crisper, faster sound.
Before joining Chick Corea, he toured with French jazz-fusion guitarist Michel Petrucciani.
“Time is the most important thing. If the time feels good, you can get away with almost anything.”
